Builders Risk Knowledge

Working on a Wrap-Up Job (OCIP/CCIP) — What Subcontractors Need to Know and Watch Out For

Getting enrolled in a wrap-up program doesn’t mean you don’t need your own insurance. It means the coverage rules just changed — and not knowing the gaps could leave you personally exposed on the biggest job you’ve ever worked.

• ✓Wrap-up covers the project — your own policies still matter
• ✓Auto, tools, pollution, professional liability not included
• ✓Completed operations after handoff may not be covered
• ✓We review enrollment packages and identify gaps for every client

What a Wrap-Up Program Actually Covers — and What It Doesn’t

When a GC or owner uses a wrap-up insurance program — either an OCIP (owner-controlled) or CCIP (contractor-controlled) — they consolidate GL and workers comp coverage for all enrolled contractors under one program. The idea is administrative efficiency and cost savings. For the owner or GC, it means consistent coverage across the project. For you as a subcontractor, it means you need to understand exactly what coverage you’re being given — and what’s still your responsibility.

Here’s what most wrap-up programs provide to enrolled subcontractors: commercial general liability for work on the enrolled project and workers compensation for employees working on the enrolled project. That’s the core. Everything else — your commercial auto, your tools and equipment, your professional liability, your pollution liability, your completed operations after project handoff — is still your responsibility.

The most dangerous mistake subcontractors make: assuming enrollment means their own insurance needs have been reduced. Your own GL and workers comp remain essential for every other job you’re working on. The wrap-up covers you only at the enrolled project — not at any other job site, not for your auto, not for completed operations claims filed years after project handoff.

What to Review Before Signing Enrollment Documents

Every wrap-up program is different. The enrollment documents are a contract — and the details matter enormously. Before you sign, here’s what we tell every subcontractor client to confirm:

• GL limits available to you. Wrap-up programs have aggregate limits shared across all enrolled contractors. If a major loss burns through the aggregate, latecomers to claims may find the limit exhausted. Know your limits.
• Workers comp inclusion. OCIPs typically include workers comp. CCIPs vary. Confirm workers comp is explicitly included before assuming your employees are covered on the project.
• Completed operations term. How long does the wrap-up’s completed operations coverage extend after project closeout? Some programs end at handoff. Others extend 3–5 years. If the program ends at closeout, your own GL completed operations coverage must be in place for post-project claims.
• Trade-specific exclusions. Some wrap-up programs exclude certain high-risk trade operations — roofing, demolition, excavation. If your specific work is excluded, the wrap-up offers you nothing and you need your own project-specific coverage.
• Claims reporting requirements. Wrap-up programs have specific claims reporting procedures. Missing a reporting deadline or using the wrong claims channel can result in coverage denial. Know the process before a claim happens.

We review wrap-up enrollment packages for every contractor client who asks. We’ve found coverage gaps, exclusions for specific trades, and completed operations shortfalls that would have left the contractor exposed without their own policy to fill the gap.

The Premium Credit Question — Handle It Carefully

When you enroll in a wrap-up, you may be entitled to a premium credit from your own GL carrier for the revenue generated on the enrolled project. The logic: the wrap-up is providing the GL coverage for that work, so you shouldn’t be paying your own carrier for the same risk.

This makes sense in theory but requires careful handling. Never reduce your own coverage based on anticipated wrap-up enrollment — only after you’re confirmed enrolled and have reviewed what the program actually covers. We help clients navigate the premium credit process with their existing carriers to avoid errors that could create uninsured gaps.

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OCIP/CCIP FAQs for Subcontractors

Related Resources

Working a Wrap-Up Job? Let’s Review Your Enrollment Package for Gaps.

We review OCIP/CCIP enrollment documents for contractor clients. Call us before you sign — gaps found before a loss are fixable.