Define Certificate of Insurance (COI)

Certificate of Insurance (COI)

What is the COI (Certificate of Insurance)?

An insurance firm or broker issues a certificate of insurance (COI). The COI confirms the existence of an insurance policy and describes the policy's major features and terms. A normal COI, for example, includes the policyholder's name, policy effective date, type of coverage, policy limits, and other relevant policy facts.

Without a COI, a firm or contractor will struggle to get clients; most employers will not want to take on the responsibility of any expenditures incurred as a result of the contractor's or provider's actions.

IMPORTANT : A firm that employs a contractor or another organisation for services should get a copy of their COI and double-check that it is current.

Understanding Insurance Certificates

Certificates of Insurance are utilised in circumstances where liability and big losses are a worry and a certificate is required, which is the case in the vast majority of business scenarios. What is the purpose of an insurance certificate? Small-business owners and contractors frequently have a COI that protects them against responsibility in the event of a workplace accident or injury. When you get liability insurance, you'll almost always get an insurance certificate.

A company owner or contractor who does not have a COI may have problems securing contracts. Because many businesses and people engage contractors, the client must be aware that the business owner or contractor carries liability insurance. This ensures that the client will not be held liable if the contractor is responsible for damage, injury, or poor workmanship.

Validating an Insurance Certificate

Rather than the business owner or contractor, a client would usually obtain a certificate directly from the insurance provider. The customer should double-check that the insured's name on the certificate matches the company or contractor they're considering.

In addition, the client should double-check the policy's coverage dates to confirm that the policy's effective date is accurate. If the insurance is slated to expire before the contractual service is completed, the customer should get a new certificate.

TAKEAWAYS IMPORTANT

• A certificate of insurance (COI) is a document that validates the presence of an insurance policy and is issued by an insurance company or broker.

• Small-company owners and contractors often need a COI to conduct business because it protects them from liability for workplace accidents or injuries.

• It is critical that the customer double-checks the policy's coverage dates and restrictions.

A Certificate of Insurance's Specifications

Different forms of liability coverage, such as general, auto, umbrella, and workers' compensation, are specified separately on certificates of insurance. The policyholder, person, or company listed on the certificate as being covered by the insurance is referred to as the "insured."

The certificate also provides the policyholder's name, postal address, and a description of the operations performed by the insured. The issuing insurance company's address is mentioned, as well as the contact information for the insurance agent or agency's contact person. If there are many insurance firms involved, all of their names and contact details are included.

A customer becomes a certificate holder when they seek a COI. In the bottom left-hand corner, the customer's name and contact details appear, along with statements stating the insurer's responsibility to notify the client of policy cancellations.

The certificate quickly summarises the insured's policies as well as the coverage limitations for each kind of coverage. The general liability section, for example, lists the six insurance limitations by category and specifies whether coverage is provided per claim or per occurrence. The worker's compensation coverage will have no limit because state regulations decide the payments paid to injured workers. The limitations of an employer's liability coverage, on the other hand, should be specified.