What it means
Claims made policies cover claims made during the policy period only if the act, error or incident happened on or after the retroactive date. Work done before that date is not covered, even if the claim arrives now.
When a business renews or moves to a new insurer, keeping the original retroactive date preserves coverage for past work. Accepting a new, later date can leave earlier work uninsured.
A policy with full prior acts coverage has no retroactive date limitation, though this is less common for small businesses.
An example
Brightline Facility Consulting has carried claims made professional liability since 2021. When it changes insurers in 2026, the new policy keeps the 2021 retroactive date, so a claim about a 2023 project remains covered.
Names in this example are fictional.
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What happens if my retroactive date changes at renewal?
Work performed before the new retroactive date is no longer covered by the policy, even for claims made later. This can create a significant gap. When changing insurers, ask the new insurer to match the existing retroactive date, and compare quotes on that point rather than on price alone.
Where do I find my retroactive date?
It is usually shown on the declarations page or in an endorsement of a claims made policy. Occurrence policies do not have one. If the entry reads none or full prior acts, there is no retroactive limitation. If it is blank or unclear, ask the insurer or broker to confirm it in writing.
General information only. It is not legal or insurance advice. Only issued policy documents and endorsements describe actual coverage.