New York contractors are facing a new and frustrating challenge when it comes to obtaining and maintaining liability insurance. Owner and general contractor coverage screening services are scrutinizing policies more than ever, rejecting contractors’ insurance for exclusions and policy provisions that they deem non-compliant.
If your liability policy has labor law exclusions, hard hammer independent contractor forms, temporary leased or labor forms, or other restrictive clauses, these screening services will not approve your coverage. Without approval, you can’t work on certain projects—potentially losing jobs and damaging your business.
So, what can you do if your current insurance isn’t passing these screenings? This is where BGES Group, one of New York’s construction insurance specialists, comes in. BGES Group can help you find a new insurance provider that offers compliant policies, ensuring you don’t get blocked from jobs due to coverage issues. Phone #914-806-5853 – Gary Wallach
The Growing Insurance Screening Problem for New York Contractors
In the past, as long as contractors carried general liability insurance, most project owners and general contractors would accept it. However, the rise of third-party screening services like, and others has changed the game.
These services act as strict gatekeepers, analyzing every detail of a contractor’s insurance policy to ensure it meets specific requirements. If they find exclusions, limitations, or unfavorable endorsements, they reject the policy, meaning you can’t move forward with the project unless you fix the issue.
Contractors across New York are facing rejections due to:
- Labor law exclusions – If your policy excludes New York Labor Law coverage (Sections 240/241), your insurance is considered inadequate.
- Hard hammer independent contractor forms – These forms place significant risk on the contractor, making insurance insufficient in the eyes of these screening services.
- Temporary labor or leased worker exclusions – If your insurance does not cover leased or temporary workers, your policy might be rejected.
- Primary and non-contributory wording issues – Many screening services require strict primary and non-contributory language, which not all policies include.
- Action over exclusions – This exclusion removes coverage for lawsuits filed by injured workers against higher-tier contractors, making it a major red flag.
If your policy contains any of these restrictions, you could find yourself locked out of projects with no way to fix the problem—unless you get the right insurance.
Why This is a Big Problem for Contractors
New York’s labor laws already create one of the toughest insurance markets in the country, and these screening services are making it even harder. Many contractors are:
- Losing out on jobs because their insurance doesn’t meet screening standards.
- Scrambling to find a new policy when they receive rejection notices.
- Facing unexpected delays when their certificate of insurance (COI) isn’t approved.
- Paying higher premiums when forced to switch insurers last minute.
What makes this even more frustrating is that some contractors were never told these exclusions were in their policies when they bought them. Many agents sell policies without fully explaining the fine print, leaving contractors vulnerable when screening services flag the exclusions.
What Can You Do?
If your insurance policy is getting rejected, don’t panic—there are solutions.
The first step is to work with an insurance specialist who understands New York’s construction industry and the strict screening requirements contractors face. That’s where BGES Group comes in.
BGES Group specializes in helping New York contractors secure liability insurance that meets owner and general contractor requirements. Unlike general insurance agents, BGES Group understands the complexities of construction insurance and helps contractors get their policies passed with screening services.
How BGES Group Can Help
At BGES Group, we don’t just sell policies—we strategically find coverage that works for your business.
Here’s what we do:
- Review your current policy to identify any exclusions or endorsements that could cause problems.
- Find new insurance providers that offer compliant policies—ones that will pass screening services.
- Ensure your policy includes New York Labor Law coverage, proper additional insured endorsements, and primary/non-contributory language.
- Help you obtain competitive pricing while still meeting all compliance requirements.
- Work quickly to minimize job delays and keep your projects on track.
Our team has relationships with top-tier insurance carriers that specialize in New York construction insurance. That means we can provide better solutions than general insurance agencies that don’t fully understand the industry’s unique requirements.
Don’t Lose Work Over Your Insurance—Call BGES Group Today
If your liability insurance isn’t passing owner and general contractor coverage screenings, you need a specialist who can fix the problem fast.
BGES Group is here to help you secure compliant, cost-effective coverage so you don’t lose work due to insurance rejections.
Contact us today:
- Call: Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853
- Email: bgesgroup@gmail.com
- Visit: www.bgesgroup.com
Don’t wait until your insurance gets rejected—get ahead of the problem now with a team that knows how to navigate New York’s tough insurance market. BGES Group has your back!
