What to Know About Home Insurance Deductibles

A deductible is the portion of a covered loss you are responsible for. Raising a deductible generally lowers premium, but it also increases what you pay out of pocket when you file a claim.

Many homeowners policies apply a separate deductible to wind or hail damage, sometimes calculated as a percentage of the dwelling limit rather than a flat dollar amount.

Before choosing a deductible, it is worth confirming what amount you could comfortably pay on short notice, and asking which deductible applies to which type of loss.