Which insurance coverage has a deductible on a homeowners policy?
The parts of a homeowners policy
- Coverage A, Dwelling: the house itself, including the roof. The deductible applies.
- Coverage B, Other structures: a detached garage, fence, shed or gazebo. The deductible applies, and it is shared with Coverage A when the same storm damages both.
- Coverage C, Personal property: furniture, clothes and electronics. The deductible applies, again shared within one occurrence.
- Coverage E, Personal liability: pays when you are legally responsible for injury or damage to others. No deductible.
- Coverage F, Medical payments to others: small medical bills for guests hurt on your property, regardless of fault. No deductible.
Deductibles that change by cause
Within the property coverages, the deductible can depend on what caused the loss. Many Georgia policies have a flat all other perils deductible plus a separate wind and hail deductible, often a percentage of the dwelling limit. Coastal policies may add a hurricane or named storm deductible. Endorsements such as water backup or equipment breakdown sometimes carry their own deductible too.
Separate policies, separate deductibles
A hailstorm that damages your roof and your car is two claims: the roof under the homeowners policy, the car under the comprehensive part of your auto policy. Each has its own deductible. The same goes for a flood policy after a storm surge.
Where to look
Your declarations page lists the deductibles and limits; the endorsements list any changes. If the page shows a percentage, multiply it by your Coverage A limit to see the real dollar figure.
More: wind and hail percentage deductibles and what homeowners insurance pays on a roof.