Does insurance cover anything before the deductible is met?
Short answer. On a homeowners policy, no repair money is paid until the covered damage is larger than your deductible, and then you receive only the amount above it. If a storm causes $1,800 of roof damage and your deductible is $2,500, the insurer pays nothing, although the claim may still go on your record. Health plans sometimes cover preventive care before the deductible, but home insurance has no equivalent for repairs.
How it works on a small roof loss
- Damage under the deductible: insurer pays $0. You pay for the repair.
- Damage equal to the deductible: insurer pays $0.
- Damage above the deductible: insurer pays the difference, minus any depreciation held back.
There is no running total. Each claim is measured on its own, so a few small repairs over a year never add up to meet a deductible the way health care costs can.
Why filing for small damage can backfire
A claim that pays nothing can still be recorded in industry claims databases, which insurers see when you renew or shop for coverage. Several small claims in a few years can affect pricing or renewal. That is why it pays to know the size of the damage before you call.
Find out the number first
- Look up your deductible on the declarations page. In Georgia it may be a separate wind and hail deductible set as a percentage of the dwelling limit.
- Get a roofer's inspection and a written scope. If the damage is a few shingles, a repair bill may be the better route.
- If the inspection shows hail or wind damage across slopes, the loss may be well over the deductible, and a claim makes sense.
For more: percentage wind and hail deductibles, whether a claim raises premiums, and whether to call the insurer or a roofer first.