Hurricane insurance in Florida: A complete guide

What does hurricane insurance cover in Florida?

Hurricane insurance in Florida is a combination of policies, homeowners and flood, that cover wind damage, hail, and water damage, including damage to the structure, personal belongings, and loss of use of the home. Most Florida homeowners insurance policies include windstorm coverage, though homeowners in some areas must purchase a separate windstorm policy or endorsement. Homeowners insurance does not include flood damage from storm surges or heavy rain; a separate flood insurance policy is required for that.

Does homeowners insurance cover hurricane damage in Florida?

Under Florida law, insurers are required to include windstorm coverage in a standard homeowners insurance policy, though homeowners can elect to decline this coverage. In high-risk coastal areas, insurers frequently exclude this coverage, and homeowners must purchase a separate policy; lenders often require it. Windstorm coverage in Florida applies to storms declared to be hurricanes by the National Hurricane Center of the National Weather Service.

Per the Florida Department of Financial Services, hurricane coverage in Florida “includes damage to the interior of a building or to property inside a building, caused by rain, snow, sleet, hail, sand or dust if the direct force of the windstorm first damages the building, causing an opening through which rain, snow, sleet, hail, sand or dust enters and causes damage.”

This coverage protects against issues like damage to personal belongings, your home and costs stemming from the loss of use of your home.

Hurricane coverage on a homeowners insurance policy in Florida carries a separate deductible from the standard deductible that may be a flat $500 or 2%, 5% or 10% of the dwelling coverage limit, as established by Florida law. Some policies may offer deductibles outside this range. On a home with a $300,000 dwelling limit, a 2% hurricane deductible is $6,000. This is the amount the homeowner must pay before insurance coverage applies.

Note that hurricane coverage as part of homeowners insurance policies does not cover flood damage, such as from storm surges. To protect against flood risk, homeowners need to buy separate flood insurance.

Consider insurance when purchasing a home in Florida: Expert advice

Look into your insurance options and how the selection of a home affects the coverage you can get and what you'll pay for that coverage when shopping for a home in Florida.

"The smart buyer should consider insurance one of their key criteria in a purchase decision. I advise most buyers to stick to properties constructed post-2000 due to the tighter building code that was passed then. And in any purchase decision, I put my clients in touch with one to two smart insurance brokers who can provide quotes even before a contract is signed. A lot of older buildings are becoming hard to/impossible to insure, and as a buyer you want to be prepared.” - Christian Busch, Broker Associate at R Florida.

Do you have to have hurricane insurance in Florida?

Hurricane coverage is required for some Florida homeowners and optional for others, depending on lender requirements and property location. Florida law generally requires insurers to offer windstorm coverage, but homeowners may decline it. Lenders, particularly for high-risk properties, often require windstorm coverage as a loan condition. Homeowners with Citizens Insurance policies are required to carry flood insurance by January 1, 2027, at the latest.

Since hurricane insurance isn’t sold as a separate policy, this coverage might include opting into a homeowners policy with windstorm coverage, buying a separate wind insurance policy and buying a flood insurance policy.

How does hurricane insurance work in Florida?

Hurricane insurance in Florida works in a few different ways. Most homeowners get some protection through their homeowners insurance policies via windstorm coverage, but there’s generally a separate deductible for hurricanes.

Some homeowners also buy windstorm insurance policies from private companies or wind-only policies, such as through Florida’s state-run insurer Citizens. Floridians can also buy flood insurance to fill in gaps in coverage, as hurricane coverage on a homeowners policy does not protect against storm surges due to hurricanes or other overland flooding.

Florida homeowners typically layer a homeowners insurance policy with windstorm coverage, either included or added separately with flood insurance for full hurricane coverage.

People ask

How long does an insurance company have to settle a hurricane claim in Florida?

Florida law requires insurance companies to issue a claims payment within 30 days of receiving proof of loss. For large-scale hurricane repairs that require multiple phases, final payment may extend beyond 30 days, but insurers must issue an initial check for undisputed amounts within that window. Homeowners can contact the Florida Department of Financial Services if an insurer misses this deadline.

How much is hurricane insurance in Florida?

The average cost of hurricane insurance in Florida, including home insurance with windstorm coverage and flood insurance, is $8,557 a year. A home insurance policy in Florida costs an average of $7,136 annually, based on a $300,000 dwelling coverage, a $1,000 regular deductible, 2% hurricane deductible and $300,000 in liability coverage. An NFIP flood insurance policy in Florida costs an average of $1,421 a year. Total costs vary by location, risk level, home construction and size and other factors; shop around to find the best rates.

Citizens Insurance in Florida: Eligibility, coverage and alternatives

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is Florida's state-run insurer of last resort, available to homeowners who cannot obtain coverage from private insurers at comparable rates.

Citizens Insurance vs. private insurance in Florida
	Citizens Insurance	Private insurance
Eligibility	Must be unable to obtain private coverage within 15% of Citizens' rate	Open market
Hurricane deductible	2%–10% of dwelling coverage	Varies by insurer; must offer $500, 2%, 5% and 10% by state law
Flood coverage	Not included; required by Jan 1, 2027 for most policyholders	Not included; purchased separately
Coverage limits	$700,000 for most residential structures	Varies
Availability	Statewide	Varies; some counties excluded by private carriers

How to file a hurricane insurance claim in Florida

To file a hurricane insurance claim in Florida, document all damage with photos and videos immediately after the storm, then contact your insurer to open the claim. You have one year from the date a hurricane makes landfall to file. Hurricane deductibles in Florida are annual, so if multiple storms hit in one year, you pay the deductible only once. If flood damage occurred, file a separate claim with your flood insurance provider and pay a separate flood deductible. If there is flood damage, file a separate claim with your flood insurance provider and pay a separate flood insurance deductible.

Document all damage with photos and videos before any repairs begin.
Contact your homeowners insurer to open the claim within one year of the hurricane's landfall date.
If flood damage is present, file a separate claim with your flood insurance provider.
Pay the applicable deductibles: one hurricane deductible annually and one separate flood deductible.

People ask

Can I change my hurricane deductible in Florida?

Yes, you can change your hurricane deductible in Florida by contacting your insurance company. Deductible options typically range from 2% to 10% of your dwelling coverage limit. Changes can generally only be made at renewal. Ask your insurer specifically about how a deductible change would affect your premium, since a higher deductible typically lowers the annual cost of the policy.

When does a hurricane deductible apply in Florida?

A hurricane deductible applies when damage to your home occurs due to a storm officially designated as a hurricane. In some cases, the wording on your policy may be “named storm” rather than “hurricane”. In that case, any named storm would fall under that designation, including tropical storms that haven’t reached hurricane status.

Florida homeowners should confirm whether their homeowners insurance policy covers windstorms and, if so, the amount of the deductible, as well as whether their lender requires it. Purchase a flood insurance policy in addition to homeowners insurance to cover storm surges and flash floods from heavy rain, especially in high-risk areas, since this damage is not covered by homeowners insurance.