Policy mechanics
Extended reporting period (ERP): what it is and how it differs from run-off cover
The formal insurance term for extending your window to report claims after a policy ends, and how it relates to run-off cover in South Africa.
Key takeaways
- ✓An extended reporting period (ERP), sometimes called a discovery period, gives you extra time after a policy ends to notify claims or circumstances relating to work done while it was in force
- ✓In South African PI practice, "run-off cover" is the more commonly used term for a longer, deliberately arranged version of the same concept
- ✓A short ERP is sometimes automatically included if a policy isn't renewed; run-off cover is a separately purchased, longer-term extension
- ✓Neither ERP nor run-off cover extends your retroactive date — they extend how long you have to report a claim, not how far back your policy reaches
How ERP and run-off cover relate
These terms describe the same underlying mechanism at different scales. A standard or automatic ERP is often brief — sometimes just days to a few months — and included at no extra cost as a courtesy window if you don't renew. Run-off cover is a specifically negotiated, usually paid, extension typically running to several years, arranged when a practice closes, merges or a practitioner retires.
See our dedicated run-off cover guide for the full detail on arranging and pricing this longer-term option.
When you actually need this
Practice closure, sale, merger, retirement, or even a temporary break from practising, are the situations where ERP or run-off cover become relevant — any point where historic claims-made exposure would otherwise go completely uninsured once your active policy ends.
What ERP or run-off cover does not do
It doesn't cover new work performed after your original policy ended, and it doesn't move your retroactive date. A claim relating to work carried out before your retroactive date remains excluded, regardless of how long an ERP or run-off period you hold.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
A brief, unpaid ERP is common on many policies if you don't renew, but the exact period varies by insurer — confirm the specific term rather than assuming a standard length.