What is the wind and hail deductible on my Georgia homeowners policy?

The deductible/" class="oc-glossary-link">wind and hail deductible on a Georgia homeowners policy is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance pays for damage caused by wind or hail. Unlike your standard deductible, which is often a flat dollar amount, the wind and hail deductible is frequently a percentage of your home’s insured value, usually 1 percent to 5 percent. Because Georgia sees frequent severe storms, many insurers apply this separate, higher deductible to wind and hail losses.

The key point is that a percentage deductible can be much larger than you expect. It is based on your dwelling coverage amount, not on the size of the claim.

Example: Your home is insured for $400,000 and your policy has a 2 percent wind and hail deductible. A hailstorm damages your roof. Before the insurer pays anything, you owe 2 percent of $400,000, which is $8,000, not a typical flat $1,000. If the repair is $15,000, the insurer pays $7,000 and you cover the $8,000.

To learn how these deductibles are calculated and how to plan for them, read our guide on Georgia wind and hail deductibles. It is smart to check your declarations page now, before a storm, so the number does not surprise you at claim time. Request a free coverage review and we will confirm exactly how your wind and hail deductible works.