What does a binder provide in insurance?

A binder provides temporary coverage in insurance. It acts as a short-term agreement between an insurer and an insured that allows coverage to commence before the formal policy is issued. This interim document ensures that the insured has protection in place while the final policy is being prepared or finalized. The temporary nature of a binder means that it usually does not provide long-term security or a permanent solution but is essential for immediate coverage needs. Once the underwriting process is complete and the policy is formally issued, the binder is typically superseded by the written insurance policy. This allows insured parties to have some level of protection while they await all the details of their insurance contract to be settled.