Professional indemnity: claims-made cover explained
The policy for firms that give advice or design, and the dates that decide whether a claim is paid.
Corp Cover
8 Oct 2026 · 5 min read
An adviser can read your own policy and explain the gaps. Insurers pay the adviser; your business pays no fee.
Professional indemnity (PI) insurance pays claims that your advice, design or service caused a client a financial loss. It covers defence costs as well as damages.
Claims-made, not occurrence
Most PI policies respond to claims made while the policy is in force, not to work done while it was in force. A claim made today about work from three years ago falls on today's policy.
The retroactive date
The policy only covers work done after its retroactive date. Keep the same retroactive date when changing insurer. A new date leaves earlier work uninsured.
Run-off cover
Claims can arrive years after a firm stops trading or a project ends. Run-off cover keeps the protection in place after the business closes or is sold.
What to check
- The limit meets what client contracts and any professional body require.
- The description of business matches every service you sell.
- Known circumstances are notified before renewal, not after.
General information, not advice on a specific policy. Terms differ by insurer.
Talk to an adviser
Insurers pay the advisers commission. Your business pays no fee, and a review is not a quote.
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