Why insurance exclusions matter
A certificate of insurance shows the coverages a policy carries, but it will not list the exclusions written inside the policy itself. Those exclusions can remove the very protection you are counting on. A common example: standard general liability policies typically exclude pollution, so acontractor who works with hazardous materials can look covered on paper while carrying a major uncovered risk.
Common exclusions to watch for
Pollution and environmental damage, professional services such as errors in advice or design, certain high-risk operations, and prior or known losses. The exclusions that matter most are the ones that touch the work a partner actually does for you.
Why it matters for compliance
Spotting likely exclusions is what separates a real certificate review from a box-checking one. When a coverage is required for a partner's work, confirm the policy does not exclude it, and request the endorsement or policy language that proves it.
Let Lumie handle the paperwork
Keeping every certificate current is a lot to ask of any team. illumend, from myCOI, reads each certificate and endorsement against your requirements, flags what’s missing, and follows up with your third-party partners for you. You’ll see who’s covered, and who isn’t, without chasing a single email.
Want to see it in your workflow? Schedule a demo and we’ll show you how illumend fits.
