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📝 '''Non-waiver agreement''' is a written agreement between an [[Definition:Insurance carrier | insurance carrier]] and a [[Definition:Policyholder | policyholder]] that preserves the insurer's right to deny a [[Definition:Claim | claim]] based on [[Definition:Policy provision | policy provisions]], even while the insurer proceeds to investigate or defend the claim. In the [[Definition:Claims management | claims-handling]] process, it serves as a critical safeguard: without it, an insurer that voluntarily takes action on a claim—such as hiring defense counsel or paying interim expenses—risks being deemed to have [[Definition:Waiver | waived]] its coverage defenses or to be [[Definition:Estoppel | estopped]] from later asserting them.

🔧 Typically, the insurer presents the non-waiver agreement to the policyholder early in the [[Definition:Claims investigation | investigation]], often when a preliminary review reveals potential [[Definition:Coverage issue | coverage questions]]—such as a possible [[Definition:Policy exclusion | exclusion]], a [[Definition:Late notice | late-notice]] issue, or a dispute over whether the loss falls within the [[Definition:Policy period | policy period]]. By signing, the insured acknowledges that the carrier's continued investigation or provision of a [[Definition:Duty to defend | defense]] does not constitute an admission of coverage. If the policyholder refuses to sign, the insurer may issue a [[Definition:Reservation of rights letter | reservation of rights letter]] unilaterally, which accomplishes a similar protective function without requiring the insured's consent.

⚖️ From a practical standpoint, non-waiver agreements help both sides. The insurer can fulfill its [[Definition:Good faith | good-faith]] obligation to investigate and, where applicable, defend the insured without inadvertently conceding coverage. The policyholder, in turn, receives the benefit of the insurer's continued engagement rather than an outright denial at the outset. For [[Definition:Claims adjuster | adjusters]], [[Definition:Managing general agent (MGA) | MGAs]] with [[Definition:Claims authority | claims authority]], and [[Definition:Third-party administrator (TPA) | third-party administrators]], knowing when to deploy a non-waiver agreement—versus a [[Definition:Reservation of rights letter | reservation of rights letter]]—is a foundational competency that directly affects [[Definition:Litigation | litigation]] outcomes and [[Definition:Bad faith | bad-faith]] exposure.

'''Related concepts'''
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Definition:Reservation of rights letter]]
* [[Definition:Waiver]]
* [[Definition:Estoppel]]
* [[Definition:Duty to defend]]
* [[Definition:Claims investigation]]
* [[Definition:Bad faith]]
{{Div col end}}

Definition:Non-waiver agreement - Revision history

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