What is the legal status of a certificate of insurance?

A certificate of insurance serves as a document that provides evidence of insurance coverage but does not alter or extend the terms and conditions of the underlying policy it references. It simply summarizes the key details, such as the types of coverage, policy limits, and the policyholder’s name.

It is crucial to understand that the certificate itself does not serve as a binding contract or an insurance policy; rather, it acts as a snapshot of the insurance coverage in effect at the time it is issued. This means that if the underlying policy changes, the certificate may no longer reflect the current coverage. It is not intended to provide guarantees of coverage or modify any existing policies, making this option the accurate choice regarding the legal status of a certificate of insurance.