Minnesota sits inside a corridor of severe convective storms. Your wind/hail deductible structure can mean the difference between a fully-paid roof and an $8,000 bill at claim time.
Hail is a peak peril for Minnesota carriers. Repeated severe storm seasons — 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023 in particular — produced billions of dollars of insured losses across the Twin Cities metro and southern Minnesota. To remain in the state, most carriers now apply a separate deductible when the loss is caused by wind or hail.
Flat vs. percentage deductibles
Minnesota homeowners typically see one of three deductible structures:
Flat dollar deductible (e.g. $2,500). Paid before any covered loss.
1% wind/hail deductible. 1% of dwelling coverage, applied to wind/hail losses only.
2% wind/hail deductible. 2% of dwelling coverage. Increasingly common.
How wind/hail deductibles affect roof claims
The deductible applies to the gross claim amount before depreciation and before any schedule-based reduction. For a 15-year-old roof on a 2% policy, the combination of a large deductible and an ACV/schedule settlement can leave the homeowner paying half or more of the replacement cost.
What to ask before binding a Minnesota policy
What is my wind/hail deductible — in dollars, not as a percentage?
Does the policy pay roof claims at replacement cost or actual cash value?
Is there a roof age schedule? At what age does it engage?
Are cosmetic hail losses excluded?
Is matching of undamaged shingles included or excluded?
Storm season checklist
Photograph the roof, siding, gutters, and AC fins each spring (before the season).
Keep a copy of your most recent declarations page off-site or in cloud storage.
After a storm, document immediately — date-stamped photos help adjusters and contractors.
Get a professional inspection before signing with a contractor or filing a claim.
Common wind & hail questions
What is a wind and hail deductible on a Minnesota policy?+
A separate deductible that applies when the loss is caused by wind or hail. After repeated severe storm seasons produced billions of dollars of insured losses across the Twin Cities metro and southern Minnesota, most carriers now apply this separate wind/hail deductible.
What is the difference between flat and percentage wind/hail deductibles?+
A flat dollar deductible (for example $2,500) is paid before any covered loss. A 1% or 2% wind/hail deductible is a percentage of your dwelling coverage applied to wind/hail losses only, and 2% structures are increasingly common in Minnesota.
How much is a 2% wind/hail deductible in dollars?+
On a $400,000 dwelling, a 2% wind/hail deductible is $8,000 out of pocket before your carrier pays anything on a hail claim. On a $600,000 dwelling, it is $12,000.
How do wind/hail deductibles affect roof claims?+
The deductible applies to the gross claim amount before depreciation and before any schedule-based reduction. For a 15-year-old roof on a 2% policy, the combination of a large deductible and an ACV or schedule settlement can leave the homeowner paying half or more of the replacement cost.
What should I ask before binding a Minnesota policy?+
Ask what your wind/hail deductible is in dollars rather than as a percentage, whether the policy pays roof claims at replacement cost or actual cash value, whether there is a roof age schedule and when it engages, whether cosmetic hail losses are excluded, and whether matching of undamaged shingles is included or excluded.
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