Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Wind and Hail Damage?

When a storm rolls through and leaves your roof dented and your siding cracked, the first question is whether your homeowners policy will pay for it. For wind and hail the answer is usually yes, but with a catch that can cost you thousands more than you expect.

Usually covered

Wind and hail are standard covered perils on most homeowners policies. Damage to your roof, siding, and windows from a storm is typically covered, and so is interior damage if wind or hail let water in. This is one of the more dependable parts of a home policy.

The catch: a separate wind or hail deductible

Now the part that blindsides people. Many policies, especially in storm-prone regions, carry a **separate wind or hail deductible** that is a percentage of your home's insured value rather than a flat dollar amount. A 2 percent deductible on a $400,000 home is $8,000 out of pocket before coverage begins, far more than the $1,000 standard deductible you might assume applies. People discover this number only after the storm, at the worst time.

Where it gets denied

Coverage can still fall apart in a few spots. Damage to an old, worn roof may be paid at **actual cash value**, which subtracts heavy depreciation. Cosmetic-only damage is excluded by some policies. And gradual wear blamed on weather over time, rather than a single storm, is usually denied as maintenance.

Find your wind deductible before the season

The worst time to learn you have an $8,000 wind deductible is while you are staring at a damaged roof. MyPolicyShield reads your homeowners policy and shows you exactly how wind and hail are covered, whether you carry a percentage deductible, and whether your roof pays at replacement cost or actual cash value.

Find out before the next storm, not after it.