Glossary

Wind-only policy

A policy that covers only wind and hail damage, often sold by a state wind pool to coastal homeowners whose main policy excludes wind.

Also called: windstorm-only policy, wind and hail policy, wind pool policy

A wind-only policy covers one thing: damage from windstorm and hail. It is the companion to a homeowners or dwelling policy that excludes wind, and it exists because some coastal areas carry too much hurricane risk for private insurers to cover on a regular homeowners form.

Some wind-only policies come from state-created wind pools, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) being the best-known example. Others come from specialty insurers or a state's insurer of last resort. Each pool sets its own rates, eligibility and maximum limits, and the maximum can be lower than what it would cost to rebuild.

These policies usually carry a percentage hurricane deductible and exclude everything else: fire, theft, plumbing leaks, liability and flood. Say your home has an ordinary policy with wind excluded and a wind-only policy beside it (hypothetical). You then have two premiums, two deductibles and two renewal dates, and a lapse on either one leaves a hole. Wind-driven rain rules and claim deadlines can also differ from your main policy. Keep both declarations pages together and give your lender both. The guide beach and windstorm pools along the coast explains who runs them, and wind exclusion covers the companion provision.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

In the index now

Related terms

Wind exclusion A provision or endorsement that removes wind and hail from a homeowners policy, so the home needs separate wind coverage from a wind pool or another insurer. Windstorm The peril of damage from high winds, including hurricanes, tornadoes and thunderstorm gusts, which most policies cover, sometimes with a separate deductible. Residual market The state-created plans and pools that cover property owners the private market declines, as opposed to coverage insurers sell by choice. FAIR plan A state pool, funded by the insurers doing business there, that sells basic property coverage to owners who cannot find it in the regular market. Insurer of last resort A state-created or state-sponsored insurer that sells coverage to property owners who cannot get a policy from a private company. Hurricane deductible A separate amount you pay first, usually a percentage of the dwelling limit, that applies to wind damage from a hurricane in place of your regular flat amount.

Related guides

Citizens Property Insurance in Florida: who qualifies and what to know How Florida's Citizens works: the 20% eligibility rule, what it covers, take-out offers, flood and assessment rules, and how to move to a private insurer. Insuring a coastal home: wind, flood and where to find coverage Coastal owners often assemble coverage from several sources: a homeowners policy, a flood policy and sometimes a state wind pool. How the pieces fit and cost. Beach and windstorm pools along the coast: how they work Wind pools in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi and the Carolinas cover coastal wind and hail when private insurers will not. Eligibility, limits and tradeoffs. FAIR plans explained: the insurer of last resort for homes How FAIR plans and coastal wind pools work, who qualifies, what they cover and leave out, how they are funded, and what to ask before relying on one. Gulf Coast home insurance: Alabama and Mississippi How Alabama and Mississippi differ on wind pools, hurricane deductibles, FORTIFIED discounts and claim rules, using 2025 NAIC data and state sources. Hurricane coverage: wind, flood and storm surge A standard homeowners policy pays for hurricane wind damage but not for flood or storm surge. What each policy covers, where the gaps are and what to check.

Related insurers

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Florida) Florida's not-for-profit, government-created insurer of last resort; takeouts cut it from 1.41 million policies in 2023 to about 255,000 in October 2026. GeoVera Insurance Fairfield, California catastrophe specialist known for residential earthquake insurance; its carriers, including SafePort, now write through SageSure. Heritage Insurance Tampa-based public insurer that grew out of Citizens takeouts and now writes homes in 16 states through Heritage P&C, Narragansett Bay and Hawaii's Zephyr. NC Insurance Underwriting Association (Coastal Property Insurance Pool) North Carolina's market of last resort for the Outer Banks and 18 coastal counties, writing homeowners, dwelling and wind-only policies up to $1 million. Texas FAIR Plan and Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Texas' insurers of last resort: the FAIR Plan sells basic homeowners coverage statewide, and TWIA sells wind and hail coverage on the coast. USAA San Antonio reciprocal that sells home insurance directly to military members, veterans and their families; the No. 3 U.S. home insurer by premiums.

Related states

Alabama Alabama home insurance: State Farm and Alfa lead, coastal wind drives premiums, AIUA covers Mobile and Baldwin, and FORTIFIED discounts are mandatory. Mississippi Mississippi home insurance: State Farm and Farm Bureau lead, the coastal wind pool set a 16% rate rise for 2026, and FORTIFIED roof grants restarted. North Carolina North Carolina home insurance: a Rate Bureau sets base rates, State Farm and NC Farm Bureau lead, and a FAIR Plan and Coastal Pool back up the coast. South Carolina South Carolina home insurance: State Farm leads a $3.51 billion market, coastal wind drives prices, and SC Wind and Safe Home grants serve the coast. Texas Texas home insurance: the largest state market, led by State Farm; hail and hurricanes drive high premiums, and TWIA and the FAIR Plan are the backstops.