Hail storms can happen almost anywhere and without warning. Hail can range from pea-sized chunks to as large as golf balls, which can not only damage your home’s appearance but also its structural integrity.
The best time to find out the answer to, “is hail damage covered by home insurance?” is now, before you need the coverage. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about hail damage and your insurance coverage.
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Most home insurance policies do cover hail damage unless you live in a state where it’s incredibly common and it’s excluded from your coverage. Hail damage is important to have on your insurance policy because those chunks of ice can cause serious damage to your home and lead to some hefty repair bills.
So, is hail damage covered by home insurance? Let’s find out.
The short answer is that it depends on where you live and your policy. Hail damage is quite often included in home insurance coverage. If hail storms are common in your state, your insurance policy might exclude hail damage, limit the coverage, or increase premiums to compensate for more frequent claims.
If you’re not sure what your home insurance policy covers, your best bet is to give your insurance provider or agent a call. They’ll be able to walk you through your coverage.
If home insurance is included in your policy, you’ll want to know exactly what it covers, because hail damage can cause significant damage to your home and property.
Hail damage can cause damage to your roof and to the structure of your home, which can be pricey. Often, hail damage can be repaired without a full roof replacement, but if not, you’re going to be glad you have coverage. After all, the average hail damage home insurance claim is as much as $12,000, which is why home insurance is so important.
So, what does homeowners insurance cover hail damage for? Coverage usually protects the structure of your home. Hail can cause dents in your roof and siding, which can lead to leaks and flooding. Repairing hail damage right away is important because it can lead to further issues down the line that affects your home’s structural integrity and even the resale value.
Homeowners insurance policies either have a replacement cost or actual cash value cost when it comes to repairs. Replacement costs will cover the current cost to replace your roof, while actual cash value will factor in the depreciation of your roof when paying out your claim.
Keep in mind that some insurance providers have instituted a “cosmetic damage exclusion” into hail damage coverage. This is to limit expensive claims that are more and more common thanks to the volatility of the weather, but it means you might not be compensated for hail damage if it doesn’t affect the function of your home. If this exclusion is in your policy, any repairs will be at your discretion and on your dime.
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It’s important to file a hail damage claim right away, and before you start repairs. Typically, you have up to a year to file a hail damage claim with your insurance provider, but the sooner you do, the sooner you can get the damage repaired.
Document the damage right away and then contact your insurance provider to submit your claim. You’ll then be asked to schedule a visit from an insurance adjuster, who will inspect the damage and determine the total cost of repairs. After your insurance provider confirms your claim and the amount to pay, you can schedule the repairs with a contractor.
Note that you’ll usually need to pay a deductible first, which can be anything from 1-5% of your home’s insured value.
Many people choose to have an independent inspection done to ensure the results are aligned with the insurance provider’s assessment. If you don’t feel that the assessment was fair, have the contractor and insurance adjuster speak, which can often lead to an agreement.
The good news is that filing a hail damage claim likely won’t lead to insurance premium hikes. This is because the damage wasn’t preventable, so you’re not considered at fault.
Home insurance often includes hail damage, unless you live in an area where hail damage is frequent and expected. But given the high costs of hail damage, it’s often worthwhile to pay more for the coverage to ensure you’re protected. If you’re not covered, find an insurance policy that gives you peace of mind for the unexpected.
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Lauren Lewthwaite Lauren Lewthwaite has been freelance writing for almost five years writing content that ranges from health to insurance and everything in between. Lauren is also a trained translator in French and English and is a dog-mom to an adorable Australian Shepherd.
