Severe storms are no stranger to Oklahoma City residents. In fact, Oklahoma ranks in the top three states for the number of hail damage claims made each year, only slightly behind Texas and Minnesota. If you are like most homeowners, you’ve probably asked, “does home insurance cover hail damage?” and “should I file a claim?”
To help, we’ve created this free online guide answering the most common questions homeowners ask after being impacted by a hail storm. Keep reading to learn when home insurance will cover hail damage and what to expect in the claim process.
Skip Ahead
- Will Home Insurance Cover Hail Damage Repairs
- Should I File A Claim For Hail Damage
- How Much Hail Damage Is Needed For Roof Replacement
- Do I Have To Pay My Deductible?
- Insurance Adjuster Says There Is No Hail Damage
- Will Filing A Claim Increase My Rates?
- What Is The Hail Damage Insurance Claim Time Limit
Will Home Insurance Cover Hail Damage Repairs
Yes, home insurance will cover the cost of hail damage repairs to your home minus your deductible. This includes your roof, siding, windows, gutters, and other hail-damaged areas covered under your policy. If multiple areas of your home were damaged from one hail storm, they will be grouped together in one claim.
There are several types of home insurance policies, and some may have additional limits for storm damage coverage from hail, tornadoes, and strong winds. Others may have increased deductibles for storm damage claims. Home insurance policy limits and exclusions should be listed on the declaration page and should be carefully reviewed by homeowners in areas like Oklahoma City that are prone to severe storms.
Should I File A Claim For Hail Damage Repairs?
As a homeowner, you don’t want to file unnecessary insurance claims. As a general rule of thumb, only file a claim when the total cost of repairs fully exceeds your deductible and out-of-pocket costs.
For example, let’s say your home only needs minor roof repairs after a hail storm. The total cost of those repairs is $750. Your home insurance deductible is $1,000. In this case, it does not make sense to file a claim since your deductible (or portion you are responsible for) is more than the cost of repairs.
On the other hand, let’s say your roof was damaged by hail to the point where it needs to be fully replaced. In addition, your siding and gutters need hail damage repairs as well. The total cost to repair the damage is $18,500. Your home insurance deductible is still $1,000. In this case, it does make sense to file a claim since the repair costs are much more than your deductible.
Keep in mind each home insurance policy is different, and your situation may be different than the general examples above. Should you have questions about filing a claim, contact your agent, public adjuster, or claims expert.
Calling a licensed roofing company or general contractor after a hail storm is the best way to get an estimated cost of hail damage repairs and help you decide if you should file a claim.
How Much Hail Damage Is Needed To Replace Roof
When it comes to hail damage insurance claims, each carrier has their own set of guidelines for determining when a full roof replacement is needed. During the roof inspection, a 10’x10’ test square is drawn on a roof slope, and hail hits within that area are added up. Most carriers require 7-10 hits per square to justify a full roof replacement.
A test square on a roof to determine if a full replacement is needed will often look something like this:
Each chalk circle denotes where the hail impact occurred. Notice how hard it is to see hail damage, even when standing on the roof!
If there are hail hits within a test square but not enough to justify a full roof replacement, your insurance company may only cover the cost of hail damage roof repairs.
Do I Have To Pay My Deductible When Filing A Hail Damage Claim?
In addition to asking, “will home insurance cover hail damage,” homeowners often ask us “do I have to pay my deductible when filing a claim?”
The answer is yes. Oklahoma City homeowners are required to pay their deductible when filing a hail damage insurance claim.
But what happens if a roofing contractor offers to pay it for me?
This used to be a common practice, especially here in OKC, where storm damage scams are common. Roofing companies would advertise “free roofs” as an incentive to get business after a hail storm. However, these companies were not paying the claim deductible out of their own pocket. Instead, the contractor would inflate repair costs enough to cover the deductible. The insurance carrier would pay the inflated claim, thus “paying back” the contractor for covering the deductible. This is a form of insurance fraud.
New laws have been passed to prevent this. HB 1940 is one of them and went into effect on November 1. Roofing contractors and homeowners can get in trouble for participating in these types of scams.
Related: learn how to spot storm damage scams
What To Do If Insurance Adjuster Says There Is No Hail Damage
Once you file a hail damage insurance claim, your carrier will schedule a time for their adjuster to visit your home and inspect the damage. Typically this involves them getting photos or videos of the damage and writing an estimate of repair costs.
It’s important to note that these adjusters are not licensed roofing contractors in the state of Oklahoma. They may have some training on how to inspect roofs, but they are in no way a roofing expert. After widespread storm events, sometimes insurance adjusters are flown in from other states to accommodate the high volume of claims.
In some cases, your insurance adjuster may say there is no hail damage to your roof when there actually is. This could be for a number of reasons like inexperience dealing with hail damage, not inspecting the entire roof, or not properly inspecting the roof shingles.
In the event this happens, they will note their findings (or lack of) in your claim and include any associated photos and documentation. At that time, your claim may be denied, and you should receive written notice.
If your hail damage claim was wrongfully denied, you do have several options:
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- You can request a re-inspection from a different adjuster
- You can hire and work with a public adjuster
- You can hire and work with a property damage attorney
Which option you choose will depend on the extent of the damage and the type of home insurance policy you have. Learn more in our free guide on wrongfully denied hail damage claims.
Will Filing A Hail Damage Claim Increase Home Insurance Premiums?
Rising insurance rates are a major concern for homeowners, and many ask if filing a hail damage claim will increase their premiums. The answer is it depends.
Hail damage is considered an “act of god,” meaning it is outside of your control as a homeowner. For that reason, most insurance companies will not increase your rates should you have to file a claim. However, your rates may increase if you file multiple claims in a short time frame, like within the span of 3-5 years.
Homeowners who want to keep premiums low should avoid filing unnecessary claims. Working with a licensed roofing contractor is one way to do that. Getting a professional inspection after each hail storm will help you know if filing a claim is worth it based on repair costs and ensure you only file a claim when damage is present.
Related: Learn why homeowners need a hail damage inspection after every major storm
How Long Do You Have To File A Hail Damage Claim In Oklahoma?
Time limits to file a hail damage claim vary by insurance company; however, most require valid claims to be filed within one year of finding the damage to your home.
Having a 12-month window to file a hail damage claim does not mean you should wait to make repairs. In fact, waiting to fix hail damage could cause more problems and require you to pay additional costs out of pocket. Here’s why:
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- Insurance companies require you to make reasonable repairs to prevent future damage
- If additional damage could have been prevented with repairs, those costs may not be covered
- The longer you wait, the harder it will be to “prove” that all the damage to your home was caused by a storm that occurred months prior
As a homeowner, your best course of action is to get a professional hail damage inspection after each major storm and file a claim (if needed) as quickly as possible.
Need Help With Hail Damage Repairs In OKC?
If you are asking “will home insurance cover hail damage” chances are your home has been impacted by severe weather. Working with a licensed roofing company can save you time and stress while preventing costly repairs to your home. If you are in need of a professional inspection or have questions about the process, our expert team is ready to help. Call 405-895-9972 today to speak with a roofing expert or schedule a roof inspection online using the link below.
Schedule A Free Hail Damage Roof Inspection Online
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