Definition
Blanket additional insured: what it means and when it is enough
A blanket additional insured endorsement adds you to the sub’s policy automatically, as long as the sub signed a contract that says so. No new paperwork for each job. It is usually enough if the wording matches your contract. Read the endorsement itself, not just the certificate.
Not sure where your own subs stand? Paste your list and get a free gap report in two minutes.
Free COI auditBlanket vs scheduled
| Blanket | Scheduled (named) | |
|---|---|---|
| How parties are added | Automatically, if a signed contract requires it | Each party is named on the endorsement |
| Paperwork per job | Usually none | New endorsement for each party or project |
| Risk | Wording may cover less than your contract asks for | You can see your name on the document |
| Good for | Subs who work for many GCs | High-risk jobs, owners and lenders who insist on proof |
When blanket is usually enough
- You and the sub signed a contract before work started, and it says you must be added.
- The endorsement covers work in progress and finished work, if your contract asks for both.
- The wording is what your contract expects, not a smaller version.
When to ask for a named endorsement
- The owner, lender or insurer on the project wants your name written on it.
- The sub’s blanket wording is limited, for example it only covers you for the sub’s own mistakes.
- There is no signed written contract before the work starts.
What to check on the endorsement
- Does the form say blanket where required by written contract?
- Does it cover ongoing operations, completed operations, or both?
- Is the coverage primary and noncontributory if your contract requires it? See primary and noncontributory.
- Does the form include the right parties and project?
A certificate may say “blanket additional insured” in the description box. That text is not the endorsement. Ask for the endorsement form itself. Also read additional insured endorsements explained.
Not legal or insurance advice. This is general information. Your contract, your state and your policy decide what applies to you. Ask your broker or attorney.
What “by written contract” means
Blanket additional insured wording usually says the insurer will add any person or company the sub agreed in a written contract to add. Two things follow:
- You need a signed contract that says the sub must name you. If the work started on a handshake, the blanket wording may not reach you.
- The contract must come before the loss. Read the endorsement for the exact timing language.
Some people call this a “blanket endorsement.” That is just the short name. The point is the same: you are added automatically, if your contract asks for it.
Frequently asked questions
What does blanket additional insured mean?
The policy automatically adds parties to whom the insured owes additional insured status under a written contract. No new endorsement is issued per party.
Is a blanket additional insured endorsement enough?
Often, if the wording matches your contract and a written contract exists before work starts. Read the form to confirm.
How do I check a blanket endorsement?
Ask the sub’s agent for the endorsement form. Check whether it covers ongoing and completed operations and whether state law limits it.
What is a blanket endorsement?
A blanket endorsement automatically adds parties to a policy when a written contract requires it, instead of naming each party one by one.
What does blanket additional insured by contract mean?
It means the sub’s insurer adds you as an additional insured automatically, but only if you and the sub have a written contract that requires it.
Keep reading
See your certificate gaps in two minutes
Paste your subcontractor list and get an instant report, or leave your email and phone and we will review it for you.