Glossary · English and Spanish
Updated August 24, 2026Most insurance arguments are really vocabulary problems. These are the terms that decide what a Texas policy actually does when something happens, each one defined once, clearly, with the Spanish a Houston household would actually use.
An insurance deductible is what you pay out of pocket on a covered claim before the insurer pays anything; a premium is what you pay for the policy itself. This glossary defines those and sixteen other terms that decide what a Texas policy actually does, each one given in both English and Spanish so the same conversation works in either language.
A bilingual glossary of Texas insurance terms — deductibles, named storm deductibles, replacement cost, actual cash value, liability limits, flood zones, and the paperwork words lenders and landlords ask for.
The amount you pay out of pocket on a covered claim before the insurance company pays anything. A higher deductible usually lowers your premium, because you are agreeing to absorb more of a loss yourself.
La cantidad que usted paga de su bolsillo en un reclamo cubierto antes de que la aseguradora pague algo. Un deducible más alto normalmente baja la prima, porque usted acepta absorber una parte mayor de la pérdida.
The part of a policy that pays when you are legally responsible for injuring someone else or damaging their property. It also generally pays to defend you, which is often worth more than people expect.
La parte de la póliza que paga cuando usted es legalmente responsable de lesionar a otra persona o dañar su propiedad. Por lo general también paga su defensa legal, que muchas veces vale más de lo que la gente supone.
A written change attached to a policy that adds, removes, or modifies coverage. Endorsements are how a standard policy gets adapted to a specific house, vehicle, or business.
Un cambio por escrito que se agrega a la póliza para añadir, quitar o modificar cobertura. Los endosos son la forma en que una póliza estándar se adapta a una casa, un vehículo o un negocio en particular.
The summary page of your policy listing who is covered, what is covered, the limits, the deductibles, and the term. It is the page a lender, landlord, or DMV clerk is almost always asking for.
La página que resume su póliza: a quién cubre, qué cubre, los límites, los deducibles y la vigencia. Es la página que casi siempre le piden un prestamista, un arrendador o una oficina de placas.
The insurer's process of deciding whether to offer a policy and at what price, based on the risk presented. It is why a quote is an estimate until underwriting is complete, and why two similar houses can be priced differently.
El proceso con el que la aseguradora decide si ofrece una póliza y a qué precio, según el riesgo que representa. Por eso una cotización es un estimado hasta que termina la suscripción, y por eso dos casas parecidas pueden tener precios distintos.
When an insurer declines to continue a policy at the end of its term, as opposed to canceling it mid-term. In Texas, decisions made after January 1, 2026 come with an automatic written explanation of the reason.
Cuando una aseguradora decide no continuar la póliza al terminar su vigencia, a diferencia de cancelarla a mitad del término. En Texas, las decisiones tomadas después del 1 de enero de 2026 vienen con una explicación por escrito de forma automática.
A separate, usually percentage-based deductible that applies when damage comes from a storm the National Hurricane Center has named. It is typically 1% to 5% of your dwelling coverage rather than a flat dollar amount, so on a $400,000 home a 2% named storm deductible is $8,000.
Un deducible aparte, casi siempre en porcentaje, que aplica cuando el daño viene de una tormenta que el Centro Nacional de Huracanes ya nombró. Suele ser del 1% al 5% de la cobertura de la vivienda en lugar de una cantidad fija, así que en una casa de $400,000 un deducible del 2% son $8,000.
A percentage deductible that applies specifically to wind or hail damage, separate from the deductible for everything else. In hail-heavy parts of Texas, 2% of the dwelling limit has become the practical standard and 1% options have largely disappeared from major carriers.
Un deducible en porcentaje que aplica específicamente al daño por viento o granizo, aparte del deducible para todo lo demás. En las zonas de Texas con mucho granizo, el 2% del límite de la vivienda se volvió el estándar práctico y las opciones del 1% casi desaparecieron de las aseguradoras grandes.
A way of settling a claim that pays what it costs to replace damaged property with new property of like kind and quality, without subtracting for age or wear. It pays more than actual cash value, and it usually costs more in premium.
Una forma de liquidar un reclamo que paga lo que cuesta reemplazar la propiedad dañada por otra nueva de tipo y calidad similar, sin restar por antigüedad ni desgaste. Paga más que el valor real en efectivo y normalmente cuesta más en prima.
A way of settling a claim that pays replacement cost minus depreciation for age and wear. On an older roof this difference is large: a fifteen-year-old roof settled at actual cash value can pay a fraction of what a new roof costs.
Una forma de liquidar un reclamo que paga el costo de reemplazo menos la depreciación por antigüedad y desgaste. En un techo viejo la diferencia es grande: un techo de quince años liquidado a valor real en efectivo puede pagar una fracción de lo que cuesta uno nuevo.
