Are Pool Cages Covered By Insurance?

Pool cages are common in Florida, but coverage can be surprisingly specific.

Here’s how to confirm whether your pool cage is covered by insurance before you need it.

If you’re a Florida homeowner, there’s a good chance your backyard includes a screened enclosure (often called a pool cage). It keeps bugs out, makes the patio more usable, and feels like a natural extension of the house.

The tricky part is that insurance doesn’t always treat a pool cage like “part of the house.” So are pool cages covered by insurance? It depends on your specific homeowners policy, and in many cases it depends on whether you have a screen enclosure endorsement (an add-on) and what that endorsement actually covers.

Are Pool Cages Covered By Insurance?

Some home insurance companies provide no screen enclosure coverage at all. Others cover the aluminum framework but not the screening material. And many carriers handle it as a special add-on, meaning it may not be covered unless you see it listed on your policy paperwork.

In other words: if it doesn’t appear on your declarations page, it may not be there when you need it.

Most homeowners insurance policies break property coverage into buckets (i.e. the house itself vs. other structures), and then endorsements can modify what’s included and what’s limited.

Attached vs. Detached

One common detail that changes how coverage applies is whether the pool cage is considered attached to the dwelling or treated like a separate structure. This is one reason two neighbors can have two different answers, even with similar homes.

Your goal isn’t to guess which category your pool cage “should” fall under. Your goal is to find out how your policy actually classifies it.

Endorsements and Special Limits

In Florida, it’s common for policies to use endorsements to add, remove, or restrict certain types of coverage.

Practical tip: pull up your declarations page and look for wording such as “screened enclosure,” “pool cage,” or “carport.”

What’s Covered?

Sometimes, homeowner insurance companies will offer screen enclosure coverage, but only for the actual cage or aluminum framework—not the screen material itself.

If you only have coverage for the framework, you may still be paying out of pocket for the screens. If you’re not sure which you have, that’s a great agent question.

Even when something is “covered,” insurance usually means covered for specific causes of loss (often called perils). Florida homeowners also run into extra complexity around windstorms and named storms, and endorsements can change how (or whether) a screen enclosure is handled.

This is exactly why it’s not enough to hear, “Yes, you have pool cage coverage.” You also want to ask: “Covered for what?”

How Much Screen Enclosure Coverage Do I Need?

Just like with any type of property coverage, owners should purchase enough coverage to replace their pool cage should it be completely destroyed.

That means you’re aiming for a replacement cost number that reflects what it would cost to rebuild your enclosure today, not what you paid years ago, and not a rough guess.

Two simple ways to get a realistic number:

1. Check your original purchase paperwork (invoice/contract) for the enclosure and note the size and features.
2. Get an estimate from a licensed contractor. This can take the guesswork out of the number, especially if construction costs have changed since the enclosure was built.

If you’ve upgraded the enclosure (bigger footprint, different materials, added doors, etc.), make sure the estimate reflects what you actually have now.

When To Call Your Agent

Screen enclosure coverage is often a special add-on, so if it doesn’t appear on your policy, you should ask your agent about your specific needs and the details of your specific policy.

Here are the most helpful questions to ask:

• Does my policy cover my pool cage/screen enclosure?
• If yes: Is it covered as part of the dwelling, as an “other structure,” or only by endorsement?
• Does the coverage apply to the aluminum framework, the screen material, or both?
• Is the coverage limited to certain causes of loss (for example, windstorm/hurricane limitations or special limits)?
• What is my current limit, and does it match today’s rebuild cost?

If you’d like help interpreting what you’re seeing on your declarations page, reach out.

We’ve Got You Covered

Pool cages can be covered by insurance, but in Florida it’s often very specific: the coverage may be excluded, may require an endorsement, and may apply to the framework but not the screens.

A quick policy review now is a lot easier than trying to figure it out after a storm. If you’re unsure what your policy actually says, now is the time to prepare.

Harry Levine Insurance can compare policies from multiple carriers and help you confirm whether your pool cage is covered, how it’s covered, and what limit applies. Contact us and we’ll review your current setup and help you consider changes if they make sense for you.