Declarations page

What’s on it

The declarations page, or dec page, is where your policy states the specific facts of your coverage. It typically shows:

• the named insuredNamed insuredThe named insured is the person or business listed on the declarations page as the policyholder, with the main rights and duties under the policy.Read the definition, your business, and its mailing address
• the insurer and the policy number
• the policy periodPolicy periodThe policy period is the span of time between a policy’s start and end dates, usually 12 months, during which its coverage is in force.Read the definition, with start and end dates
• the coverages you bought and the limit for each
• your deductiblesDeductibleA deductible is the amount you pay toward a covered loss before your insurance pays, usually subtracted from the claim payment.Read the definition
• your premiumPremiumA premium is the amount you pay an insurance company for a policy, usually set for a 12-month policy period and paid upfront or in installments.Read the definition
• the locations, vehicles or other property the policy applies to
• a schedule listing every form and endorsementEndorsementAn endorsement is a written change to an insurance policy that adds, removes or modifies coverage, such as adding an additional insured or a new location.Read the definition attached to the policy

On a workers’ comp policy, the same summary is usually called the information page, and it also lists the states covered, your class codes and estimated payroll.

How it fits with the rest of the policy

The dec page tells you what you bought. The coverage forms behind it explain how that coverage works: what’s covered, what’s excluded and what you have to do after a loss. Endorsements then add to or change those forms. To understand a coverage fully, start at the dec page, then read the form and every endorsement that touches it.

Why it matters for a small business

Problems that cause trouble at claim time often show up on the dec page first: a misspelled business name, a missing location, a limit that no longer fits or the wrong policy dates. Check it every time you buy or renew. With Corgi, limits can be raised the same day. The guide to reading an insurance policy walks through the rest of the document.