Glossary

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.

Also called: tail, tail policy, claims-made tail, extended reporting endorsement

A claims-made policy responds only to claims first made, and reported, while it is in force. When it ends through cancellation, nonrenewal, a change of carrier or the owner's retirement, a lawsuit about work done last year finds no policy to answer it. Tail coverage closes the gap by giving a window after expiration to report claims arising from acts that occurred before the end date. The window is commonly one, three or five years, or unlimited. In policy forms the formal name is the extended reporting period.

Tail covers only past acts. It does nothing for work performed after the policy ends. The election period is short, often 30 to 60 days after expiration, so the right can lapse if no one acts. The policy states the price, usually as a multiple of the expiring annual premium that grows with the length of the window. The tail coverage cost calculator helps estimate the cost.

When switching carriers, there is an alternative. The new carrier may agree to cover prior acts back to the original retroactive date, so no tail is needed; the new retroactive date is what matters. A buyer who accepts a new policy with a later retroactive date and skips the tail has created a hole. The guide on tail coverage and extended reporting periods covers both routes, and prior acts coverage explains the other.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

In the index now

Related terms

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. 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. 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. 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. Errors and omissions (E&O) Insurance for claims that a professional or service business's mistakes, missed work or bad advice caused a client a financial loss.

Related guides

Insurance due diligence when buying a business What to review in a target's insurance before closing: loss runs, claims-made tails, workers' comp mod, policy assignment, R&W insurance and day-one program. The largest medical malpractice insurers (2025) The 25 largest U.S. medical professional liability insurers by 2025 direct premiums written, from NAIC data, and how physicians and practices buy coverage. Medical malpractice insurance for physicians and practices How malpractice policies work for physicians and practices: claims-made vs occurrence, limits, consent to settle, tail coverage and what drives price. Occurrence vs claims-made policies How occurrence and claims-made liability policies decide which year's policy pays, why retroactive dates and tails matter, and which lines use each trigger. Prior acts coverage and retroactive dates The retroactive date is a claims-made policy's cutoff: work before it is not covered. How it is set, how switching carriers resets it, and how to keep it. How professional liability claims unfold How a professional liability (E&O) claim moves from demand letter to settlement: notice, reservation of rights, defense counsel, experts, consent, renewal.

Related insurers

MagMutual Atlanta-based physician-owned mutual that insures doctors, medical groups and hospitals for malpractice; online quoting for physicians, rated A (Excellent). ProAssurance Birmingham-based medical malpractice, med-tech products and workers' comp insurer, owned by The Doctors Company since June 2026 after a $1.3 billion takeover. The Doctors Company Physician-owned med mal insurer based in Napa, California, covering doctors, dentists, clinicians and hospitals. It bought ProAssurance in June 2026.

Related industries

Chiropractor insurance What chiropractic practices need: malpractice with true consent to settle and tail, BOP, cyber and HIPAA, billing-audit defense, workers' comp and EPLI. Consultant insurance Professional liability (E&O) is the core cover for consultants; also GL, cyber, contract requirements and the home-office and subcontractor traps. Dental practice insurance What dental practices need: professional liability with consent to settle and board defense, BOP, cyber and HIPAA cover, workers' comp, EPLI and DSO structures. Medical practice insurance What physician practices need: malpractice (claims-made vs occurrence, tail), state patient fund rules, cyber and HIPAA breach cover, EPLI, property and comp. Counselor and therapist insurance Counselor and therapy practices: professional liability, telehealth, license defense, abuse sublimits, cyber and HIPAA, and state mandates such as Wisconsin. Physical therapist insurance PT practices: professional liability with license defense, abuse sublimits, BOP, cyber and HIPAA, comp for lifting injuries and the DMEPOS bond exception.

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.