Frequently Asked Questions

The Social Inflation Risk Alliance is a Risk Purchasing Group organized under the federal Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986. It is a formally constituted group of commercial property operators — in the commercial real estate, habitational, hospitality, and gaming segments — that collectively purchase excess and umbrella liability insurance through a single program administered on their behalf. The Alliance is domiciled in Delaware and administered by Rainshade Specialty LLC.

No. The Alliance is a purchasing group — not an insurance company, insurer, or risk retention group. It does not underwrite or issue insurance policies. Insurance coverage available through the Alliance is provided by licensed insurance carriers. The Alliance and its administrator facilitate the collective purchase of that coverage on behalf of members.

The Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 (LRRA) is a federal statute that authorizes groups of businesses with similar liability exposures to collectively purchase liability insurance as a Risk Purchasing Group. The LRRA provides significant federal preemption of state insurance regulation for purchasing groups, allowing them to purchase coverage on a multi-state basis without state-by-state regulatory approval. The Alliance is organized under and operates in accordance with the LRRA.

Purchasing through the Alliance provides access to program-level terms negotiated collectively on behalf of all members, a consistent and documented underwriting framework specifically developed for the segments the Alliance serves, and access to the Alliance's intelligence and preparedness platform — none of which are available through individually purchased excess policies.

The Alliance is administered by Rainshade Specialty LLC, a specialty insurance program company based in Bellevue, Washington. The administrator is responsible for program operations, member enrollment, underwriting coordination, and ongoing program management.

Membership in the Alliance Purchasing Group is the basis on which a member is eligible to access the program's insurance coverage. Membership itself does not provide coverage — coverage is established through a separate underwriting and policy issuance process. A member who joins the Alliance but does not complete the coverage placement process will have membership status but no insurance coverage through the program.

Membership in the Alliance is contingent on participation in the insurance program. The Alliance is organized for the purpose of collectively purchasing liability insurance, and membership is available only to organizations that are enrolled in or actively seeking to enroll in the program.

The Alliance operates a three-tier structure. Tier 1 — Member is the base enrollment level. Tier 2 — Engaged members attest to intelligence use and commit to the 24-hour incident notification protocol. Tier 3 — Preferred members complete training, maintain written incident protocols, meet segment standards, commit to defense panel use, and recertify annually. Each tier provides a corresponding level of access to the Alliance's intelligence resources.

Eligible organizations apply for participation through their licensed insurance broker. The broker facilitates the underwriting application process, submits materials to the program administrator, and communicates the outcome to the applicant. There is no direct enrollment process outside of the broker channel.

The Alliance program provides access to commercial excess and umbrella liability insurance. Coverage attaches above a member's primary general liability policy at a $1 million attachment point and is available with limits up to $200 million, subject to underwriting and carrier participation.

Carrier participation in the Alliance program is subject to change. Members receive carrier information through their broker and in their policy documents. The Alliance does not disclose carrier arrangements publicly.

No. Coverage is subject to individual underwriting review and carrier approval. Membership in the Alliance provides access to the program's underwriting process — it does not guarantee issuance of a policy or any specific terms of coverage.

The Alliance program is available in most states. Certain states may have specific regulatory requirements or restrictions that affect program availability. Members should confirm state availability with their broker or the Alliance administrator prior to enrollment.

The Alliance administrator actively manages carrier relationships to maintain program continuity. In the event of a carrier change or withdrawal, the administrator will work to secure alternative capacity and will notify affected members and their brokers in accordance with applicable agreements and regulatory requirements.

The Alliance Purchasing Group is governed in accordance with its organizational documents and the requirements of the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986. Day-to-day administration is carried out by Rainshade Specialty LLC as program administrator. Members participate in the program as described in the Membership Agreement.

Purchasing groups organized under the LRRA do not typically provide voting rights to members in the manner of a mutual insurer or cooperative. Members participate in the Alliance program under the terms of the Membership Agreement. Material changes to the program structure would be communicated to members in accordance with applicable legal requirements and the terms of the governing documents.

Disputes arising from membership in the Alliance or participation in the program are governed by the dispute resolution provisions of the Membership Agreement, which include mandatory arbitration. Members should consult the Membership Agreement and their legal counsel for details.

Members may terminate their participation in the Alliance in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Membership Agreement. Termination of membership does not affect the terms of any in-force insurance policy, which remains subject to its own cancellation and non-renewal provisions.

Tier 2 and Tier 3 members who have committed to the 24-hour notification protocol should report qualifying incidents to the Alliance administrator using the Incident Notification Form available in the Member Center. The administrator will coordinate with the member's broker and carrier. The notification obligation applies to incidents meeting the severity threshold described in the Participation Agreement.

Members should direct questions about their membership to their licensed insurance broker in the first instance. Members may also contact the Alliance administrator directly at info@si-riskalliance.org or 425.555.1234.