What’s the difference between home insurance and hail insurance?
Wind and hail insurance is not the same thing as a traditional homeowners insurance policy. In windy states such as Missouri, these two kinds of coverage are typically priced separately.
Homeowners insurance covers a set of standard perils that can cause damage to a home. While coverage for wind and hailstorm damage has historically been included with this type of policy in many states, increased risk of damaging hail and wind across the Midwest and the Southeastern states has driven many insurance providers to exclude this peril from their standard homeowners offering in Missouri and the surrounding states.
Wind and hail insurance, sometimes called roof insurance, can be sold as an add-on policy or may be included as a higher-cost provision within a home insurance policy. In cases where wind and hail coverage has been explicitly excluded from the home policy, the homeowner may be obligated to obtain a standalone hail insurance policy to meet the requirements of their mortgage or a homeowners association guidelines.
Premium Cost Example
Example: Home insurance premiums in the U.S. average $208/month or $2,490/year, citing NerdWallet data from 2026. A substantial portion of the homeowners policy’s premium goes to cover the included wind and hail insurance. In circumstances where wind and hail coverage has been excluded from the homeowners policy coverage, separate wind insurance premiums can cost between $1,000 and $3,000/year.
Does hail insurance have a deductible in Missouri?
Wind and hail insurance is usually priced with a deductible. Flat-rate deductibles were standard for decades, but in recent years, percentage deductibles for wind and hail have become almost the new standard. Deductibles priced at 1-2% of the insured property’s value are the average in most states, although percentage deductibles up to 5% are not uncommon.
Deductible Cost Example
Example: If your Missouri home is valued at $350,000 and the wind and hail deductible is calculated at 2% of the home’s value, you would be responsible for contributing $2,000 toward the repairs provided by the policy before the insurance company paid out the remainder of the costs.
How can I pay less for wind/hail insurance in Missouri?
There are ways to negotiate a lower total home insurance cost if your provider’s current quote doesn’t fit your budget.
One popular option is to take on a higher wind/hail deductible in exchange for a lower premium. By accepting the risk of the increased deductible, your up-front insurance costs can be minimized. One method for reducing the risk of a higher deductible is to buy a standalone wind and hail deductible coverage policy or a parametric hybrid hail insurance policy that can help you cover the cost of the new deductible after a claim.
The second policy can be used to cover any out-of-pocket costs that would generally follow a homeowners wind and hail claim. Part of the savings from the new, lower premium could be used to cover the additional policy, while still resulting in a lower insurance bill overall.
Additionally, Missouri homeowners can earn lower home insurance rates by using impact-resistant building materials and certified techniques as part of their home improvements. When certain standards are met, insurers are often able to offer a lower premium to the homeowner.
This added coverage can eliminate any out-of-pocket costs that would generally follow a homeowners wind and hail claim. Part of the savings from the new, lower premium could be used to cover the additional policy, while still resulting in a lower insurance bill overall.
Does wind/hail insurance vary by state?
The percentage rates used to calculate deductible prices will vary by region and state, with the differences being based on the varying risk between areas. While the states that make up Tornado Alley, including Missouri when an Eastward shift of this elevated-risk swath of states is considered.
Considering Missouri’s steadily increasing annual count of billion-dollar weather disasters, the use of high percentage deductibles and other increases in cost may seem reasonable, or at least logical. Before your next insurance renewal is due, take the time to understand the benefits and limitations of your current policy. With that knowledge and the guidance provided here, you’ll be better equipped to find the best price on home hail and wind coverage in Missouri.
Sources:
Schlichter, Sarah. “The Average Home Insurance Cost in the U.S. for 2026” Nerdwallet, May 06, 2026, https://www.nerdwallet.com/insurance/homeowners/learn/average-homeowners-insurance-cost
Gray is the Senior Content Specialist at Sola Insurance, working with the Sales and Marketing teams to provide helpful, valuable content for homeowners and agents. Gray has worked previously in finance, logistics, and advertising.
