What's a deductible?
What Is an Insurance Deductible? (Plain English)
Your deductible is what you pay first on any claim. See how it changes premium and how to pick the right level.
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The two-minute version
Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before the insurer pays anything. Higher deductible = lower premium because you absorb small claims yourself.
Per-peril deductibles (the gotcha)
Some perils — hurricane, wind, earthquake, water damage — carry separate, higher deductibles that often stack with the standard one.
Frequently asked
- Is the deductible per claim or per year?
- Almost always per claim. The exception is health insurance, where it's annual.
- Can I claim if loss is under deductible?
- Technically yes but the insurer pays nothing and the claim still goes on your record. Rarely worth it.
Your policy is the only source of truth
Stop guessing. Check your actual policy.
Generic answers don't pay claims. PolicyPal reads your policy wording in seconds and tells you, in one sentence, whether you're covered.