Do I really have to pay my deductible?
The short answer is yes.
I know that’s not what anyone wants to hear right after a storm. You’re dealing with a damaged roof, maybe a leak, and now you have to come up with $1,000 or $2,500 or more. So when a roofer says “don’t worry, we’ll take care of your deductible,” it sounds like a break.
It isn’t.
Why do I have to pay it?
Your deductible is part of your insurance contract. It’s the share of a loss you agreed to carry in exchange for a lower premium. The insurance company prices your policy assuming you’ll pay it.
That’s also why picking a higher deductible makes your premium cheaper. You’re taking on more of the risk yourself. It’s a fair trade, as long as you pick a deductible you could actually pay on a bad day.
Can a roofer legally cover my deductible in Kentucky?
No. When a job is being paid with insurance money, Kentucky law says a contractor can’t “offer to pay or rebate all or any portion of an insurance deductible or claims proceeds as an inducement to the sale of goods or services.” That’s KRS 367.628.
The same law also says the contractor can’t give you a discount or allowance against their fee, or pay you anything worth more than $100, whether it’s a gift, a credit, or a referral fee. So the workarounds are covered too.
If a roofer offers to cover it, where does the money come from?
This is the question worth thinking through, because the money has to come from somewhere.
There are really only two ways it works. The contractor bills your insurance company for more than the job actually costs, which is insurance fraud. Or they make up the difference by doing less: cheaper materials, skipped steps, a smaller crew. Often it’s both.
And you’re the one who signed the claim. If the numbers don’t hold up, it’s your policy and your name on it.
A contractor willing to mislead your insurance company on day one is telling you something about how they’ll handle the rest of the job. I’d listen.
What will I actually pay on an approved claim?
On an approved claim, our price matches the approved scope, so you pay your deductible and nothing more for the covered work. Here’s more on how we handle storm damage claims.
What if I can’t afford my deductible right now?
This is a real problem for a lot of people, and the answer isn’t to find a roofer who’ll make it disappear.
Look at your declarations page before you need it. If your deductible is a number you couldn’t come up with, talk to your agent about it at renewal. A lower deductible costs more each year, and whether that’s worth it depends on your budget. That’s a decision to make before the storm, not after.
If you’re already in a claim, be honest with your contractor about timing. A straight answer about when you can pay is a lot better than an arrangement that puts your claim at risk.
What should I do if a roofer offers anyway?
Say no, and think twice about hiring them for anything else. You don’t need a roofer who’s willing to cut corners with your insurance company. You need one who’ll tell you what the work costs, show you where the money goes, and still be around if something goes wrong.