Does a Wind or Storm Damage Claim Increase My Homeowners Insurance Premium?

June 25, 2019

What about hail or another damage claim?

There was a day when the answer to this question would have been “no”. Today, insurance carriers have very sophisticated rating programs that may include surcharges or renewal rating variables that may include prior claims activity. That is not to suggest that all companies utilize this practice. Some do not. For those companies where claim history is a factor, the rating program may involve the following caveats:

Forgiveness for the first claim.
Base surcharges on the amount of the claim. (larger losses, higher surcharge)
Base surcharges on the type of claim (IE: maintenance related losses vs. those a homeowner would have no control over)
Remove or reduce the surcharge for claims free experience over a period of years.

For some programs, home insurance rating techniques have adopted much of what auto insurance carriers have implemented for years. And, the level of sophistication is such that the calculations may not be visible to your agent or company representative. What’s one to do? The practice of using insurance to transfer the risk of loss for those type of claims you otherwise could not absorb, is best practice. Take the highest deductible you can reasonably afford and use your insurance for only those types of losses you can’t finance yourself. Have additional questions about your Homeowners Insurance? We LOVE to help! Feel welcome to stop in and see us or call 607-324-7500 This article originally appeared at https://www.quora.com/Does-wind-hail-storm-damage-claims-increase-my-homeowner-insurance-premium

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Auto Rates and Finger Prints: Both are Unique to You!

By Jeff Ryan • April 7, 2026

Factors You Can’t Easily Control These factors are built into your profile, but still play a major role: Your location: Claim trends, traffic, and weather patterns where you principally drive. Your age and driving experience: Especially for younger drivers. Other drivers in your household: Their age and driving history. The vehicle you own: Unique to the Year, Make, Model, and Sub-model’s damageability and cost of parts/labor. These factors significantly influence price differences, but they don’t tell the whole story. Factors You Can Control This is where habits and wise decisions can make a real difference: Your driving habits: Minimizing tickets and accidents can have a direct impact. Your coverage choices: Liability limits, deductibles, and optional coverages can vary widely. Your insurance consistency: Avoiding lapses in coverage. Your annual mileage: How much and how often you drive. Discount opportunities: Bundling, pay-in-full, NYS defensive driving course. Your Insurance Score (Yes—You Can Influence It) Insurance companies use a credit-based insurance score as part of their rating process. While it’s based on financial behaviors, it is not permanent—and it can be improved over time. Simple habits like: Paying bills on time Reducing outstanding debt Avoiding excessive credit inquiries… can positively impact your score—and in turn, your insurance rates. Your insurance score is under your control and a worthy mid to long-term project in and of itself. For more information on what you can do to positively influence your score, see: Great 8 Tip #8 - What's Credit Got to Do with Insurance? How Can I Improve My Auto Insurance Score Why Comparing Rates Doesn’t Work When someone says, “I only pay…” , the uniqueness of their fingerprint is missing. What are their: Deductibles Driving history Insurance score Household profile Coverage limits: what they may be giving up in terms of protection. Price without context can be misleading and discouraging.