A homeowner opens the declarations page after a storm and finds two deductibles: perhaps $1,000 for many ordinary covered losses and 3% for a named storm. The percentage is usually applied to the insured property value identified in the policy, not to the repair estimate. That difference can decide whether a modest roof claim produces any insurer payment.
Work out the dollar amount first
Suppose the policy uses a $200,000 insured value and lists a 3% named storm deductible. The deductible is $6,000. If the covered damage is valued at $10,000, the deductible leaves $4,000 before any other policy terms affect payment. The same policy might list a $1,000 deductible for a different type of covered loss. The insurer cannot choose between them simply because one is larger; the policy’s event definitions and the cause of damage matter.
The Louisiana Department of Insurance explained in June 2026 that named storm or hurricane deductibles commonly run from 2% to 5% of insured value. That is a description of common policies, not a rate required for every home. Check the declarations page and endorsements for your actual percentage, dollar basis and trigger.
Which deductible applies to this damage?
Read the policy’s definitions of hurricane, named storm, and wind and hail. Note when the policy says each special deductible starts and ends, and compare that language with the date and cause of each loss. A roof opening caused by wind, rain entering through it and later rising floodwater may require separate coverage analysis. Do not assume the storm’s name alone answers every question about a particular item.
La. R.S. 22:1337 addresses separate homeowners deductibles for named storms, hurricanes, and wind and hail. It requires a prescribed notice form listing the specific deductible amounts proposed in the policy, expressed as a percentage, a dollar amount, or both. If the declarations page, form and endorsement appear inconsistent, ask the insurer to identify the provision it applied and show its calculation in writing.
For a broader account of proof and insurer communication, see our Louisiana hurricane claim guide. If the home is unusable, the separate article on additional living expense coverage explains the housing and receipt questions. The Baton Rouge hurricane damage practice page describes the firm’s work on coverage and valuation disputes.
Check the estimate before treating the deductible as the answer
A correct deductible applied to an incomplete damage estimate still produces an incomplete claim payment. Compare the adjuster’s line items with photographs, contractor measurements and the actual repair work. Record roof openings, damaged interior materials, contents and temporary repairs before safe cleanup changes the scene. Do not delay necessary protection of the property just to preserve a photograph. Keep receipts and a dated account of what was removed or repaired.
If the insurer says damage falls below the deductible, ask for the full estimate and the deductible calculation. Identify any missing work by location and attach supporting evidence. A supplemental estimate may change the covered loss amount even when the deductible itself is correct. If the dispute is about the deductible’s trigger, request the cited policy language and a written explanation of how the storm and loss dates fit it.
The deductible is the insured’s share of a covered loss as the policy defines it. It is not a reason to abandon a claim, nor does it establish that every later supplemental item is uncovered. Policy limits, exclusions, valuation terms and the cause of damage must still be analyzed. A lawyer can review the full policy and claim history when the deductible, scope or cause remains contested.
Last reviewed: September 26, 2026. Sources checked: September 27, 2026.
This article provides general Louisiana insurance information, not a coverage opinion for a specific policy or storm loss.