Blanket Waiver of Subrogation
An endorsement that automatically waives the insurer's subrogation rights against any party the insured is contractually required to waive against.
What It Is
A Blanket Waiver of Subrogation endorsement automatically waives the insurer's subrogation rights against any party the named insured is required to waive against by written contract or agreement. This eliminates the need to add individual waiver endorsements for each contractual relationship.
The blanket waiver is triggered by the existence of a written contract requiring the waiver. If no written contract exists, or if the contract does not specifically require a waiver of subrogation, the blanket endorsement does not apply to that party. This triggering mechanism mirrors how blanket additional insured endorsements work.
Blanket waivers are available on CGL, property, workers compensation, and auto policies, though availability and pricing vary by carrier. Workers compensation blanket waivers typically carry an additional premium charge, while CGL blanket waivers may be included at no additional cost by some carriers.
Why It Matters for Brokers
For clients with many contracts — such as subcontractors working for multiple GCs or property managers handling many buildings — a blanket waiver of subrogation dramatically simplifies compliance management. Instead of requesting individual waiver endorsements for every new contract, the blanket endorsement automatically applies. Brokers should recommend blanket waivers for any client with five or more contracts requiring this provision.
Real-World Example
An HVAC contractor works for 22 different general contractors, each requiring a waiver of subrogation on the CGL and workers compensation policies. Without blanket endorsements, the broker would need to submit 44 individual waiver endorsement requests (22 GCs x 2 policies each). With blanket waiver endorsements on both the CGL and workers comp, all 22 waivers are automatically covered. When the contractor signs a contract with a 23rd GC, the blanket endorsement applies immediately — no mid-term endorsement request needed. The blanket WOS on workers comp adds $600 to the annual premium.
Common Mistakes
- 1Assuming the blanket waiver of subrogation is free on all lines — workers compensation blanket waivers typically add 2-5% to the premium.
- 2Not verifying that the blanket waiver form requires a 'written contract' trigger, which means oral agreements may not be covered.
- 3Issuing certificates referencing waiver of subrogation for a specific party without confirming that a written contract with a waiver requirement exists to trigger the blanket endorsement.
How brokerageaudit.com Handles This
Policy Checker identifies blanket waiver of subrogation endorsements and notes the triggering language on each. COI Manager allows brokers to check the waiver of subrogation box on certificates when a blanket endorsement is verified, and links each certificate to the underlying contract requirement that triggers the blanket. It prevents waiver references when no blanket or specific endorsement is found.