Hurricane insurance in Florida

What is hurricane insurance in Florida? 

Here’s a surprising fact about hurricane insurance for homeowners: In Florida, it’s not a separate policy. Getting covered for hurricane damage is usually part of your insurance policy, regardless of the type of policy you have.

Standard Florida homeowners insurance policies cover windstorms, so damage caused by hurricane winds is typically included. Policies that don't cover hurricanes or wind are called  x-wind policies. If you have an x-wind policy then you may have an endorsement on the policy stating that it doesn't cover wind damage.

Water damage is a different story. Your policy probably doesn’t cover flooding (that’s more likely covered by flood insurance), but it may pay for water damage that occurs because of wind damage. For instance, you may have coverage if rain destroys your personal property because the wind blew away a portion of your roof.

What does hurricane insurance cover?

Because your hurricane coverage is part and parcel of your home insurance, it typically covers:

• Your dwelling.

• Other structures on your property (e.g., your garage, fence, greenhouse, shed, etc.).

• Your personal belongings (e.g., clothing, furniture).

• Temporary relocation costs if the hurricane wind damage makes your home uninhabitable.

• Additional essentials, such as food, water, and gas, while temporarily relocated when they go above your normal expenses.

Homeowners can often add coverage through insurance riders. For example, our carrier partners offer a hurricane screened enclosure endorsement that can pay for wind damage to screened enclosures, aluminum‐framed carports, or awnings. This protection is available in increments of $5,000, up to a $50,000 maximum.

A word about hurricane deductibles

While your home insurance usually covers wind damage, it may require an additional deductible when that damage is caused by a named storm. Florida is one of 19 states that allows for hurricane deductibles – usually a percentage of your home’s insured value rather than a predetermined flat dollar figure.

If you have $300,000 in dwelling coverage and a 2% hurricane deductible, your out-of-pocket expense for a hurricane claim would be $6,000. Your AOP deductible may still apply if your home is damaged by something other than the hurricane winds.

When do you have to pay a hurricane deductible in Florida? 

Florida law states that  hurricane deductibles are triggered by windstorm losses resulting only from hurricanes that are declared by the National Weather Service. Hurricane deductibles apply for damage that occurs from the time a hurricane watch or warning is issued for any part of Florida, up to 72 hours after such a watch or warning ends, and anytime hurricane conditions exist throughout the state.

A Florida hurricane deductible applies only once during a hurricane season. If you’re unfortunate enough to have damage caused by more than one named storm in a season, you only have to pay the hurricane deductible once.

How much is hurricane insurance in Florida?

Hurricane coverage is part of your homeowners insurance in Florida; it’s not a separate policy. You pay a single premium for your standard home insurance coverage that includes the cost of hurricane coverage.

Because of the increased risk for hurricanes and higher-than-normal hurricane activity in recent years, Florida homeowners insurance rates have gone up recently. The Insurance Information Institute found that Floridians pay an average of over $4,000 per year for their home insurance – about three times the national average.

But location isn’t the only factor impacting the cost of hurricane insurance in Florida. Premiums are also dependent on a host of other factors, including:

• Your home’s construction.

• The windstorm mitigation measures you take.

• The age of your home.

How to save money on Florida hurricane insurance

The high cost of Florida home insurance with hurricane coverage doesn’t mean you have to  give up on living in the Sunshine State. Our carrier partners use technology to evaluate key insurance data so we can price your policy accurately. That often means the homeowners who work with us save on coverage. The average Kin member reports saving over $700 when they switch.**

You can also save money through discounts. Our customers have earned premium discounts for:

• Completing a wind mitigation inspection that shows how resistant your roof is to hurricane winds.

• Installing home security systems to protect your house from burglars and fire.

• Living in a secured community, especially one with a security guard.

• Investing in a leak and flood detector so you can mitigate water damage.

Want to see if you can save money by switching with Kin? Get a quote and you could have coverage in place in minutes.

Is Florida hurricane insurance required?

Florida hurricane insurance is not required because hurricane insurance isn’t sold as a separate policy in the state. This form of coverage is included as a part of a standard insurance policy.

Hurricane insurance may not be required in Florida, but you still want to have the right homeowners policy in place before hurricane season. If you wait until a storm has been named or reaches a similar coverage trigger, you may be subject to an insurance moratorium. A moratorium is an official hold on issuing new policies or changing coverage for existing policies in response to an already approaching storm.

Ready to get a quote? Give us a call at 855-717-0022 or enter your address now.

*Information about coverage is for educational purposes. Your coverage may be different based on your policy terms.

**Customers who switched to Kin report annual savings of $730 on average. Based on Kin Customer Savings Survey conducted July 2022 - July 2023.