- The Zebra has partnered with Annex to give its independent agent network direct access to specialty homeowners and flood insurance for properties exposed to coastal storms, wildfires and flooding.
- The integration allows agents to quote, bind and complete policy documentation online, while Annex manages surplus lines compliance, payments and policy issuance.
- Coverage is available in 14 U.S. states, as more than 32 mn homes across 20 states face moderate or greater hurricane-wind risk, representing $12.26 tn in reconstruction cost value.
TheZebra, an online insurance comparison and purchasing platform, has partnered with Annex, a digital insurance platform specializing in catastrophe-exposed residential properties, to expand access to homeowners and flood insurance through its independent agent network.
The integration is designed to help agents secure coverage for properties exposed to coastal storms, wildfires and flooding, particularly where traditional insurers have become increasingly reluctant to underwrite the risks.
Through the partnership, The Zebra’s agents can access Annex insurance rates directly within their existing quoting systems. Underwriting information already collected during the application process is automatically transferred to Annex, reducing duplicate data entry and allowing agents to continue the placement process without switching between separate platforms.
After providing additional applicant and property details, agents can generate quotes, bind coverage and complete required disclosures and electronic signatures entirely online.
Annex manages the associated surplus lines compliance requirements, lienholder notifications, payment processing and policy issuance.
The arrangement is intended to simplify access to the excess and surplus (E&S) insurance market, where specialty placements can involve more complex administrative and underwriting procedures.
According to Annex, its digital platform allows agents to quote coastal, wildfire and flood risks within minutes and bind eligible policies without waiting for email correspondence or manual underwriting reviews. The system also incorporates direct billing, digital escrow and premium financing, with access available through existing comparative raters or application programming interfaces (APIs).
Annex was developed specifically for catastrophe-exposed residential property, with coastal homeowners forming a core customer segment. The company positions this specialization as a source of consistent underwriting appetite, even as traditional insurers adjust their exposure to catastrophe-prone markets.
The partnership also gives The Zebra a means of extending its insurance distribution capabilities to properties that may fall outside conventional homeowners underwriting criteria.
As environmental risks grow more complex, homeowners need flexible, specialized coverage. Integrating Annex’s technology directly into our platform eliminates the traditional friction of specialty lines; giving our agents a fast, seamless way to cover hard-to-place properties.
Austin Spademan, Head of Commercialization at The Zebra
Coverage through the integration is currently available in 14 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Alabama, Massachusetts and Mississippi.
Annex currently offers residential homeowners and flood insurance across Florida and much of the East Coast, as well as Texas and California. Additional states and insurance products are planned as the partnership expands.
The distribution agreement comes as catastrophe exposure continues to complicate homeowners insurance availability in several U.S. markets.
According to Cotality’s 2026 Hurricane Risk Report, more than 32 mn homes across 20 tracked U.S. states face moderate or greater hurricane-wind risk. Those properties represent approximately $12.26 tn in reconstruction cost value, indicating the scale of residential assets potentially exposed to hurricane-related damage.
Population concentration in coastal areas adds to the exposure. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that coastal counties account for 39% of the U.S. population despite occupying less than 10% of the country’s land area.
The population of these counties increased by nearly 40% between 1970 and 2010, with further growth projected through the 2020s.
For insurance distributors, the concentration of residential property in catastrophe-exposed regions creates a need for access to specialized underwriting capacity when admitted insurers restrict coverage or decline certain risks.
Annex intends to expand its geographic reach and product range while developing additional integrations with the technology platforms already used by independent agents.
The company also plans to simplify specialty insurance placement further, with the objective of allowing agents to secure coverage for catastrophe-exposed homes through a process comparable in speed and convenience to obtaining a quote from an admitted insurer.
