Below are additional insurance topics and official Illinois resources that may be helpful to individuals, property owners, landlords, contractors, and business owners.
Condo / HO-6 Insurance & Association Master Policy
Important information about condominium association insurance requirements, master policies, unit-owner responsibilities, liability, and individual HO-6 coverage.
Official Resource:Illinois Condominium Property Act
Renters Insurance
Renters insurance may help protect a tenant’s personal belongings, liability, and additional living expenses.
A landlord’s insurance generally protects the building — not the tenant’s personal property.
Official Resource:Illinois Department of Insurance — Homeowners & Renters
Read more:https://idoi.illinois.gov/consumers/consumerinsurance/homeownerrenter.html
Certificates of Insurance / Additional Insured / Waiver of Subrogation
Businesses, contractors, landlords, and commercial tenants may be required to provide Certificates of Insurance and specific policy endorsements.
Requirements may include:
- Additional Insured
- Waiver of Subrogation
- Primary & Noncontributory
- Specific Liability Limits
A Certificate of Insurance is evidence of coverage and does not replace the actual insurance policy or endorsement.
Official Resource:Illinois Department of Insurance
Read more:https://idoi.illinois.gov/
Policy Cancellation & Nonrenewal
Illinois law includes requirements for insurance policy cancellation and nonrenewal notices.
Notice periods may depend on:
- Policy type
- Reason for cancellation
- Length of time coverage has been in force
- Nonpayment of premium
- Underwriting changes
Official Resources:Illinois Insurance Code
Cancellation — Read more:https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/021500050K143.16.htm
Nonrenewal — Read more:https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/021500050K143.17.htm
Insurance Audits & Loss Runs
Workers’ Compensation and certain General Liability policies may be subject to insurance audits.
Audits may review:
- Payroll
- Sales
- Subcontractor costs
- Employee classifications
- Certificates of Insurance
- Actual business operations
Loss Runs show the business’s prior insurance claim history and may be required when obtaining new commercial insurance.
Official Resource:Illinois Department of Insurance — Workers’ Compensation
Read more:https://idoi.illinois.gov/wc-fraud.html
Builders Risk Insurance
Builders Risk insurance may be important for:
- New construction
- Major renovations
- Building additions
- Rehabilitation projects
- Property under construction
Builders Risk is different from General Liability and protects qualifying property during construction.
Official Resource:Illinois Department of Insurance
Read more:https://idoi.illinois.gov/
Inland Marine / Tools & Equipment Insurance
Inland Marine coverage may help protect qualifying:
- Tools
- Equipment
- Mobile property
- Contractor equipment
- Property in transit
- Property temporarily located away from the business premises
Commercial Auto and General Liability should not automatically be assumed to cover tools or mobile equipment.
Official Resource:Illinois Department of Insurance
Read more:https://idoi.illinois.gov/
Employment Practices Liability — EPLI
Employment Practices Liability Insurance may help protect businesses against certain employment-related allegations, including:
- Wrongful termination
- Discrimination
- Harassment
- Retaliation
- Other qualifying employment practices
Illinois businesses should also understand applicable employment laws.
Official Resource:Illinois Human Rights Act
Read more:https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ILCS/details?ActID=2266&ActName=Illinois+Human+Rights+Act.
Cyber Liability & Data Breach Requirements
Businesses that collect or store personal information may have legal responsibilities following certain data breaches.
Cyber Liability Insurance may help with qualifying:
- Data breaches
- Ransomware
- Network attacks
- Privacy incidents
- Cyber business interruption
- Notification expenses
- Forensic investigation
- Certain cybercrime losses
Official Resources:
Illinois Personal Information Protection Act
Read more:https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Articles?ActID=2702&ChapterID=67
Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act — BIPA
Read more:https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Articles?ActID=3004&ChapterID=57
Commercial Crime / Employee Dishonesty
Commercial Crime insurance may provide protection against certain losses involving:
- Employee theft
- Employee dishonesty
- Forgery
- Funds transfer fraud
- Computer fraud
- Theft of money or securities
Coverage varies significantly by insurance policy.
Official Resource:Illinois Department of Insurance
Read more:https://idoi.illinois.gov/
Insurance Fraud / Misrepresentation
Insurance applications and policy information should always accurately reflect the actual risk.
Important information may include:
- Drivers
- Garaging address
- Property occupancy
- Business operations
- Payroll
- Sales
- Claims history
- Vehicle use
- Property condition
Material misrepresentation can affect policy eligibility, cancellation, or claim coverage.
Official Resource:Illinois Insurance Code
Read more:https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Fulltext?DocName=021500050K154
Vacant Property Insurance
Vacant homes and commercial buildings may require specialized insurance.
Standard homeowners or commercial property policies can contain significant restrictions when a property becomes vacant.
Property owners should notify their insurance agent when a building becomes vacant.
Official Resource:Illinois Department of Insurance — Property Insurance Information
Short-Term Rental / Airbnb Insurance
Standard homeowners or landlord insurance should not automatically be assumed to cover short-term rental activity.
Property owners using platforms such as Airbnb or other short-term rental arrangements should verify:
- Property coverage
- Liability coverage
- Business-use restrictions
- Local licensing requirements
- Municipal regulations
Official Resource:Illinois Attorney General — Landlord & Tenant Rights
Read more:https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/Page-Attachments/LandlordAndTenantRightsLaws.pdf
Medical / Wellness / Med Spa Insurance
Medical, wellness, and med spa businesses may require specialized coverage depending on the services provided.
Insurance may include:
- General Liability
- Business Personal Property
- Professional Liability
- Medical Professional Liability
- Cyber Liability
- Workers’ Compensation
- Commercial Property
- Employment Practices Liability
Professional licensing requirements vary by service.
Official Resource:Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation
Read more:https://idfpr.illinois.gov/
Bonds & Surety
Businesses and contractors may need different types of Surety Bonds.
Common bonds include:
- License & Permit Bonds
- Bid Bonds
- Performance Bonds
- Payment Bonds
- Maintenance Bonds
Public construction projects may be subject to additional Illinois bond requirements.
Official Resource:Illinois Public Construction Bond Act
Read more:https://ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Articles?actid=541&chapterid=7
Illinois Insurance Complaints & Consumer Assistance
Consumers and businesses may contact the Illinois Department of Insurance regarding concerns involving:
- Insurance companies
- Insurance agents
- Claims
- Cancellations
- Nonrenewals
- Premiums
- Refunds
- Sales practices
- Policy issues
Official Resource:Illinois Department of Insurance — File a Complaint
Read more:https://idoi.illinois.gov/consumers/file-a-complaint.html