Can you get hurricane insurance in florida

Read your policy carefully, and look for any limitations on wind and water damage. The fine print is especially important because an increasing number of insurers are excluding damage from hurricanes altogether, says Frank Darras, an insurance attorney in Ontario, Calif. Homeowners in states like Florida, Texas, and Louisiana may need to purchase homeowners insurance with supplemental hurricane coverage. Alternatively, it may be advisable to buy separate windstorm and flood policies. Even homeowners policies that don't exclude hurricanes will typically exclude damage from floods caused by rising water.

Rising water can result from ground-water surge, tidal surge, or overflowing lakes and rivers. Flood insurance is available to most homeowners through the National Flood Insurance Program. Homeowners at the greatest risk from high winds should check with their state insurance commissioner to help determine what additional coverage is needed.

States threatened by hurricanes usually operate high-risk insurance pools that offer hurricane coverage, says David Miller, head of Brightway Insurance in Jacksonville, Fla. Hurricane deductibles usually kick in when damage results from a named storm. Some states allow homeowners to choose the hurricane deductible -- the higher the deductible, the lower the premium -- while others set deductible levels.

Darras, the insurance attorney, counsels homeowners to review their hurricane risks and current coverage to determine whether purchasing additional insurance is necessary. Dawn G. Claude M.

Susan Y. Dawn P. Georgia J. Thomas T. Sarah E. Kathy S. Former Client. Michele W. Salvador R. Monty W. Christine C. Lafayette H. Mike and Lynette R. Omar R. Robert S. Howard W. Madeline A. Lisa G. Lynn K. Alfred H. Antonia C. How can we help? All Peril Deductible : the amount of money a policyholder must pay out-of-pocket toward damages or a loss before their insurance company will pay for a claim.

If you file a claim and it is covered, the deductible is subtracted from the amount paid by the insurance company. The dwelling coverage also includes structures that are attached to the dwelling; such as, a garage, a deck, patio, or porch. Declarations Page : the declarations page, also known as the Dec Page, is the first page of a policy that contains the specific policy information.

For example, the name of the insurance company, policy number, the different types of coverages included in the policy, coverage limits and coverage costs. The Dec Page also outlines the policy forms, endorsements, supplemental coverage s and the deductibles.

Additionally, the Dec Page also includes the name and mailing address of the policyholder, the physical address of the insured property, if different than the mailing address, and the name, mailing address, and contact information of the insurance agent who issued the policy.

Hurricane : a storm system that has been declared to be a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Coverage : coverage for loss or damage caused by windstorm during a hurricane. The term includes damage to the interior of a building or to property inside a building, caused by rain, snow, sleet, hail, sand, or dust if the direct force of the windstorm first damages the building, causing an opening through which rain, snow, sleet, hail, sand, or dust enters and causes damage, anywhere in the state of Florida.

This does not include coverage for flooding. Hurricane Deductible : the amount noted on the policy Dec Page, which is paid by the policyholder before an insurance company issues any payment for damage caused by a Hurricane.

The deductible amount is generally subtracted from a claim payment prior to the issuance of the check. Hurricane Deductible Option : the varied dollar or percentage choices available under the policy contract. Hurricane Watches and Warnings : alerts regarding the approaching storm system. Watches are issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset, and warnings are issued 36 hours in advance of the onset of tropical storm force winds within a specified area.

Hurricane Coverage Exclusion : all insurance companies authorized to issue property insurance by the Office of Insurance Regulation Surplus Lines are not included , must make an exclusion of windstorm coverage available. I will pay those costs. My insurance will not. This is allowed by, and subject to regulations outlined in s.

Single Season Calendar Year Hurricane Deductible : this provision applies to all covered windstorm claims that occur during a hurricane. The hurricane deductible is applied on a calendar year basis as long as you are insured by the same insurance company or an insurance company from the same group for all subsequent hurricanes. This means you only have to pay one hurricane deductible within the calendar year, provided you are insured with the same insurance company or an insurance company within the same group when windstorm damage occurs from a second hurricane during the same calendar year.

The deductible for the second hurricane will be the greater of :. What is the definition of a Hurricane for insurance purposes? A hurricane is defined in s. What is the definition of Hurricane Coverage? The term includes damage to the interior of a building or to property inside a building, caused by rain, snow, sleet, hail, sand or dust if the direct force of the windstorm first damages the building, causing an opening through which rain, snow, sleet, hail, sand or dust enters and causes damage anywhere in the state of Florida.

This is also found in s. When does the Hurricane Deductible apply? According to s. The duration of a hurricane in which the Hurricane Deductible would apply includes the time period:.