Why percentage deductibles catch people off guard
A 1% or 2% deductible sounds small. On $420,000 of dwelling coverage, 2% is $8,400 — and in hail-prone parts of Wyoming, that deductible can apply to every hail and windstorm claim. Some policies use a percentage for wind and hail and a flat amount for everything else.
Finding yours
Look at the declarations page for “wind/hail,” “windstorm or hail” or a similar deductible line. The endorsement that creates it explains when it applies. Note whether it is triggered by any windstorm, which in Wyoming includes winter wind events, not only summer hail.
What it means for appraisal
A panel values the loss; the deductible comes off afterward. A dispute where both estimates sit near the deductible may not be worth appraising. One well above it may be.
Questions about this calculator
Is the percentage based on my loss or my coverage?
Usually on Coverage A, the dwelling limit, regardless of the size of the loss. Read the endorsement to confirm.
Can I change it?
Usually at renewal. A lower deductible raises the premium; a higher one lowers it but increases your share of each storm loss.