Which one of the following WC&EL endorsements can be used to add coverage for employees excluded from coverage under a state's laws?

• A. United States Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act Endorsement
• B. The Voluntary Compensation and Employers Liability endorsement
• C. The Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) Coverage endorsement
• D. The Jones Act endorsement

Answer: (B)

The key idea is adding coverage for employees who aren’t covered by a state workers’ compensation law. The Voluntary Compensation and Employers Liability endorsement is designed for exactly that: it lets an employer voluntarily extend workers’ compensation benefits to employees who would otherwise be excluded under state law, while also providing employers liability coverage for those workers. This fills gaps where the state doesn’t require coverage or where certain classes of employees aren’t covered by state statutes, giving both the employee benefits and the employer’s liability protection on a voluntary basis.

The other endorsements are targeted to specific groups or federal frameworks—Longshore and Harbor Workers' coverage for maritime workers under a federal act, FELA coverage for railroad employees, and the Jones Act for seamen—rather than addressing coverage gaps created by state-specific exclusions.