Why percentage deductibles catch people off guard
Some Wisconsin homeowners policies carry a separate wind or hail deductible figured as a percentage of Coverage A rather than a flat amount. On a $320,000 dwelling limit (an illustrative figure), a 2% deductible is $6,400. That is the first $6,400 of a hailstorm loss you would absorb before the policy pays.
Finding yours
Check the declarations page for a “wind/hail” or “windstorm or hail” deductible, then read the endorsement that defines when it applies. Some apply to any wind or hail loss; others only to certain storms.
What it means for appraisal
A deductible doesn’t change the amount of loss a panel decides, but it does change what lands in your account. A dispute just above the deductible may not be worth the fees; one well above it often is. Pair this tool with the settlement gap calculator.
Questions about this calculator
Is the percentage taken from the loss amount?
Usually not. It’s typically a percentage of your dwelling coverage limit, applied to the covered wind or hail loss. Your policy wording controls.
Can I switch to a flat deductible?
Sometimes, at renewal. Ask your agent how the premium changes.
Does the deductible apply to each storm?
Generally it applies per occurrence, so two separate storms can mean two deductibles.