Endorsement
A written amendment to an insurance policy that modifies the terms, conditions, or coverage of the original policy. Endorsements can add, remove, or change coverage provisions.
Overview
An endorsement (also called a rider or amendment) is a document that modifies an existing insurance policy. Endorsements are the mechanism through which Additional Insured status, Waiver of Subrogation, Primary and Non-Contributory provisions, and other special conditions are added to a policy.
How Endorsements Work
Insurance policies are standardized contracts. When a policyholder needs to customize their coverage — for example, to add a property owner as Additional Insured — the insurer issues an endorsement. This endorsement is attached to the policy and becomes part of the contractual agreement.
Endorsements can:
- Add coverage: Additional Insured, Waiver of Subrogation
- Remove coverage: Exclusions for specific operations or locations
- Modify terms: Change deductibles, adjust limits, update named insureds
- Clarify conditions: Specify when and how coverage applies
Common Endorsements in COI Compliance
| Endorsement | Form Number | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Insured — Ongoing Ops | CG 20 10 | Adds AI coverage for ongoing work |
| Additional Insured — Completed Ops | CG 20 37 | Adds AI coverage after work is done |
| Waiver of Subrogation | CG 24 04 | Waives insurer's right to subrogate |
| Primary and Non-Contributory | CG 20 01 | Makes policy primary over AI's own policy |
| Blanket Additional Insured | Varies | Adds all required parties per contract |
Verifying Endorsements on a COI
The ACORD 25 certificate itself is not an endorsement and cannot modify a policy. However, endorsements are typically referenced in the Description of Operations section. Look for specific endorsement form numbers (CG 20 10, etc.) or language describing the endorsement.
For full verification, you may need to request copies of the actual endorsement documents, not just the certificate. The certificate provides evidence that endorsements exist, but the endorsement itself contains the binding terms.
Blanket vs. Specific Endorsements
- Blanket endorsement: Automatically applies to all parties as required by written contract. More convenient but potentially broader than intended.
- Specific endorsement: Names a particular party and may reference a specific project or contract. More precise but requires individual issuance.
Example
A construction manager requires all subcontractors to carry CG 20 10 (Additional Insured — Ongoing Operations) and CG 20 37 (Additional Insured — Products-Completed Operations). When reviewing a sub's COI, the compliance team checks the Description of Operations for references to these endorsement forms and verifies that the construction manager is specifically named.
See how Inori handles endorsement
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