Glossary

Extended reporting period

A window after a claims-made policy ends during which claims can still be reported for incidents that happened while the coverage was in force.

Also called: ERP, extended reporting endorsement, discovery period, reporting window

A claims-made policy pays only for claims first made and reported while it is in force, so letting it lapse can strand work you already did. The extended reporting period (ERP) closes that gap. It lets claims be reported after the expiration date, provided the underlying act happened after the retroactive date and before coverage ended.

Most policies give a short automatic period and sell a longer one. The ISO claims-made CGL form (CG 00 02) provides a basic period at no charge: five years for occurrences reported to the insurer within 60 days of the policy ending, and 60 days for other claims. An unlimited supplemental period is available by endorsement if you ask within 60 days, for an additional premium capped at 200% of the annual premium. Professional liability and D&O forms usually offer fixed terms, often one to six years, priced as a percentage of the expiring premium. Manuscript forms differ, so read yours.

An ERP buys time, not new limits; in most professional and management liability forms the expiring aggregate carries over. Price it before you retire, sell the business or change carriers. Often a new insurer can match your retroactive date, which makes the purchase unnecessary. The guide on tail coverage and extended reporting periods compares the options, and the tail coverage cost calculator estimates the cost.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

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Related terms

Tail coverage An option that lets a claims-made policyholder report claims after the policy ends, for wrongful acts that happened while it was in force. Claims-made policy A liability policy that covers claims first made against you and reported to the insurer during the policy period, whenever the underlying act occurred. Retroactive date The date in a claims-made policy before which wrongful acts are not covered, even if the claim is made and reported while the policy is in force. Prior acts coverage Coverage under a claims-made policy for wrongful acts committed before the policy began, reaching back to its retroactive date or without a limit.

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Related tools

Tail coverage cost calculator Prices an extended reporting period on a claims-made policy at your policy's percentages and compares it with nose (prior-acts) coverage from a new insurer.