How your 2% Hurricane Deductible really works!
Start with this. Under Florida law no insurance company can cancel your policy, raise your premium, or mess with you in any other way because you file a claim resulting from a natural occurrence--and that includes windstorms (named or not).
When you have a loss from a named windstorm like Hurricane Irma that does not reach your 2% deductible, FILE THE CLAIM! The deductible for hurricanes is cumulative over the course of the calendar year. So the money damage from the first hurricane gets added to the damages from subsequent hurricanes and tropical storms in the same calendar year until that 2% is reached. The problem is that you get no credit for the damage unless you FILE THE CLAIM! Not only that, but the more you can build up those partial claims the faster you reach your deductible.
Let me make one last point. Did you know that there are companies in the state of Florida that will "advance" your hurricane deductible up to the amount of your loss and pay your claim. You then pay them back in installments over three years at 0% interest? The same forgiveness applies to any "disaster" causing more that $25 million in damages.
Add it all up. You cannot be penalized for filing a hurricane claim even if it's under the deductible. In fact you penalize yourself by not filing. Consider all those Florida families who suffered significant damage during Hurricane Irma and never filed a claim. For many families across the state the damage has yet to be repaired from Irma because coming up with $5,000 before your deductible is met is tough for most families in this state. But that's the hurricane deductible for a $250,000 home!
Stop beating yourself up. Find a professional who will work with you to protect your standard of living.
Adam