Additional Insured
In insurance terms, an "additional insured" refers to a person or organization not automatically included as an insured under an insurance policy but who has been added to the policy under an endorsement. This gives them certain rights and coverage under the policyholder's insurance agreement.
What is an Additional Insured in Insurance?
In the context of insurance, adding someone as an “additional insured” on a policy extends some of the coverage protections of the policy to other individuals or entities beyond the primary policyholder. For instance, if a business hires a contractor to perform work, the business might require the contractor to add the business as an additional insured on the contractor’s liability insurance policy. This ensures that if there is a claim related to the contractor’s work, not only the contractor but also the business is protected under the contractor’s insurance policy.
Key components of an Additional Insured:
Endorsement Process: To add an additional insured, the policyholder must usually complete an endorsement process which amends the policy to include the additional insured. This process typically involves evaluating the risk associated with extending coverage to the new party.
Coverage Scope: The coverage provided to an additional insured under a general liability insurance policy is typically limited to liability coverage for defense, lawsuits, bodily injuries, property damage, and advertising injuries arising out of the primary insured’s actions or operations connected to the additional insured’s activities. It does not provide broad coverage for all operations or activities of the additional insured, emphasizing the importance of understanding the limitations and restrictions of extending coverage through an additional insured endorsement.
Premium Adjustments: Including an additional insured can affect the premium of the insurance policy. Since adding an additional insured can alter the risk exposure for the insurer, it may lead to an adjustment in the insurance costs.
Types of Additional Insured Covered
Vendors
Companies can add their vendors as additional insureds to extend coverage under their policy, specifically for products or completed operations exposure related to the goods or services provided by the vendor. This strategic move is aimed at protecting the business from liabilities arising from the vendor's activities, ensuring comprehensive risk management.
Subcontractors
In construction and similar industries, subcontractors are often required to add the general contractor, the property owner, or both as additional insureds on their policies. This protects against claims arising from the subcontractor’s work.
Tenants
Landlords might require tenants to list them as additional insureds on the tenant’s liability policies, including tenant's insurance coverage, to protect against claims resulting from the tenant’s occupancy or operations on the property. This requirement ensures that in case of an accident or loss on the tenant's premises, the landlord will benefit from the tenant's insurance coverage, offering an additional layer of protection to landlords.
Franchisees
Franchisors may require franchisees to add them as additional insureds to protect the franchisor from liability claims connected to the franchisee's operations.
How Insurance Covers Additional Insureds
Insurance policies covering additional insureds typically protect them from certain types of claims related to the primary insured’s activities. For example, if a liability claim arises from a contractor’s work for a business, both the contractor and the business (as the additional insured) may be covered under the contractor’s insurance policy. The key here is that the claim must relate directly to the primary insured’s operations or activities.
