Alliance faculty member and insurance industry expert Cathy Trischan is back on Alliance Insights, for Part 2 of Insuring Contractors: The Additional Insured Basics You Need to Know. Building on the foundation laid in Part I, this episode shifts from history to hands-on application, focusing on how today’s ISO additional insured endorsements actually work, and where they can fall short.

Cathy walks through key ISO forms commonly requested in construction contracts, unpacking the critical differences between scheduled and automatic endorsements and clarifying the often-misunderstood line between ongoing operations and completed operations coverage. A major focus of the discussion is privity of contract and how court decisions have narrowed the scope of who qualifies as an additional insured, sometimes limiting coverage to only those in direct contractual relationships. Cathy explains why assumptions about “automatic” coverage can be risky and highlights how varying state interpretations add complexity for multi-state projects.

Throughout the episode, Cathy emphasizes the importance of carefully reviewing endorsement language and insurer proprietary forms, calling attention to hidden restrictions, professional liability exclusions, and contract-driven triggers that can materially affect coverage after a loss. Listeners will come away with practical guidance on endorsement selection, contract review, and the key considerations agents must weigh when aligning coverage intent with contractual risk transfer,making this episode an essential continuation of the additional insured conversation.