Hurricane Season Is Around the Corner: Now Is the Time to Review Your Insurance Coverage

As hurricane season approaches in Florida, many homeowners are stocking up on supplies, checking generators, and preparing their homes for severe weather. But one of the most important steps you can take before a storm ever forms is reviewing your insurance coverage with your agent.

At Wilcox Family Insurance, we always encourage our clients in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and throughout Southwest Florida to review their policies before hurricane season begins, not after a storm is already in the Gulf.

Why You Should Review Your Insurance Before Hurricane Season

Many homeowners assume they are fully protected simply because they have a homeowners insurance policy. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

Florida insurance policies can vary significantly when it comes to:

• Hurricane deductibles
• Roof coverage
• Water damage limitations
• Flood insurance
• Personal property coverage
• Screen enclosure and pool cage coverage
• Additional living expenses
• Wind mitigation discounts

The beginning of hurricane season is the perfect reminder to sit down with your insurance agent and make sure your coverage still matches your home, your finances, and your risk tolerance.

Have You Made Updates to Your Home?

Many homeowners have made improvements to their homes over the past few years but never updated their insurance policy.

Examples include:

• New roofs
• Kitchen remodels
• Pool installations
• Screen enclosures
• Outdoor kitchens
• Solar panels
• Detached garages or sheds

If your policy has not been updated after renovations or upgrades, you may not have enough coverage if a hurricane causes major damage.

Understanding Your Hurricane Deductible

One of the biggest surprises homeowners discover after a storm is how hurricane deductibles work.

Unlike a standard deductible, hurricane deductibles in Florida are often based on a percentage of your dwelling coverage.

For example:

• A home insured for $500,000 with a 2% hurricane deductible means the homeowner could be responsible for the first $10,000 of hurricane damage.

Many homeowners are unaware of their deductible amount until they need to file a claim. Reviewing this ahead of hurricane season can help you avoid costly surprises.

Don’t Assume Flood Damage Is Covered

One of the most common misconceptions in Florida is that homeowners insurance covers flooding.

In most cases, it does not.

Flood insurance is typically a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood carrier. Even homes outside of high-risk flood zones can experience flood damage from storm surge or heavy rainfall during hurricanes.

If you have questions about flood insurance in Fort Myers or Cape Coral, now is the time to ask — because many flood policies have waiting periods before coverage becomes active.

Are You Receiving All Available Discounts?

Another reason to review your insurance before hurricane season is to make sure you are receiving all eligible discounts.

You may qualify for additional savings through:

• Wind mitigation features
• Roof updates
• Impact windows or shutters
• Updated electrical systems
• Security systems
• Bundling policies

In Florida, wind mitigation discounts can sometimes make a significant difference in premium costs.

The Insurance Market Is Changing

Florida’s insurance market has gone through major changes over the past several years. The good news is that more companies are beginning to enter the market again, and some carriers are loosening underwriting guidelines or filing for rate decreases.

That makes this a good time to:

• Review your current policy
• Compare options
• Make sure your coverage is competitive
• Ensure your policy still fits your needs

Don’t Wait Until a Storm Is Named

Once a tropical storm or hurricane is approaching Florida, insurance companies may temporarily restrict:

• New policies
• Coverage changes
• Flood insurance purchases
• Policy rewrites

That is why it is important to review your insurance coverage early — before storm season becomes active.

Final Thoughts

Hurricane preparation is about more than bottled water and plywood. It is also about making sure your insurance protection is ready if the unexpected happens.

A quick policy review today can help prevent major financial stress later.

If you have questions about your homeowners insurance, flood insurance, wind mitigation discounts, or hurricane deductibles, contact Wilcox Family Insurance. Our family-owned agency has proudly served Southwest Florida homeowners for over 20 years, and we are always happy to help clients better understand their coverage before hurricane season arrives.