Many New Jersey homeowners policies carry a hurricane deductible, usually 1% to 5% of the dwelling limit. On a $500,000 home, a 2% deductible is $10,000.
What triggers it
The trigger is in the endorsement, not the declarations page. Common triggers include a hurricane warning issued for New Jersey by the National Weather Service or a storm officially classed as a hurricane. Some policies instead use a broader windstorm deductible that applies to any wind loss.
The Sandy example
Sandy was classed as a post-tropical cyclone when it made landfall near Brigantine in 2012. The state told insurers that hurricane deductibles shouldn’t apply, and homeowners paid their ordinary deductibles instead. Future storms will depend on the exact wording in each policy.
Nor’easters
Most nor’easters don’t trigger a hurricane deductible. If your policy has a windstorm deductible, though, it may apply.
Check your numbers
Our hurricane deductible calculator shows your deductible in dollars and what a claim would pay with and without the trigger.