Business Insurance
Additional Insured
An additional insured endorsement extends the named insured's liability coverage to protect a third party — typically a client, landlord, or general contractor — from claims related to the named insured's work.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Editorial methodology
Definition
An additional insured is a person or entity added to someone else's insurance policy via endorsement, giving them coverage for liability arising from the named insured's operations, products, or completed work. A general contractor (GC) routinely requires its subcontractors to name the GC as an additional insured on the sub's GL policy so that if the sub's work injures a third party, the GC can also be defended under the sub's policy. The scope of additional insured status depends on the endorsement form: blanket additional insured endorsements automatically extend coverage to any party required by contract, while scheduled endorsements list each additional insured by name. Additional insured status does not give the additional insured the right to file first-party claims — it only responds to third-party liability claims involving the named insured's operations. Adding additional insureds can affect the GL aggregate limit, potentially reducing available coverage for the named insured's own claims. Insurers charge minimal fees (sometimes nothing) for adding additional insureds to standard commercial policies, but high-risk additional insured requirements — such as naming a municipality or government entity — can trigger underwriter review.
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Cover Forge USA Editorial Team
Editorial Lead
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed 2026-06-14
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