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How Does Deductibles Work on Homeowners Insurance
Here is a guide on how homeowners insurance deductible works. Brent Norkus of Goosehead Insurance, one of the top preferred referral insurance agents at Gustan Cho Associates wrote this comprehensive blog that has been popular that was recently updated. https://gustancho.com/homeowners-insurance-deductibles/
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How Homeowners Insurance Deductibles Work
The way how homeowners insurance deductibles work is the higher the homeowners insurance deductible, the lower the insurance premium
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A deductible in homeowners insurance is the amount you, as the policyholder, are responsible for paying out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in to cover the costs of a claim. Here’s how deductibles typically work in the context of homeowners insurance:
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Choosing a Deductible: When you purchase homeowners insurance, you choose a deductible amount. This can vary widely, but common amounts include $500, $1,000, or $2,000. Higher deductibles generally result in lower monthly or annual insurance premiums because you’re assuming more of the risk.
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How It Affects Claims: If you file a claim for damages or losses, you must pay the deductible amount first. For example, if you have a $1,000 deductible and file a claim for $5,000 in damages, you will pay the first $1,000 and your insurance company would pay the remaining $4,000.
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Types of Deductibles: Homeowners insurance policies can have different types of deductibles:
- Standard Deductible: Applies to most standard claims.
- Percentage Deductibles: Commonly used for claims related to natural disasters, such as hurricanes or earthquakes, where the deductible is a percentage of your home’s insured value.
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Impact on Insurance Costs: Choosing a higher deductible can lower your insurance premiums, but it’s important to ensure you can afford to pay the higher deductible if you need to make a claim.
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Special Considerations: In some areas prone to specific types of natural disasters, you might have separate deductibles for different types of damage. For example, you might have one deductible for wind damage and another for hail damage.
It’s important to carefully consider how much you can afford to pay out of pocket in case of a claim when choosing your deductible. Opting for a higher deductible might save on premiums, but it increases your financial responsibility if a disaster occurs.
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