Commercial Umbrella & Excess Liability Insurance, explained.
Extra layer above your GL, auto and employer’s liability, for the claim that runs big.
Commercial Umbrella & Excess Liability Insurance
Commercial umbrella and excess liability policies provide additional liability limits above specified underlying coverage, subject to their terms. An umbrella may offer broader protection for certain exposures, while an excess policy may follow or restrict the underlying form. Neither responds to every loss. We review the underlying policies, attachment points, exclusions and required limits together.
Inside a Commercial Umbrella & Excess Liability policy.
Is this for you?
Umbrella and excess are not interchangeable labels.
Review which underlying policies are scheduled, the limits you must maintain and whether defense costs reduce the available limit. Some umbrella coverage may have a self insured retention when it responds beyond underlying coverage; excess policies can have their own exclusions.
Additional limits do not automatically fix an excluded exposure, replace professional liability or eliminate gaps between policy terms. Availability and the appropriate structure depend on the business and insurer underwriting.
Plain language answers.
For most small businesses, $1M of umbrella is a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per year, exceptionally cheap protection.
No. Umbrella is excess; you must keep the underlying limits required by the umbrella carrier.
Generally no, pro liability needs its own E&O policy. Umbrella focuses on GL, auto and employer’s liability.
Coverages that pair well with this one.
Ready for a Commercial Umbrella & Excess Liability quote?
A short form or a quick call. We’ll shop it across 50+ carriers and come back with options.