HOA Insurance Deductible Issue

[Kyle W Smith]

Mid-2022 HOA notified homeowners in my neighborhood that they would be responsible for a $2,600 deductible in the event HOA had to file a claim. Homeowners cover the interior (HO-6 policy) and HOA covers the structure and exterior. It's very simple and inexpensive to add that "special assessment" coverage to supplement the HOA's policy.

On 5/16/2023, HOA sent a notification to homeowners stating that the deductible they are responsible for increased from $2,600 to $10,000 effective 4/1/2023 (45 days prior to notification). Three days later there was a hail storm that caused a great deal of damage to the community and I hadn't updated my policy. Now HOA is expecting us to pay the full $10,000 whether or not we had coverage. HOA said in other notifications that ‘most' people had adequate coverage already.

Do I have any recourse with an HOA in this type of situation? I've thought about going to small claims court and informed HOA I'd be seeking legal counsel, but not sure it'll get me anywhere.

Thanks for the help.