Does All Perils Deductible Include Wind and Hail?
Usually, yes. Some policies set a separate wind or hail deductible instead, often a percentage of dwelling coverage.
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If a non-renewal letter pointed to wind or hail losses, the deductible on that old policy matters when shopping for a new one. An all perils deductible applies as one flat amount to most covered damage, wind and hail included. Some policies instead carve out a separate wind or hail deductible, often 1% to 5% of dwelling coverage, which means that old claim paid out less than it looked like on paper. Check the declarations page from the old policy, then ask directly which structure a new quote uses before comparing prices.
A new policy can set that deductible differently
A flat dollar deductible and a percentage-based wind deductible can lead to very different payouts on the same claim. Comparing quotes side by side shows which structure actually fits your house and dwelling coverage amount.
How does a percentage deductible actually get calculated
A percentage deductible is based on the dwelling coverage limit, not the size of the claim. If a policy sets the wind or hail deductible at a percentage like 1% to 5%, that share of the dwelling coverage amount comes out before the payout starts. It doesn't matter how large or small the actual damage turns out to be.
A flat $1,000 or $2,500 deductible stays the same no matter what the house is insured for. A percentage deductible grows as dwelling coverage grows, so raising coverage to keep up with rebuilding costs also raises what has to be paid out of pocket before the insurer pays anything. Two policies with similar premiums can work very differently once a claim actually happens.
Some states require insurers to spell out a percentage deductible in dollar terms on the declarations page. Others just list the percentage and leave the math to the homeowner. Either way, the number to look for is the dwelling coverage limit on that page, then multiply by the stated percentage to see the actual dollar amount. A policy that lists a flat wind deductible instead works like any other deductible, a fixed number that doesn't move with coverage limits.
When comparing a new policy against the one that didn't renew, matching deductible structures matters as much as matching prices. A lower premium tied to a percentage-based wind deductible on a high dwelling limit can cost more after a storm than a higher premium with a flat deductible like $1,000 or $2,500. Asking for the dollar figure behind any percentage deductible, not just the percentage itself, makes that comparison honest.
Can one house have more than one deductible on the same policy
Yes, and this is where a lot of confusion starts after a claim. A policy can carry a regular all perils deductible, say $1,000, for things like a burst pipe or a fire. It can also carry a separate, higher deductible that only applies to wind or hail damage. Both numbers sit on the same declarations page, often in different sections, and nothing about the premium bill makes it obvious that two different deductibles exist until a claim gets filed.
A single storm can trigger both deductibles at once. Hail that damages the roof and also breaks a window might get split across the wind deductible for the roof and the standard deductible for the window, depending on how the policy defines each type of damage. The claims adjuster sorts that out, but the homeowner should expect the paperwork to reference more than one deductible amount, not just the one listed at the top of the policy summary.
Some states also allow insurers to apply a separate hurricane deductible, distinct from the general wind or hail one, that only kicks in once a storm is officially named. This is more common along the coast, but it shows up in other states too. An old policy with this kind of split structure won't explain it in the non-renewal letter. That detail lives in the declarations page and the policy's definitions section, usually a few pages into the full contract rather than the summary page.
When comparing a new quote against the old policy, it helps to ask directly whether the carrier uses one deductible or several, and under what conditions each one applies. A quote that looks cheaper on a side-by-side comparison can still leave a higher out-of-pocket cost after a specific kind of storm, if the structure underneath the number is different. Getting that answer before buying avoids a second unpleasant surprise after the next claim.
Before comparing quotes
Pull the declarations page from the old policy and find the dwelling coverage limit and every deductible listed. Ask each new quote whether any deductible is a percentage of that limit instead of a flat dollar amount.
