What is on the declarations page of a home insurance policy?

The declarations page—often called the "dec page"—is the summary sheet of your homeowners insurance policy. It lists who is insured, what is covered, how much coverage you carry, your deductibles, your premium, and the policy period. It is typically the first or second page of your policy documents and is the single most important page to read and understand.

Key sections on the declarations page

• Named insured: The person or people covered by the policy. Make sure your name is spelled correctly and any co-owners are listed.
• Property address: The physical location of the insured home. Verify this matches your actual address.
• Policy period: The start and end dates of your coverage. Most homeowners policies run for one year.
• Coverage A – Dwelling: The maximum the insurer will pay to rebuild the structure of your home.
• Coverage B – Other structures: Covers detached structures like fences, sheds, and garages, usually set at 10 percent of dwelling coverage.
• Coverage C – Personal property: Covers your belongings, typically 50 to 75 percent of dwelling coverage.
• Coverage D – Loss of use: Pays for additional living expenses if your home is uninhabitable after a covered loss.
• Coverage E – Personal liability: Protects you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage to others.
• Coverage F – Medical payments: Covers minor medical expenses for guests injured on your property regardless of fault.
• Deductibles: The amounts you pay out of pocket before coverage kicks in, often listed per peril type.
• Premium: The total cost of the policy for the term.
• Endorsements: Any add-ons or modifications to standard coverage, such as water backup, scheduled jewelry, or ordinance and law.

Why it matters

The declarations page is your quick-reference guide to what you are paying for and what you can expect in a claim. If the numbers on this page are wrong—say your dwelling limit is $250,000 but rebuilding would cost $400,000—no other part of the policy can make up the difference.

What Truscott recommends

Pull out your declarations page right now and read it. If anything looks unfamiliar or you are not sure a limit is adequate, schedule a Truscott policy checkup. We will walk through every line with you, explain what it means in plain language, and flag anything that needs attention before your next claim or renewal.