Why did my Progressive deductible suddenly change?

I just got my Progressive homeowners renewal and noticed my wind and hail deductible is now a percentage instead of the $1,000 flat deductible I had before. No one pointed this out when I renewed. Is Progressive doing this across the board?

What you’re seeing is part of a broader shift happening in homeowners insurance, and Progressive isn’t the only company making this adjustment.

Many policies used to have a single flat deductible, like $1,000, that applied to most types of claims. But in recent years, insurers have increasingly added separate deductibles for wind and hail, especially in areas that experience frequent storms. Instead of a flat amount, the wind or hail deductible may now be a percentage of your home’s insured value.

For example, if your home is insured for $350,000 and your wind/hail deductible is 2%, you would be responsible for $7,000 before insurance starts paying for storm damage. Your regular deductible for other claims, like fire or theft, may still remain $1,000.

Insurers say these changes are tied to rising storm losses. Wind and hail damage has become one of the most expensive types of homeowners claims, so some companies are shifting more of the upfront cost to policyholders.

In many states, including Tennessee, it’s fairly common for policies to have two deductibles:

• A standard “all-perils” deductible
• A separate wind or hail deductible

Sometimes these changes appear at policy renewal, which is why they can catch homeowners off guard if the new deductible wasn’t clearly discussed.

The best next step is to review your declarations page carefully. Look for:

• The wind or hail deductible percentage
• What types of storms it applies to
• Whether any roof coverage terms also changed

If the deductible feels too high, it’s worth asking your agent whether different deductible options are available or whether other insurers structure storm deductibles differently in your area.