There are millions of them that are given out each year, and it is most often done when an insurance policy is renewed or opened. Understanding ACORD certificate of insurance – the most common type of certificate is the ACORD 25: Certificate of Liability Insurance – which is provided for informational purposes to let a third party know the type and amount of insurance issued to the business.
Certificates of insurance are given to third parties that are known as certificate investors and holders. These certificates list what is included in the insurance policy, what is limited on the policy, and who is providing the coverage available.
Certificates of insurance are given to third parties that are known as certificate investors and holders. These certificates list what is included in the insurance policy, what is limited on the policy, and who is providing the coverage available.
However, a certificate of insurance is not an automatic insurance policy. Just because someone holds this does not mean that they have the insurance policy or that what is listed is actually covered. It can provide proof that insurance is held by you, the company that they are working with. This is especially important to have on hand because most people want to know that the company they are hiring has liability insurance. The client does not want to be responsible or held liable for any damages, injuries, or bad work. With the proof of insurance, the client can feel better about working with them. So in understanding ACORD certificate of insurance, sometime the party asking wants to be named as an ‘Additional Insured’.
An ACORD certificate of insurance is usually requested directly from the broker or insurance company. This proves that the company truly does have the insurance that they claim to have. When validating these certificates, make sure that the company name exactly matches what is on the insurance policy. Even a small typo or difference could create a problem if a claim needs to be filed. Insurance companies and brokers hand out certificates of insurance quite often, so they should be familiar with the process of sending one to a client that needs to verify it.
Also, a client should always read through what is covered on the insurance policy. Not every company is going to have full coverage, and this might be something that is important to them. Different policies have different things covered, so reading through the benefits and limitations of the policy can better prepare them for if something were to go wrong.
As a business owner, a certificate of insurance should always be in your grasp. Providing proof of this should be second nature, whether or not your client asks to see it. Not only is having insurance a necessity, but having your proof of it right there is something that can help make a client feel more comfortable working with you. While they should always ask for another copy straight from the insurance company, showing them before they call can also ease their concerns.
The following the ACORD Certificate of Insurance forms available to be issued as proof of insurance:
