Deductibles · Sticker shock
Why is my deductible $10,000?
You filed a hail claim. The carrier wrote back: "Your deductible is $10,000." You panic-scroll your policy looking for the mistake. There isn't one — you have a percentage deductible, and you almost certainly didn't notice when it landed on your policy at the last renewal.
The math in one line
Dwelling coverage × wind/hail % = your deductible. $500,000 × 2% = $10,000. Applied per event, before the carrier pays anything.
How to confirm yours
- 1. Find your declarations page. Look at the deductibles section.
- 2. If you see "Wind/Hail Deductible: 2%" or "Hurricane Deductible: 5%" — that's the percentage.
- 3. Multiply by your Coverage A (Dwelling) limit (not Coverage C or the total).
- 4. That's the dollar amount you owe before the carrier pays a dollar on a covered storm claim.
Want a real-dollar read on your deductible?
Upload your dec page — we'll calculate every deductible on it, flag which one applies to your claim, and tell you if there's a cheaper alternative in your market.
Frequently asked
Why is my deductible $10,000 when I thought it was $1,000?
You likely have two deductibles. The $1,000 is your all-other-perils (AOP) deductible. The $10,000 is your wind/hail or hurricane deductible — usually a percentage (1–5%) of your dwelling limit. On a $500k home at 2%, that's $10,000. It only triggers for named perils.
Is a $10,000 deductible legal?
Yes. Percentage deductibles are standard in hail-prone (CO, TX, OK, NE, KS) and hurricane-prone (FL, TX coast, Gulf states) regions. In some states they're effectively mandatory in higher-risk ZIPs.
Can I lower my $10,000 deductible?
Sometimes. Outside the highest-risk ZIPs, independent agents can often find carriers offering 1% or flat $2,500-$5,000 deductibles. Your premium goes up — usually $300–$800/year — but your out-of-pocket on a storm drops by thousands.
Does the $10,000 deductible apply per storm or per year?
Almost always per event. Two separate hailstorms in the same year = two separate $10,000 deductibles. Read the schedule on your dec page — 'per occurrence' vs 'annual' is in fine print and matters enormously.
Keep reading
Wind & Hail Deductibles Explained
Percentage deductibles cost more than most homeowners realize.
Read moreDeductiblesHurricane Deductibles Explained
Named-storm deductibles in FL, TX, and the Gulf.
Read moreDeductiblesPercentage vs Flat Deductible
Side-by-side: what each costs at common dwelling limits.
Read more CalculatorHail Deductible Calculator
Calculate your out-of-pocket exposure per storm.
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