Business Insurance
Named Insured
The named insured is the primary policyholder shown on the declarations page of an insurance policy, distinguished from additional insureds or other interested parties.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Editorial methodology
Definition
The named insured is the person or entity explicitly identified on the policy declarations page as the owner and primary insured under the policy. In a standard homeowners policy, the homeowner is the named insured. In commercial general liability, the business owner is the named insured. Only the named insured has full rights to file claims, request policy changes, cancel coverage, or receive claims payments. Additional insureds are different from named insureds: additional insureds receive coverage for third-party liability claims related to the named insured's operations but cannot file first-party claims or make policy changes. For partnerships and corporations, the named insured is the business entity itself, not the individual partners or shareholders (though individuals involved in the business may also be named insureds or listed as interested parties for notification purposes). In some policies, spouses or business partners can be co-named insureds, each with independent rights to file claims. Clarity on who the named insured is becomes critical if a dispute arises over who has the right to receive a claim payment, who can authorize repairs or settlements, or who controls policy changes.
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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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