Free tool · Florida
Hurricane Deductible Calculator
Find out what you pay before your policy pays anything on a named-storm claim — and whether a given amount of damage clears it.
You pay first (deductible)
$20,000
5% of $400,000
Insurance pays on this claim
$10,000
The damage clears your deductible by $10,000.
Applies once per calendar year to named-hurricane losses. A second hurricane in the same year with the same insurer uses your standard all-other-perils deductible.
Why this number surprises people
After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation reported that more than half of residential claims were closed without payment, and the single largest reason for Milton was “below deductible” — roughly 41% of unpaid closures. Most of those homeowners knew they had a “5% deductible” and assumed it meant 5% of the damage.
Two ways to change the outcome
- Before the storm: at renewal you can usually elect a lower percentage (or a flat $500 deductible on some policies) for a higher premium. For homes over $400,000 that trade is worth pricing.
- After the storm: the deductible is fixed, but the insurer's estimate is not. A desk estimate that scopes 12 squares of shingles and stops is routinely $10,000–$20,000 short of a full Xactimate® scope with ridge caps, starter, underlayment upgrades required by the Florida Building Code, drip edge, detach/reset, and interior damage. Read our guide on how Florida hurricane deductibles work.
Questions
- Is the hurricane deductible a percentage of my claim?
- No. It is a percentage of Coverage A, the dwelling limit on your declarations page. A 5% deductible on a $400,000 dwelling is $20,000 whether the damage is $25,000 or $250,000.
- When does the hurricane deductible apply instead of my normal deductible?
- Only to losses caused by a hurricane named by the National Hurricane Center, from the time a hurricane watch or warning is issued for any part of Florida until 72 hours after it ends. Tropical storms, non-hurricane wind and hail use your standard deductible.
- Do I pay it again for a second hurricane the same year?
- Generally no. Florida applies the hurricane deductible once per calendar year per insurer; a later hurricane that year is subject to your all-other-perils deductible instead.
- My claim was closed 'below deductible'. Is that final?
- Not necessarily. 'Below deductible' compares the deductible to the insurer's estimate of the loss. If that estimate missed scope — code upgrades, matching, interior damage — a full-scope independent estimate can put the claim above the deductible. You have 1 year from the date of loss to report and 18 months to supplement.
Closed below deductible?
Send us the carrier's estimate and your photos. We'll return a full-scope Xactimate® estimate within 12 hours, free, so you can see the real number.
All tools on this page are informational and not legal or insurance advice. More free tools