What Does Additional Insured Mean?
By Wyatt Cooper · Published · 3 min read
Key takeaways
- Additional insured status extends a sub's liability policy to the GC and owner for claims arising from the sub's work.
- It is granted by an endorsement to the policy; a certificate that lists you, by itself, does not make you insured.
- Ask for the endorsement itself, and check that it covers completed operations if the subcontract requires it.
An additional insured is a person or company, other than the policyholder, added to a liability policy by endorsement so the policy also covers them. In construction, a subcontractor's general liability policy typically names the general contractor and owner as additional insureds for claims arising from the sub's work. A certificate alone does not make anyone an additional insured.
How it works on a job
A subcontract usually requires the sub's general liability policy to name the GC, the owner and others as additional insureds. If a passerby is hurt by the sub's work and sues the GC, the GC can turn to the sub's insurer for a defense, within the endorsement's terms, before its own policy. That keeps the cost of the sub's risk on the sub's insurance.
Additional insured requirement in a subcontract
- Policy
- Sub's commercial general liability
- Additional insureds
- The general contractor and the owner
- Covers
- Ongoing and completed operations arising from the sub's work
- Evidence
- A copy of the endorsement, plus the certificate of insurance
Certificate holder vs. additional insured
Being the certificate holder only means you were sent the certificate of insurance. Connecticut's insurance department: a certificate holder is not an additional insured, and "to receive that protection, the certificate holder would need to be named an 'Additional Insured' by endorsement" or by the policy's own terms (Bulletin S-14). ACORD, which publishes the standard certificate forms, says the same of its certificates (ACORD FAQ).
The endorsement is part of the paperwork a GC collects after award: see what paperwork a GC requires from a sub and how to buy out a job. The requirement itself belongs in the subcontract.
The bottom line
Additional insured means the policy covers you too; a certificate can't do that, only the policy or its endorsement can.
Ask for the endorsement, not just the certificate, and check its wording against the subcontract. Join the waitlist to try Conflo.
Sources
- Bulletin S-14, Use of certificates of insurance — Connecticut Insurance Department. Read October 22, 2026.
- Certificates of Insurance: Frequently Asked Questions — ACORD. Read October 22, 2026.
Questions
Is additional insured the same as named insured?
No. The named insured bought the policy and owes its premium and duties. An additional insured is covered for the risks the endorsement describes, usually only those arising from the named insured's work.
What is a blanket additional insured endorsement?
One that adds anyone the policyholder agreed in a written contract to add, without listing each name. Check that your subcontract's wording triggers it.
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