Florida Hurricane Deductibles: Read Your Policy First

Find the hurricane deductible on your policy's declarations page and ask your insurer to explain it. Florida DFS distinguishes hurricane coverage from flood coverage and describes calendar-year deductible rules when coverage stays with the same insurer or insurer group. Surplus-lines policies may differ. Florida DFS hurricane deductible guide.

Confirm the trigger

Do not use the phrase named storm as a substitute for the actual hurricane definition and policy terms. Ask which deductible would apply to the event being discussed and how the insurer determined that result.

Put the policy's amount into dollars

If your declarations show a percentage, ask what insured amount it applies to and whether endorsements change that amount. Have the insurer confirm the resulting dollar exposure. This guide does not assume that all homeowners policies offer the same deductible choices.

For an illustrative arithmetic example only, two percent of $300,000 is $6,000. Those numbers are invented for the calculation; they are not a quote, recommended limit, or statement about any client's coverage.

Ask about more than one loss

Keep claim records and ask the insurer how any earlier loss is credited under the applicable calendar-year provisions. Do not assume a second storm always has no deductible or that a credit transfers to a different insurance company.

Keep the explanation with your records

Save the declarations, relevant endorsements, written explanation, and claim references together. If the terms are unclear, consult the insurer or a licensed professional before relying on a projected payment.

Palm Beach Coverage is a prelaunch educational project. This page does not calculate an insurer's settlement or provide claim-handling services.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute insurance advice or an offer of coverage. Palm Beach Coverage is an educational publication and prelaunch project. It does not currently quote, sell, bind, or service insurance. Insurance products, rates, and availability vary by carrier and are subject to underwriting approval. Always consult with a licensed insurance professional before making coverage decisions.

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