State guide · MANo paid placement
Home warranty
in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Division of Insurance registers providers of service contracts on homes and consumer goods, and the law says such a contract is not insurance.
Regulated as a service contract3 reviewed providers ranked
Photo · R Architecture / Unsplash
Why Massachusetts is different
The Massachusetts Division of Insurance registers providers of service contracts on homes and consumer goods, and the law says such a contract is not insurance. Registrations last three years. A provider's financial backing must take one of three forms: reimbursement insurance, a 40 percent reserve paired with a deposit of at least $25,000, or a net worth of $25 million. A contract with no claims on it can be returned for a full refund within 20 days of the mailing date, or within 10 days if it was handed over at the sale. Complaints go to the Division's Consumer Services Unit.
Source: M.G.L. c. 175, § 149N (service contract providers; insurance law) (State statute, accessed 2026-10-07) · M.G.L. c. 175, § 149M (definitions) (State statute, accessed 2026-10-07) · Massachusetts Division of Insurance: Service Contract Providers (State regulator, accessed 2026-10-07) · Massachusetts Division of Insurance: Service Contracts (State regulator, accessed 2026-10-07)
Coverage-priority context · MA
What breaks in Massachusetts.
Issue 01
Cold winters placing extended load on boilers and furnaces
Issue 02
Freeze-thaw cycles raising burst-pipe risk in older basements
Issue 03
Some of the oldest housing stock in the country, with dated plumbing and electrical
§ 02Best providers in Massachusetts
01
AHS
American Home Shield
Homeowners who want broad systems coverage and a choice of service fee.
Score
4.1/5
02
CHS
Cinch Home Services
Homeowners who want a high total limit and value-added perks and accept a higher deductible.
Score
3.9/5
03
CHW
Choice Home Warranty
Budget-focused homeowners who want a predictable flat service fee and straightforward plan choices.
Score
3.7/5
§ 03Common questions for Massachusetts
When does coverage start after I buy a plan?
When the waiting period in your contract ends. Providers set different lengths. Liberty Home Guard's sample policy starts coverage 30 days after purchase and requires covered items to be in working order that day. American Home Shield's 2024 sample plan agreement shows an initial waiting period of 0 days. Under Liberty's terms, a covered item that breaks on day 20 falls inside that 30-day holding period and is not covered, so read each provider's sample contract before you buy.
Can I buy a plan after something has already broken?
You can buy one, but the two sample contracts we read would not pay for a breakdown you already have. Liberty Home Guard's sample policy "does not cover any known or unknown pre-existing conditions." American Home Shield's 2024 sample plan agreement says a covered breakdown "must occur during the Plan Agreement Term," and it excludes earlier breakdowns that "were either known by you or were reasonably detectable by you."