Understanding Insurance Deductibles

What is the Insurance Deductible?

Deductibles are the amount of out-of-pocket money you must pay before your insurance kicks in. When there’s a covered loss, and you file a claim, there is a pre-defined number you have to cover before you receive your coverage reimbursement. That number most generally affects directly on your monthly premium rate.

In other words, if you choose high deductibles, you will access a lower premium. But if something happens and you need to file a claim, you will have to pay for more. If you choose lower deductibles, instead, you’ll be paying a higher premium every month but will get broader protection in the event something happens, meaning you’ll pay less for that covered loss.

How Does Insurance Deductible Work?

When there’s a covered loss, a claims adjuster analyzes your case, determines the value to the incurred damages, discounts the deductibles, and pays the difference. Let’s say you filed a claim, and your deductible is $100, when your claims adjuster determines your claim is worth $1,000 you’ll receive a $900 payment.

Keep in mind that this calculation method is done either with Actual Cash Value (ACV) or Replacement Cost (RC). Actual Cash Value considers depreciation time, while Replacement Cost doesn’t. This difference is key, because it will directly impact on the “final value” of your filed claim. If your motorcycle is from 2019, but you chose Replacement Cost, then if there’s a covered loss, your claims adjuster will not consider your bike’s “age” when determining your payment.

What Types of Insurance Deductibles are There?

Let’s explore the two deductible options:

• Compulsory deductible

Compulsory deductibles are a predetermined responsibility you will have when accessing your policy. In other words, it’s a minimum amount you’ll have to pay before your insurance kicks in. It acts as a baseline, and also as an incentive for you to take care of whatever you’re willing to protect. If we didn’t have compulsory deductibles, then everyone could file small claims, increasing everyone’s premium. These are specified in your policy, whether you have a Homeowners, Renters, Motorcycle, Condo, or other insurance products.

• Voluntary deductible

Voluntary deductibles are optional and allow you to choose the amount of payment you’ll be responsible for when filing a claim. If you opt for higher deductibles, you’ll be able to reduce your insurance premium rate. If you go the other way round, you’ll pay a more expensive premium but reduce it or won’t even have to pay anything when filing a claim.

Voluntary deductibles, on the contrary, are flexible. At the moment you set your policy, you can choose the amount of responsibility you’ll have in the event of a covered peril. These deductibles allow you to balance between how big your scope of protection will be when filing a claim, and how much it will cost.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding insurance deductibles is crucial for navigating the insurance world effectively. Finding the right balance between affordable insurance coverage and one that protects you, your loved ones, and your finances is ideal.

At the end of the day, there’s nothing like having extra peace of mind with reliable insurance and being able to rest assured that in the event unexpected circumstances happen you’re covered.