Home · Updated September 2026
Many policies written in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma carry one deductible for ordinary claims and a separate, higher one for wind and hail. The separate deductible is frequently expressed as a percentage of the dwelling limit rather than a flat amount.
The arithmetic catches people out. A 1 percent deductible on a $400,000 dwelling limit is $4,000. At 2 percent it is $8,000. Compared to a $1,000 all-perils deductible, that is a substantial change in what a hail claim actually returns.
Hail is not a rare event here. It is a frequent, geographically concentrated, expensive one, and a single storm can produce thousands of claims in a day. Percentage deductibles keep the coverage available and affordable by moving smaller storm losses back to homeowners and reserving the policy for serious damage.
Accepting a higher wind and hail deductible lowers premium, sometimes considerably. That can be a sound choice for a homeowner with a newer roof and savings to cover the gap. It is a poor choice for someone with an aging roof and no cushion, because the most likely claim becomes one they cannot afford to file.
The decision belongs to you, but it should be a decision. Check your declarations page and find out which deductible applies to storm damage before hail season, not after.
Separate from the deductible, some policies pay roof claims on a depreciation schedule based on the roof's age, even when the rest of the policy is replacement cost. A twenty-year-old roof under a schedule may return a fraction of what a new roof costs.
Between a percentage deductible and a depreciation schedule, an older roof can produce a claim payment that barely exceeds the deductible. Knowing this in advance is the difference between planning a roof replacement and being surprised by one.
Document damage with photos and dates, make temporary repairs to prevent further damage and keep the receipts, and be cautious with the contractors who appear in the neighborhood immediately afterward. Storm-chasing operations are common after a major hail event, and a roof installed badly creates a second problem your policy will not solve.
Call your agent before filing if you are unsure whether the damage exceeds your deductible. A claim that pays nothing still goes on your record.
Questions about your own situation? Call 417.623.8300 or send us your current policy. We are licensed in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Questions about your own policy? Send it over and we will go through it with you.