Minnesota Homeowners Face Shrinking Insurance Coverage
As severe weather season approaches in Minnesota, many homeowners are taking a closer look at their property insurance—only to find that coverage isn’t what it used to be. According to a recent report by CBS Minnesota, insurance companies in the state are quietly rolling back protections, increasing deductibles, and limiting how storm-related damage—particularly roof claims—is handled.
Unfortunately, this trend isn’t unique to Minnesota. At Chad T. Wilson Law Firm, we’ve seen these tactics play out in Texas, Colorado, Florida, and California, where insurers have responded to rising climate-related losses by cutting corners—often at the expense of the very policyholders they promised to protect.
With extreme weather events becoming more frequent and insurance companies pulling out of Texas, residents are facing tough decisions. Some are forced into the Texas FAIR Plan, a last-resort insurance option for those denied coverage, while others are considering going without insurance entirely—a risky gamble in a state prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, and hailstorms.
The Shifting Landscape of Roof Coverage
One of the biggest changes Minnesota homeowners are now facing? A dramatic shift in how insurers handle hail damage and roof claims.
“Hail losses, specifically as it relates to roofs, are some of the biggest cost drivers right now,” said Aaron Cocking, an insurance industry lobbyist. To recoup losses, insurance companies are increasingly prorating roof claims—meaning the amount they’ll pay depends on the age of your roof—and applying separate deductibles based on damage type, rather than using a single, standard deductible.
This practice mirrors what we reported in Texas, where we covered how increasingly complex policy language and selective coverage limitations are leading to widespread confusion—and in some cases, outright denial of valid claims.
Homeowners Are Often Unaware Until It’s Too Late
“Many homeowners think, ‘I’ve got home insurance—I’m covered,'” said Cocking, “but they don’t actually read into it.”
This is a dangerous assumption, and one that’s exploited all too often. As noted in our recent coverage of the Texas insurance crisis, more and more policyholders are learning—after damage occurs—that their policies exclude or drastically underpay storm-related repairs.
Dan Walrach, a Minnesota-based contractor, echoed this concern. “Read your policy,” he advised. “If you don’t know how to read your policy, find someone to help you read it.”
What Homeowners Should Do Now
This is sound advice for anyone living in a storm-prone region. Here are key steps every homeowner should take to protect themselves:
- Review Your Policy Now – Don’t wait for damage to happen. Know your deductibles, exclusions, and whether your roof is covered at replacement cost or actual cash value.
- Ask Questions – Contact your agent and ask specific questions about hail, wind, and water damage.
- Document Everything – Take photos of your roof and exterior now, before storm season, as a baseline for future claims.
- Know Your Rights – If you feel a claim has been unfairly denied, underpaid, or delayed, contact a qualified insurance attorney.
How Chad T. Wilson Law Firm Can Help
At Chad T. Wilson Law Firm, we specialize in helping policyholders fight back when insurance companies fail to honor their contracts. Whether you’re in Minnesota, Texas, or any other storm-prone state, we understand how to navigate complex insurance disputes and hold carriers accountable.
If your claim has been denied, delayed, or underpaid, contact us for a free case evaluation. We don’t get paid unless you do.
