Hail Claims: Check Coverage Type, Never Waive the Deductible

Hail is usually a covered peril. The payout is not automatic.

East Texas still sits in peak storm season. If last week’s cells left bruising on shingles you cannot see from the driveway, the next question is not “did it hail?” It is “what does this policy actually pay, and who is allowed to talk to the carrier?”

The Texas Department of Insurance’s after-hail-or-windstorms checklist is direct: file as soon as you can if hail or strong winds damaged the home; photograph and list the damage; prevent further loss (cover holes, remove standing water, keep receipts); and be available for the adjuster. If you have wind and hail coverage on the homeowners policy, TDI says the company should pay for hail damage—subject to the contract you actually bought.

TDI’s roof insurance guide (updated April 1, 2026) draws the line homeowners miss at renewal: some policies pay replacement cost (repair at current prices). Others pay actual cash value, which is less on an older or worn roof. As roofs age, some companies switch to actual cash value. A roof in poor condition may lose roof coverage altogether. Insurance will not pay for a new roof just because it is old. Wind-and-hail deductibles are often higher than the rest of the policy.

The illegal pitch: “We’ll waive your deductible”

TDI’s answer to whether a contractor can waive your deductible is no. It is illegal for a contractor to waive the deductible or help you avoid paying it—including by inflating the estimate so the insurer “covers” your out-of-pocket, or by offering a rebate equal to the deductible. Carriers can demand proof you paid (canceled check, money order, card statement, or a written payment plan). TDI says you can report the pitch to the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-621-0508.

Get more than one bid. Do not pay in full up front. Never sign a contract with blank spaces. Use a local company with a real address and references.

East Texas next step

Stabilize leaks when it is safe. Document the storm date and the openings. Then get a qualified look at the roof before you accept a partial scope.

Through East Texas Roof Quotes you can request a free roof quote from a local roofer, who will look at what is actually on the roof. East Texas Roof Quotes doesn’t handle insurance claims. Pay the deductible yourself: no roofer can promise to make it disappear.

Takeaway: After hail, match the claim to replacement-cost versus actual-cash-value language, pay the deductible yourself, and get the roof inspected before you sign a “we’ll handle the insurance” contract.

Request a roof check