by Barbara Reilly HOMEOWNER COLUMN COLUMN NAME HO6 Insurance The Dirty Little Secret I 'm not sure how to share this next chapter in my misadventures as a condo owner without appearing to be a whiner. Perhaps in this one case, I am justified. Of course this whole business started when I was subjected to two incidences of water damage from the condo unit directly above me: a defective air conditioner leak and a toilet overflow. I filed claims with my HO6 (homeowners insurance) company for the subsequent repairs. Isn't that what insurance is for? Apparently not, because I received this letter on May 23: We wish to inform you that your policy designated above will not be continued at 36 Condo Media * December 2014 the expiration of its current policy period on 6/30/2014. Our reason for non-renewing your policy is for the losses as described below: 9/8/12 11/17/13 Water Damage Water Damage I immediately contacted my insurance agent. She confirmed that, due to my claims history, my insurance coverage with the current company was indeed to be cancelled. She further elaborated that there was only one alternative for me. In my state it is called the Fair Plan. Participation in this plan meant coverage for my personal property would be reduced by half, my deductible would double, and my premium would increase by $500! This sounded to me to be the insurance pool for desperate, deadbeat homeowners! How in the world had I become one of those without even being the perpetrator of the damage? An act of divine inspiration prompted me to make a call to my ace repairman, Kevin, for consolation if nothing else. It was he whom I had called in to do the damage repair from my previous claims. He was appalled to learn of my insurance predicament and offered me the name of an insurance broker with whom he did a lot of business. It was at this point that my luck took a turn for the better. Apparently I was not the lost cause of