Some clients require contractor insurance before your Contract can start. You can meet that requirement in Worksuite in two ways: buy coverage for this Contract through 1099Policy, our insurance partner, or upload a certificate for insurance you already have. Once the insurance stage is complete, your Contract can go live and you can invoice for your work.

Your workspace may use a different name for Contracts, such as Engagements or Assignments.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Why you're asked for insurance

  • Your client decides which coverage a Contract needs: Workers' Compensation, General Liability or both. You'll see one section in the stage for each coverage type.
  • Your Contract can't go live until the insurance stage is complete. Until it's live, you can't invoice for it.
  • If you think the requirement shouldn't apply to your work, message your client.
  • Coverage can't be backdated. If your Contract's start date has already passed, the stage shows a message that your coverage starts from tomorrow. Your Contract dates stay the same, and you can still continue.

Before you start

  • To buy coverage through 1099Policy, complete your tax information under Settings → Tax information. The country must be the United States, with your state filled in.
  • To use your own insurance, have a certificate of insurance (COI) ready for each coverage type your client requires.

Open the insurance stage

  1. Go to Contracts → All Contracts and open the Contract. You can also use the link in the email that asked you to complete onboarding.
  2. On the Details tab, in the Contract workflow section, click Review next to the insurance stage. Your client names this stage, and it's often called 1099 Insurance Purchase.
  3. Check the details at the top of the stage, such as Location and Assignment Dates. If you change anything, click Save.

The stage shows one section for each coverage type, with these options:

  • Upload a proof of insurance: use insurance you already have. Your client reviews your certificate.
  • Buy a new insurance policy via 1099policy.com: get covered through 1099Policy. When the price is available, the option shows it as a rate for every 100 USD of wages, plus taxes and fees. If your client pays for the policy, this option starts with Get insured via 1099Policy and names who pays.
  • Reuse your existing 1099Policy.com coverage: shown instead of the buy option if you already hold active 1099Policy coverage.

Upload your own certificate

  1. Under the coverage type, select Upload a proof of insurance.
  2. Drag your certificate into the upload box, or click the box to choose the file.
  3. Click Continue.
  4. In the Submit files to review? window, click I understand.

The stage shows "Proof of insurance submitted for review". Click Acknowledge to move to your next onboarding stage. When your client accepts the certificate, the stage shows "All set!".

Buy coverage through 1099Policy

Important: Once you opt in to buy a coverage type through 1099Policy, you can't upload your own certificate for that coverage type. If you already have insurance, upload it instead. If you started a purchase by mistake, contact Worksuite Support before you continue.
  1. Under the coverage type, select the 1099Policy option.
  2. Click Opt in for the missing insurance policies. If you're reusing existing coverage, the button is Confirm insurance coverage.
  3. In the confirmation window, click I understand. Worksuite opens 1099policy.com.
  4. On 1099policy.com, confirm your details and sign the application.
  5. If you pay for the policy yourself, add a payment card when 1099Policy asks for one.

1099Policy sends you back to Worksuite. The stage shows "All set!" and "Successfully purchased this insurance policy on 1099policy.com."

If you left before you finished, the stage shows "Purchase in progress...". Click Continue to 1099Policy to pick it up where you stopped. If it shows "Purchase not completed!", click Start over. Some applications are screened by 1099Policy before they can be completed. If so, the stage says 1099Policy is screening the request, and you'll be told about next steps.

What your client checks on an uploaded certificate

Your client reviews each certificate and can reject one that doesn't meet the requirement. To avoid a rejection, check these points before you upload:

  • Insured name. The insured should be you, or your own business, and match the name in your profile and tax information. A certificate issued to a payroll provider, an employer of record or an agency may be rejected.
  • Dates. The policy must cover your Contract's dates.
  • Limits. The limits must meet your client's minimums.
  • Coverage type. Upload each certificate under the coverage it proves. A business owner's policy, a health insurance card or a state exemption certificate isn't proof of Workers' Compensation.

If your client rejects a certificate, the stage shows "Proof of insurance rejected" and the Rejection reason. When your client reopens the stage, a Retry button appears. Click it to upload a corrected certificate, or to buy coverage through 1099Policy instead. If you don't see Retry, message your client.

Cost and billing

  • The price is a rate for every 100 USD of your Contract's wages, plus taxes and fees. The rate depends on the state and the type of work.
  • There's one premium per Contract, based on the amounts of its Tasks.
  • Your client decides who pays for the policy on each Contract: you or your client.
  • If your Contract's amount changes through an accepted change request, an extra fee or a refund applies.
  • After your Contract ends, the premium is based on what you were actually paid, so 1099Policy charges or refunds the difference.
  • To cancel a policy you don't need, email support@1099policy.com. Cancellation takes effect from the day 1099Policy is told, not retroactively.

Extensions, renewals and finding your policy

  • If your client extends your Contract, a policy bought through 1099Policy is extended to the new dates. The premium changes as described above.
  • If a certificate you uploaded expires before the new end date, your client may ask you for an updated one.
  • Upload certificates and renewals in Worksuite, not by email, so your client can review them.
  • Your policy or certificate is saved to your profile. If your menu has Documents → Insurances, you'll find it there.

If you're an agency completing this for your talent

The talent is the insured person, even when your agency manages them. You can complete the stage for them, but the application must be in the talent's own name:

  • If the stage asks for First Name and Last Name, enter the talent's name, not your agency's name.
  • On 1099policy.com, don't apply under your agency's business name.
  • Each person needs their own Worksuite profile. 1099Policy blocks a purchase for a second person on an account that already holds a policy for someone else.

Troubleshooting

"Cannot purchase insurance for this assignment. Contact support for more information." Something in the Contract setup, such as the type of work, doesn't allow a purchase. Contact Worksuite Support, or upload your own certificate.

"Cannot purchase insurance for this assignment because it is set in the past or ends soon." The Contract dates don't leave time for coverage. Ask your client to check the dates.

A message says the wage appears to be incorrect The amount on your Contract's Tasks can't be insured as it is. Contact your client to check the amounts.

"The address is outside of the US. The insurance cannot be provided at this moment." 1099Policy covers people who work in the US. If you live and work in the US, update your tax information so the country is the United States and the state is correct, then go back to the stage. If you work outside the US, contact your client.

A message says tax information has to be provided Complete your tax information under Settings → Tax information, then go back to the stage.

You work in North Dakota, Ohio, Washington or Wyoming Workers' Compensation in these states comes from a state fund, so you can't buy it through 1099Policy. Get it from your state and upload the certificate. General Liability isn't available through 1099Policy in Hawaii, so upload your own certificate there too.

A message says the purchase was blocked because the account already holds a policy for someone else Each person needs their own Worksuite profile. Contact Worksuite Support at support@worksuite.com.

The stage still shows "Proof of insurance submitted for review" Your client hasn't finished the review yet. You don't need to do anything. If it's been more than a few business days, message your client.

Support/Resources

Still have questions about the insurance stage? Click Support in the bottom-left corner of Worksuite to contact our Support team, or email support@worksuite.com.

For questions about your work, projects or rates, message your client from Messages in Worksuite.