What goes towards your insurance deductible on a home claim?
Short answer. On a homeowners claim, the deductible is satisfied by your share of the covered loss: what you pay toward the covered repairs, including reasonable emergency costs like a tarp that were included in the claim. Upgrades you choose, work outside the claim, and any discount or rebate from a contractor do not go toward it.
How the math works
The insurer adds up the covered loss, subtracts the deductible and pays the rest. Anything you spent on covered items becomes part of your share. Example:
- Covered loss: $12,000, including a $500 emergency tarp you paid for
- Deductible: $2,000
- Insurer pays: $10,000
- You have already paid $500 for the tarp, so $1,500 of your deductible remains to pay toward the roof
What counts
- Your payment to the contractor for the covered scope
- Emergency protection you paid for, such as tarping or water extraction, when included in the claim
- Covered repairs you paid for directly, with receipts submitted
What does not count
- Upgrades: a premium shingle line, gutter guards you did not have, extra ventilation.
- Unrelated work: repairs to areas the storm did not damage.
- Contractor discounts or rebates: in Georgia, a contractor cannot waive, absorb or rebate your deductible.
- Previous claims: each homeowners claim has its own deductible.
Keep receipts
Submit every receipt for emergency work to the adjuster so it is included in the covered loss. See emergency tarping and mitigation, can a roofer pay your deductible and percentage deductibles.