Homeowner Guide · Insurance Claims
“Less Deductible” Does Not
Mean You Already Paid It.
The short answer
Your deductible is your share of the repair
When your insurance company subtracts the deductible, it is not collecting money from you. It is telling you: "We will pay for everything except this amount. This part is yours."
So the deductible is not paid to the insurance company. It is paid to whoever does the work, as your share of the cost.
Example numbers. Try your own below.
Reading your estimate
Why it looks like it was already paid
Most insurance estimates end with a summary like this one. The highlighted line is where the confusion starts.
"Less Deductible" means less money from the insurance company, not money taken from you. The insurance company is simply not paying that part, because your policy says it is your share.
The roof still costs $18,000. Insurance covers $16,000 across its checks. The last $2,000 is the deductible, and that is what you pay.
Think of it this way
You already do this at the doctor and the body shop
At the doctor
Your health insurance pays most of the bill, but you pay your share at the front desk. You pay the doctor's office, not the insurance company.
At the body shop
After a fender bender, your car insurance pays the shop the repair cost minus your deductible. You pay your deductible to the shop when you pick up your car.
Your roof works the same way. The insurance company pays its part, and you pay your part to the company that does the work.
Try your numbers
See where every dollar goes
Enter the total approved amount (Replacement Cost Value) and your deductible from your estimate.
Illustration only. Assumes recoverable depreciation is released after the work is finished. Your policy and your insurance company decide what is paid.
Clearing it up
Common myths about deductibles
The truth
They subtracted it from what they pay. No money left your pocket. That amount is still owed for the work, and it is your share to pay.
The truth
Premiums pay for your coverage. The deductible is a separate amount you agreed to pay toward any claim when you chose your policy.
The truth
In Texas, it is illegal for a contractor to offer to waive, rebate, or absorb your deductible. A roofer who offers is breaking the law and is likely cutting corners somewhere else to make up the difference.
The truth
The insurance company's estimate already accounts for your deductible. If the roof costs what was approved, insurance pays its share and your deductible covers the rest. Nothing is extra.
Texas law
Why we have to collect it
- You are required to pay itTexas law requires a policyholder to pay the deductible on a property insurance claim, and your insurance company can ask for proof that you paid.
- We cannot waive itIt is illegal in Texas for a contractor to offer to waive, rebate, or absorb your deductible. Collecting it is how we do things the right way.
- Need help with timing?Ask us about financing options. Texas law allows financing as long as the full deductible is paid over time.
Source: Texas Department of Insurance, Roofing and insurance: Know the law. This page is general information, not legal advice. Your policy controls your coverage and deductible.
Still have questions about your estimate?
Call us and we will walk through it with you, line by line.
Call 940.255.0972