A general contractor asks to be "added to your policy." What they mean matters, because "certificate holder" and "additional insured" are not the same, and giving the wrong one can cost you the contract.
The party that receives a copy of your certificate of insurance, which proves the policy exists. Being a certificate holder gives them no coverage under your policy; it just tells them you're insured and that they'll be notified if it cancels.
An actual extension of your coverage to the other party. If a claim arises out of your work, your policy can defend and pay them too. This is what most GCs and property owners require in the contract, and it usually takes an endorsement added to your policy, sometimes for a fee.
The contract language "name us as additional insured" is a coverage requirement. Send a certificate listing them only as certificate holder and a sharp risk manager will bounce it, and you're not starting Monday. See our contractor insurance page, and our article on getting a COI fast.
Some contracts also require "completed operations" additional insured, which is coverage that continues after the job is done. Read the insurance clause, and give your agent the actual contract, not a guess.
One caution: additional insured status can raise your own exposure. Get the endorsement the contract requires, and avoid a blanket grant to everyone that you didn't intend.
Send it over and we'll work to issue the certificate and endorsements the contract asks for.
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