What is a wind and hail deductible in Georgia?

A deductible/" class="oc-glossary-link">wind and hail deductible is a separate, often higher amount you pay out of pocket when a claim is caused specifically by wind or hail damage. In Georgia, where strong thunderstorms, hail, and the remains of tropical systems are common, many homeowners insurance policies apply this special deductible instead of your standard one for these storm losses.

Here is the part that surprises people. A wind and hail deductible is frequently written as a percentage of your home’s insured value, not a flat dollar figure. For example, if your home is insured for $400,000 and your policy has a 2 percent wind and hail deductible, you would pay $8,000 before coverage kicks in. That is much higher than a typical $1,000 flat deductible.

So if an April hailstorm in metro Atlanta dents your roof and siding and the repair costs $12,000, you would pay $8,000 and your insurer would pay $4,000 under that example.

• Check whether your wind and hail deductible is a flat dollar amount or a percentage.
• Know the actual dollar figure that percentage works out to today.
• Keep that amount in savings so a storm does not catch you short.

Georgia’s storm history makes this deductible widely used here, and the difference between policies can be significant. We can walk you through exactly how yours is structured. Request a free coverage review and we will translate the fine print into plain dollars.