What is the importance of retroactive date in liability insurance policy?

The retroactive date in a liability insurance policy is either –

1. Date from which you have held uninterrupted insurance cover (despite changing insurers on renewal) or
2. Date from which your insurer has agreed to provide

The retroactive date in liability insurance policy is important because it determines how far back in time an incident can occur for your policy to still protect you. Any claim arising from occurred events prior to the retroactive date excludes from the cover.

As claims-made insurance policies cover liability claims that surface while the policy is active, no matter whether the original loss could have occurred many years in the past. Hence in order to stay protected one must carry forward the retroactive date of the first policy. Purchased in each renewed policy by avoiding gaps during policy renewal.

In case there is a gap at policy renewal, may lose retroactive benefits as insurers offer coverage from the new policy date. In an exceptional case, the expiring insurer may agree to reinstate the retroactive date in liability insurance benefit. For the client upon a charge of the additional risk premium and NKORL (no known or reported loss) declaration.

Let us use illustrate the retroactive date concept with an example –

Suppose a client purchased the first Directors’ Officers’ policy on 01 April 2015. The procedure was timely renewed by the client to maintain the policy retroactive date as 01 April 2015 (though he kept switching insurers based on quoted premiums and policy terms & conditions). A claim was reported in the current policy as a result of an event that had occurred on –

1. 01 January 2015
2. 01 January 2016

Since the retroactive date of the policy is 01 April 2015,  it will cover claims for events occurring after the retroactive date. Hence would accept a claim for which the event date is 01 January 2016. And would reject the other claim for which the event date is 01 January 2015.

About The Author

Rajesh 

MBA Finance

With a wealth of expertise in the insurance realm, Rajesh is a distinguished writer specializing in articles focusing on directors and officers insurance for SecureNow. Boasting 9 years of experience in the industry, he profoundly understands the complexities surrounding directors and officers liability coverage. Their articles delve into the intricacies of D&O insurance, providing readers with invaluable insights into risk mitigation strategies and policy considerations. Renowned for their comprehensive knowledge and attention to detail, Rajesh is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging content that empowers individuals and businesses to navigate the complexities of insurance with confidence.