Insured Name Gaps
The Named Insured is the person or organization legally entitled to the rights and benefits summarized and outlined in the insurance policy.
This gap means the submitted documents don’t show the Insured Name, or the name shown doesn’t match the required one. The sections below explain what’s missing and how to resolve it.
Understanding the gap:
| If the gap says | The issue is |
| Insured Name on the COI “Wrong Name” does not match the required Insured Name “Correct Name”. Must submit an updated COI with the correct legal entity name. | The name is incorrect and doesn’t match the requirement |
| Insured Name on the Policy certificate “Wrong Name” does not match the required Insured Name“Correct Name”. Must submit an updated certificate with the correct legal entity name. | The name is acceptable on some documents, but not for all required policies |
Incorrect Insured Name
A gap is flagged when the listed name is incorrect or insufficient. For coverage to be acceptable, the provided insurance documentation must list the complete and correctly spelled Named Insured.
Even if the names are similar or have something in common, a gap still applies when no clear relationship is established between the companies. For example, if the required name is Reis Communications, Inc. and the name listed on the COI is Silva Communications, Inc., a gap is needed, since the entities aren’t the same.
Does the Gap Include a Policy Name?
Certificates for different policy lines — General Liability, Automobile Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Property Insurance, etc. — are sometimes issued separately, occasionally by different brokers or carriers.
It’s common for the Insured Name to be filled correctly on one certificate but not on all certificates. Jones specifies the policy name to highlight which COI needs to be fixed and reissued.
For the example below, the gap is flagged specifically for the Automobile Liability certificate, since other certificates already reflect an acceptable name. Only the Auto Liability certificate needs correction.
FLAGGED GAP Insured Name on the Automobile Liability certificate “Lopez Bros” does not match the required Insured Name Lopez Plumbing Co. Must submit an updated certificate with the correct legal entity name. |
Where to Include the Insured Name
Insured Name information is usually included in the dedicated box in the Certificate of Insurance:
The Insured Name can also be continued in the Description of Operations box, on the Additional Remarks page (ACORD 101), or in attached documents.
For the Insured Name to be accepted from places other than its standard box, the wording must explicitly state the entity status, identifying it as an additional Named Insured as in the examples below.
