Blanket additional insured endorsement

If your business regularly needs to show proof of insurance to clients, landlords, or contractors, adding each party one at a time can slow you down. A blanket additional insured endorsement streamlines the process by automatically extending coverage to parties you've agreed to insure — saving you time and keeping your operations running smoothly.

The Progressive Commercial team can help you explore your blanket additional insured options and get coverage tailored to your business's needs. Call us or start a quote to learn more.

What are blanket additional insured endorsements?

A blanket additional insured endorsement is a change to your liability insurance policy that automatically extends coverage from your general liability or business owners policy (BOP) to other parties you've agreed to insure in a contract.

Key features of blanket additional insured endorsements

A blanket endorsement helps small businesses save time when working with multiple stakeholders. The following are key features:

• Automatic coverage: Each entity is covered by default if a written contract requires them to be included as an additional insured on your policy.
• Improved efficiency: Businesses with a high turnover of contracts, such as contractors, consultants, and event planners, can save time and administrative costs.
• Broad protection: A blanket additional insured endorsement can cover multiple parties, offering wider protection than naming individuals one by one. For example, you can include all landlords or subcontractors under one endorsement.

How blanket additional insured coverage works

Blanket additional insured endorsements make more sense when you compare them to the standard process of adding insured parties individually.

Without a blanket endorsement, you have to contact your insurance provider to add each client to your policy every time you sign a contract.

A blanket endorsement eliminates this step. Coverage applies when you sign a new contract, as long as the agreement explains your relationship and requires additional insured status.

Be sure to check with your insurer about potential limitations. You may only be able to cover ongoing operations, which means protection for the additional insured ends as soon as the project does.

Scheduled vs. blanket additional insured endorsements

Both scheduled and blanket additional insured endorsements extend your existing liability coverage to another party named in a contract. The difference comes down to how they're added and how much work each option requires. You'll want to consider how your business operates when deciding which path you want to take.

Who needs a blanket additional insured endorsement?

A blanket additional insured endorsement can help businesses that regularly sign new contracts. This can include times when you work with clients, operate at multiple locations, host events, or partner with contractors or vendors.

Businesses and professions that may benefit from a blanket endorsement include:

• IT consultants
• Accountants
• Retail chains and franchises
• Transportation and logistics
• Contractors
• Event planning and hospitality
• Caterers
• Photographers and videographers
• Construction
• Real estate and property management

Benefits of blanket additional insured endorsements

Blanket endorsements make it easier to run your business in several ways. They can help you:

• Save time and paperwork: Cut down on insurance forms and follow-ups for each client.
• Ensure compliance: Help meet contractual obligations without worrying about adding each client yourself.
• Avoid gaps in coverage: A blanket endorsement applies coverage as soon as you sign the contract.
• Streamline the bidding process: Lets you submit bids faster since you can use your COI without waiting for individual endorsements.

What isn't covered by a blanket additional insured endorsement?

Blanket endorsements can be a big help for businesses with lots of contracts, but they don't cover every situation. Specifically, a blanket endorsement may not be the right solution due to:

• Contract requirements: A contract doesn't require your client to be named as an additional insured.
• Scope: Blanket endorsements usually only cover ongoing operations, not completed work or your client's own negligence.
• Verification needs: Some clients want to be named directly, so they'd need a scheduled endorsement instead of a blanket one.

How to get a blanket endorsement with Progressive Commercial

Progressive Commercial makes it easy to add a blanket insured endorsement to your commercial liability policy. Here's how to get started:

1. Reach out: Call a licensed Progressive Commercial agent or start a quote online.
2. Share your needs: Let us know about your business and how often you need to add additional insureds.
3. Review the details: Your agent will walk through the specific terms, conditions, and any limitations of the blanket endorsement.
4. Add it to your policy: Once you're ready, we'll add the endorsement so you can start using it.

Common misconceptions about blanket additional insured endorsements

Blanket endorsements can be a helpful tool, but they're often misunderstood. Here are a few common myths and the facts behind them:

Myth: A blanket endorsement means I never have to provide proof of insurance.

Even with a blanket endorsement, you still need to provide a COI that shows the extension is in place.

Myth: It covers everything my client does.

Blanket endorsements typically only cover liability related to your own operations, not your client's actions or completed work.

Myth: It's free.

While a blanket endorsement can be more cost-effective than adding each insured individually, it usually comes with a one-time fee.

Frequently asked questions about blanket additional insured coverage

Streamline your contracts with Progressive Commercial

A blanket additional insured endorsement is a helpful way to simplify your insurance and save time when working with multiple clients or partners. With over 50 years of experience supporting small businesses like yours, Progressive Commercial can help you decide if this flexible coverage option is right for you.

If your business regularly takes on new clients or partners, call us or start a quote to explore tailored coverage that works as hard as you do.