The part of a homeowners policy that covers the structure of the house itself — walls, roof, and what is attached to it. Percentage deductibles for wind, hail, and named storms are calculated against this number, not against the claim amount.
La parte de la póliza de casa que cubre la estructura misma: paredes, techo y lo que está adherido a ella. Los deducibles en porcentaje por viento, granizo y tormentas con nombre se calculan sobre esta cifra, no sobre el monto del reclamo.
The least auto liability coverage Texas law allows: $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash for injuries, and $25,000 for property damage. These amounts have been unchanged since January 1, 2011, and a single serious crash can exceed them easily.
La cobertura mínima de responsabilidad de auto que permite la ley de Texas: $30,000 por persona lesionada, $60,000 por choque en lesiones y $25,000 por daños a la propiedad. Estas cantidades no cambian desde el 1 de enero de 2011, y un solo choque grave puede superarlas con facilidad.
Coverage that pays for your injuries and damage when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough of it. In Texas an insurer must offer it, and you have to reject it in writing to go without.
Cobertura que paga sus lesiones y daños cuando el conductor culpable no tiene seguro o no tiene suficiente. En Texas la aseguradora está obligada a ofrecerla, y para no tenerla usted debe rechazarla por escrito.
Auto coverage for damage that is not a collision — hail, theft, fire, vandalism, a falling branch, or flood water. This is the coverage that pays for a flooded car; a flood insurance policy does not cover vehicles.
Cobertura de auto para daños que no son choque: granizo, robo, incendio, vandalismo, una rama que cae o agua de inundación. Esta es la cobertura que paga un carro inundado; la póliza de seguro contra inundación no cubre vehículos.
The area FEMA maps as having a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year, shown as a zone beginning with A or V. Inside it a mortgage lender can require flood insurance; outside it coverage is usually optional and cheaper — but in Harris County most flood claims have come from outside it.
El área que FEMA identifica con 1% o más de probabilidad de inundarse en un año cualquiera, señalada con una zona que empieza con A o con V. Dentro de ella un prestamista puede exigir seguro contra inundación; fuera de ella la cobertura suele ser opcional y más barata, pero en el condado de Harris la mayoría de los reclamos vino de fuera.
The federal flood insurance program run by FEMA, which caps residential coverage at $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents. Its authority to write new policies has to be renewed by Congress, and it currently runs through September 30, 2026.
El programa federal de seguro contra inundación que administra FEMA, con topes de $250,000 para la estructura y $100,000 para los contenidos en pólizas residenciales. Su autoridad para emitir pólizas nuevas debe renovarla el Congreso, y actualmente llega hasta el 30 de septiembre de 2026.
The thirty days that normally pass between buying an NFIP flood policy and the coverage taking effect. There is no wait when the purchase is tied to a mortgage or made at renewal, and a one-day wait for a property newly mapped into a high-risk zone within the last twelve months.
Los treinta días que normalmente pasan entre comprar una póliza de inundación del NFIP y que la cobertura entre en vigor. No hay espera cuando la compra va ligada a una hipoteca o se hace en la renovación, y hay un día de espera para una propiedad que entró a una zona de alto riesgo en un mapa nuevo dentro de los últimos doce meses.
These definitions are general. What your deductible actually is, and whether it is the right one, depends on your policy. Browse the insurance questions people ask most, start a flood insurance review, or call the Houston office and ask in either language.
A premium is the price of the policy, paid whether or not anything happens. A deductible is what you pay out of pocket on a covered claim before the insurer pays. Raising the deductible usually lowers the premium, because you are agreeing to absorb more of any loss.
It is a separate deductible that applies when damage comes from a storm the National Hurricane Center has named. It is usually a percentage of your dwelling coverage rather than a flat amount, so on a $400,000 home a 2% named storm deductible is $8,000.
Replacement cost pays what it costs to replace damaged property with new property of like kind and quality. Actual cash value pays that amount minus depreciation for age and wear. On an older roof the gap between the two can be most of the cost of the roof.
Yes. Every term on this page carries its Spanish equivalent and a full Spanish definition, and the whole glossary is published as a Spanish page as well. Barcelo & Associates Insurance handles the conversation in English or Spanish.
1235 North Loop W, Ste 1010, Houston, TX 77008. Call or text your address and the office can pull your zone, explain what it means for your loan and premium, and handle the whole conversation in English or Spanish.
Look up your zone, run the checker for a quick read, then call the Houston office with your address and the parts you want a licensed answer on.
This guide is general education for Houston-area readers. It is not a quote, an eligibility decision, an offer of coverage, or financial, tax, or legal advice.
Flood zones, maps, Base Flood Elevations, and program rules are set by FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program, which are independent of this agency.
Always confirm your zone and current rules for your specific address at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, especially near a zone boundary or after a remap.
Coverage is subject to terms, conditions, limits, availability, underwriting, and qualifications. Message and data rates may apply; consent to texts is not a condition of purchase.