Why Minnesota policies treat wind & hail differently
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.