What is a hurricane deductible?
A hurricane deductible is a separate deductible you would pay out-of-pocket toward a hurricane-related loss before receiving a claim payout from your insurance company. Not all homeowners insurance policies carry this type of deductible, but it's important to know if you have a separate wind and hail deductible or hurricane deductible, in the event you need to make a claim.
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How does a wind/hail deductible work?
A separate deductible for wind/hail damage may apply to your dwelling coverage, or Coverage A, on your homeowners policy. Typically, a wind/hail deductible is either a flat dollar amount (e.g., $500, $1,000, etc.) or an overall percentage of your policy's dwelling coverage limit. If you live in an area of the US that frequently experiences hurricanes or tropical storms, it's possible that your policy carries a separate hurricane deductible in addition to a wind/hail deductible.
If a windstorm or a tornado was reported in your area and was the cause of damage, a separate wind/hail deductible may apply, depending on your policy and insurer.
Example:Your policy's dwelling coverage limit is $250,000 and your wind/hail or hurricane deductible is 1% of your dwelling coverage. A hurricane causes damage to your roof in the amount of $6,000. After your $2,500 hurricane deductible is applied, your homeowners policy may pay you $3,500 for your damaged roof.
Do I need hurricane coverage?
If you live in an area of the United States that frequently experiences hurricanes or tropical storms, it's possible that your policy excludes home damages sustained by hurricanes or wind. In that case, you may need to purchase a separate hurricane, "named storm", or wind policy on top of your homeowners policy. For areas that aren't as affected by that type of weather, you may not need to purchase the coverage separately.
What's the difference between a wind/hail deductible and a hurricane deductible?
Hurricane deductibles aren't necessarily synonymous with wind and hail deductibles, but they can be applied to your policy in much the same way. The way your insurance company would determine which deductible you pay is based on what caused the damage to your home. In some cases, your hurricane, wind/hail, and standard deductibles would be different amounts, depending on your policy and insurer.
How different deductibles are applied
| Hurricane | "Named Storm" | Wind/Hail | Standard | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying damage | HurricaneTypically applies to damages sustained during a recognized hurricane from the National Weather Service | "Named Storm"Typically applies to tropical and winter storms recognized and named by the National Weather Service | Wind/HailTypically applies when damages are caused by winds, tornadic activity, or hail | StandardTypically applies to damages caused by all other covered perils |
| Availability | HurricaneLikely in coastal areas frequently affected by hurricanes | "Named Storm"Likely in coastal areas frequently affected by tropical storms and states frequently affected by winter storms | Wind/HailLikely in plains states frequently affected by tornadoes | StandardLoss where wind/ hail, hurricane, or named storm are not the cause of damage |
How do I get a wind/hail or hurricane deductible?
Some home insurers mandate the deductibles or provide them as optional deductibles for a premium deduction. However, areas that frequently see hurricanes, tropical storms, or winter storms typically include these types of deductibles. If you're shopping for a new policy, be sure to ask if a wind/ hail or hurricane deductible is included as part of your policy.
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