Company insurance is intended to safeguard the financial assets of a business owner and is a necessary investment for a home care business.
This article will discuss the primary insurance coverage for home care firms, general liability insurance, as well as additional products that are appropriate for this industry.
Home Care Businesses Need General Liability Insurance
Every firm, regardless of sector, has risks that should be insured. General liability insurance is the most frequent and comprehensive form of coverage that company owners purchase.
General liability insurance covers the following risks:
Physical harm
Damage to property
Medical expenses
Legal defence and decision
Personal and commercial harm
While general liability insurance is not legally needed for companies, operating without it is exceedingly dangerous. If your company is sued, you might face costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more). The only way to avoid this sort of catastrophe from destroying your organisation is to have an adequate general liability insurance coverage in place to assist pay for these losses.
Common Situations That General Liability Insurance For A Home Care Business May Cover
Example 1: An employee forgets about a skillet on the stove while preparing supper and catering to a client’s personal requirements. A grease fire ultimately breaks out and spreads to other sections of the home. Property damage and any accompanying legal expenses would most likely be covered by general liability insurance.
Example 2: A caregiver leaves their luggage at the top of the stairs, and a client falls over it on the way down. The customer has various injuries that need medical treatment. The client’s injuries would most likely be covered by general liability insurance.
Example 3: An advertising campaign says that your home care service is the “best” in the area, but there is no actual evidence to back up this claim. A rival sues for slander. General liability insurance would normally pay associated legal fees regardless of the result of the claim.
Of course, this is not an entire list of risks covered by a general liability insurance policy, and certain situations may result in a specific peril not being covered. To minimise coverage gaps, it’s always better to speak with your agent about the terms of your policy.
General Liability Insurance Cost
For $1 million in general liability coverage, the typical home care firm in America costs between $400 and $1,500 each year.
The cost of your coverage will be determined by a number of variables. Among them are your:
Location
Deductible
Employees’ number
Per-occurrence restriction
The overall aggregate limit
You may be able to get general liability insurance at a lower cost if you buy it as part of a business owner’s policy (BOP) rather than as a separate policy. A business interruption policy (BOP) is a more complete option that covers numerous types of coverage, such as business interruption and property insurance.
Other Types of Coverage Required by Home Care Businesses
While general liability insurance is the most crucial, there are various different types of coverage to be aware of. Other forms of insurance that all home care organisations should have include:
Insurance for Commercial Vehicles
Your company must insure any cars it employs to go to and from customer locations. Personal vehicle plans aren’t intended to protect against the additional risk that comes with work-related driving, therefore commercial auto insurance is essential.
Commercial vehicle insurance may be purchased alone or as part of a package coverage.
Insurance for Professional Liability
Professional liability insurance protects skilled professionals against possible liability claims that may be brought if they make an error while working. Legal bills, settlements, and judgments linked with error-related lawsuits are often covered by insurance.
While delivering in-home care is often routine, a mistake may have disastrous repercussions. A dropped patient, for example, may suffer serious harm.
Professional liability insurance is available in a variety of package products as well as as a single policy.
Coverage Options for Some Home Care Businesses
In addition to the insurance listed above, your home care company may need other forms of coverage based on particular elements of your operations. Some of them may not apply to you, so be sure to ask your agent whether policies are appropriate for your company.
Insurance for Home-Based Businesses
If you handle the logistics of your home care company from a home office, you need get home-based business insurance. Home-based businesses are often not covered by regular homeowner’s insurance plans, but they are commonly covered by this insurance.
Home-based business insurance may be included in a business owner’s policy (BOP) or purchased separately.
Insurance for Workers’ Compensation
If your company hires home care providers, you should consider purchasing workers’ compensation insurance. Workers are protected if they are hurt on the job, which is often when personnel are lifting and otherwise aiding patients. Furthermore, employers are often required by state law to carry the coverage.
Additional Security Measures for Your Company
Although investing in company insurance is simple (and necessary), it should not be your first line of defence. Yes, insurance will reimburse your company for cash losses incurred as a result of an occurrence, but it is much preferable to avoid losses altogether.
With this in mind, here are a few steps you can take to better secure your company:
Make use of legally binding contracts and other business agreements. (We provide free templates for several of the most often used legal forms.)
To safeguard your personal assets, form a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation. (To discover how to incorporate an LLC or company in your state, see our step-by-step tutorials.)
Keep your company licences up to date.
Streamline the internal procedures of your company. This will eliminate unneeded variables from routine activities and establish a secure, consistent environment in which to do business.
If your company is an LLC, you should check into LLC insurance.