A homeowner’s insurance declaration page (often called a “dec page”) is the policy’s at-a-glance summary of who is insured, the property address, coverage parts and limits (A–F), deductibles (including any separate wind/hail or hurricane percentage deductibles), forms, endorsements, and interested parties like your mortgagee. It’s typically the first section of your policy packet and is also available in most carriers’ portals/apps; digital delivery and clear documentation are now central to the experience according to J.D. Power (2025). Insurers are also shifting from static PDFs toward structured, machine‑readable documents to reduce errors and speed servicing, a trend highlighted in the 2025 insurance outlook (Deloitte Insights). A declaration “page” may span multiple pages when your policy includes numerous coverages or endorsements.
Every time you purchase or renew an insurance policy, you should receive a new declaration page because each term is a new agreement. Many insurers provide e‑delivery with consent and maintain an audit trail for compliance. As a pricing benchmark, national averages currently run roughly $1,750–$2,150 per year depending on dwelling coverage (≈$1,759 for $250k coverage; ≈$2,151 for $300k) per Bankrate. Discounts can materially change the price shown on your dec page: bundling home+auto often reduces the home premium by about 10%–25%, safety/monitoring devices by ~3%–10%, and claims‑free status by ~5%–20% on many plans according to market surveys. Some states mandate specific mitigation credits, such as Florida wind mitigation credits (Florida OIR) and California’s wildfire‑mitigation discounts (California DOI).
What Information is Included in the Declaration Page?
A homeowner’s insurance declaration page summarizes your base policy form (e.g., HO‑3 or HO‑5), coverage parts A–F, and loss‑settlement terms (replacement cost vs. actual cash value). It will also show any catastrophe‑specific deductibles—such as hurricane, named‑storm, or wind/hail deductibles—that commonly range from 1%–5% of Coverage A in exposed regions, with state‑by‑state trigger definitions per the NAIC. Standard homeowners policies exclude flood and earthquake; these require separate policies (e.g., NFIP/private flood and CEA/private earthquake) per the Insurance Information Institute, FEMA FloodSmart, and the California Earthquake Authority.
Most declaration pages will include the same basic information such as:
- Your insurance policy number — often paired with the effective date and document version so you can confirm you’re viewing the current term in your portal/app (J.D. Power).
- Your name, address, and contact information — verify spelling and household members to avoid service and claim issues; documentation clarity is a key driver of satisfaction (J.D. Power).
- Name, address, and contact information of the insurance company — including service channels for endorsements, claims, and billing.
- Who and what is covered under your insurance policy — the residence premises and insureds, plus Coverage A–F; HO‑3 and HO‑5 are common forms (III), (NAIC).
- Type of coverage — base policy form (e.g., HO‑3 open‑peril on the dwelling; HO‑5 broader open‑peril on dwelling and personal property) and whether personal property is ACV or upgraded to RCV (NAIC).
- Limits and exemptions to the policy — exclusions such as flood and earthquake. For flood, NFIP residential limits are up to $250,000 (building) and $100,000 (contents), typically with ACV on contents (FEMA FloodSmart). Earthquake options vary by state; CEA deductibles commonly range 5%–25% with optional personal property and loss‑of‑use coverages (CEA).
- Limits of liability — your personal liability (Coverage E) base limits typically start around $100,000–$300,000, with higher options available (III), (NAIC).
- Deductibles — your all‑perils deductible and any separate hurricane, named‑storm, or wind/hail percentage deductible (commonly 1%–5% of Coverage A, sometimes higher in high‑risk areas); triggers vary by state/insurer (NAIC).
- Endorsements — add‑ons like water/sewer backup (often selected sublimits, e.g., $5k–$25k) (III), service line (commonly $10k–$25k limits), Ordinance or Law, scheduled personal property, or inflation guard (NAIC).
- The duration the policy is valid for — policy term (effective/expiration). Many policies include an inflation‑guard mechanism that adjusts Coverage A during the term to track building‑cost inflation (NAIC).
- The cost of the insurance — your annual premium and fees. Current national averages cluster around ≈$1,759/year for $250k dwelling and ≈$2,151/year for $300k (Bankrate). Industry data show large increases recently as carriers respond to loss trends and higher reinsurance costs (LexisNexis), (Policygenius).
- Any discounts applied — line‑item credits such as bundle (≈10%–25%), protective devices (≈3%–10%), and claims‑free (≈5%–20%) (market surveys); state programs can add mitigation credits (e.g., Florida wind OIR; California wildfire CDI).
- Any additional named people on the policy such as banks or leasing companies — confirm the mortgagee clause (name/address/loan number). Incorrect lender details can delay claim payments or create servicing issues, a common service pain point flagged in consumer studies (J.D. Power).
Why Is an Insurance Declaration Page Important?
Your declaration page is the authoritative summary of coverages, limits, deductibles, and endorsements that govern how losses are paid. It has grown even more consequential as insurers respond to elevated catastrophe losses and market stress by using peril‑specific deductibles and tighter roof/water terms. The U.S. recorded 28 separate weather/climate disasters with losses over $1 billion in 2023 (NOAA), and global insured catastrophe losses were about $118B, with U.S. severe convective storms contributing roughly $60B (Aon). These pressures often translate into the separate hurricane/named‑storm or wind/hail deductibles you see on dec pages (NAIC) and, in some markets, roof settlements that default to ACV unless upgraded (NAIC), (LexisNexis).
Use your dec page to confirm key choices before a loss: replacement cost vs. ACV on dwelling/roof and personal property; any Extended or Guaranteed Replacement Cost; and critical gap coverages (flood and earthquake are not included unless separately purchased) (III), (FEMA FloodSmart), (CEA). Some programs now require flood coverage to maintain wind coverage—for example, Florida’s Citizens is phasing in mandatory flood insurance through 2027 (Citizens Property Insurance). When a percentage deductible applies, calculate the dollar amount from Coverage A (e.g., 2% of $400,000 = $8,000) to avoid surprises (NAIC).
What to Check in a Home Insurance Declaration Page
Dec pages can contain mistakes that materially affect pricing and claims. Reconstruction costs continue to trend upward into 2025 (nationally low single‑digit YoY on average), so outdated Coverage A limits risk underinsurance; ask your insurer to rerun a replacement‑cost estimate if limits look low (CoreLogic RCI). Verify home characteristics (roof age/type, construction class, square footage, fire‑protection class) because carriers increasingly apply ACV or scheduled roof settlements to older roofs and price/underwrite based on these attributes (NAIC), (LexisNexis).
Double‑check deductible language and bases. Wind/hail is the most frequent homeowners claim nationally, so errors or misunderstandings around separate wind/hail or hurricane percentage deductibles can be costly (Triple‑I), (NAIC). Confirm endorsements and sublimits, especially water/sewer backup and Ordinance or Law—water damage/freezing claims often reach five‑figure totals on average, so missing or too‑low limits can leave large gaps (Triple‑I), (III). Finally, make sure named insureds and your mortgagee clause are correct to avoid lender and claims delays (J.D. Power).
If you spot issues, request a corrected dec page promptly. Ask your agent to confirm loss‑settlement terms (RCV vs. ACV), recalculate Coverage A against a current reconstruction‑cost tool (CoreLogic RCI), and compute any percentage deductibles in dollars (NAIC). You can often add endorsements like water backup, service line, or personal property RCV mid‑term (NAIC). Many carriers now let you view, download, and request updates through secure portals/apps; behind the scenes, insurers are deploying AI‑assisted document checks under emerging governance standards from regulators (NAIC AI Model Bulletin) and guidance like NIST’s GenAI Risk Management Profile.
