Types of Liability Insurance for Home Health Aides, Nursing Assistants, more.
As a home health care provider you can be held personally liable for a number of work-related errors and omissions claims. Whether it’s for medical negligence or a cyber data breach exposing sensitive patient information, you can be held responsible even if you are not at fault. It is important to understand all of the liability insurance coverage options offered to you through CM&F. Home health aide or caregiver liability insurance is a basic necessity, but adding on a few additional coverage options below can ensure your career, assets, and future are fully protected.
There are two types of malpractice insurance for home health providers: claims-made policies and occurrence policies. A claims-made policy offers coverage only when a claim is filed during a policy period. Occurrence policies accommodate long-tail situations, or events, that do not produce lawsuits or claims right away. While a claims-made policy may have a lower premium than occurrence, a claims-made policy owner may need tail coverage to protect themselves from negligence claims made after the policy expires.
As a business, malpractice insurance for home health agencies is a must, and each policy comes with workplace liability coverage. To have full peace of mind, businesses should also be covered with general liability and cyber liability insurance.
What is professional home health care liability insurance?
Home health care liability insurance, also known as home health care malpractice insurance, protects CNAs, caregivers, and aides from legal claims associated with wrongful practice resulting in bodily injury, medical expenses and/or property damage. Professional liability coverage from CM&F includes the cost of defending yourself or business in lawsuits related to such claims.
Some examples of malpractice claims include:
- Failure to diagnose an existing medical condition that a reasonably competent professional is capable of diagnosing
- Improper patient care or negligent medical treatment that negatively impacted a patient
- Failure to warn a patient of all the possible risks involved with a procedure or treatment method
What is workplace liability insurance?
Workplace liability insurance for home health businesses or agencies protects owners from financial losses resulting from claims of bodily injury or property damage which occurs in the place where the professional services were provided. All of CM&F’s home health business liability insurance policies include workplace liability coverage.
Some examples of workplace liability claims include:
- A patient comes to your office and they slip on a wet tile causing injury.
- A patient falls out of bed when a home care provider is assisting.
What is property damage coverage?
Property damage coverage offers coverage for the damage of the personal property of those in your care, custody or control while performing professional services. CM&F offers limited property damage coverage of up $1,000 as part of the event limits for damage to the personal property of others only, unless otherwise specified in your policy.
Some examples of property damage claims include:
- Home care provider accidentally breaks a lamp of client while in the home. Replacement cost is $500.
- Home care provider accidentally breaks a pair of eyeglasses of client while working in home. Replacement is $250.
What is general liability insurance?
General liability insurance for home health care agencies or self-employed providers covers physical risks, such as bodily injury or property damage. It differs from professional liability insurance, which is coverage for errors and omissions in professional services. General liability is available as add-on coverage to self-employed home health providers, as well as home health care business insurance policy holders.
Some examples of general liability claims include:
- A patient that suffers a slip and fall incident at a workplace
- Property damage that you or an employee is responsible for causing
What is cyber liability insurance?
Cyber liability insurance for a home health business covers the cost to recover from a data breach, virus, or other cyberattacks where patient PII/PHI is compromised. It also covers the legal claims that result from a patient data breach. As the risk of cyber hacking grows with the increased reliance on technology in healthcare, every home health care group/agency owner should invest in a cyber liability insurance policy to fully protect the future of their business.
Some examples of a cyber liability claim include:
- Computer software is stolen that contains sensitive patient information. The cost to rectify the situation is covered by cyber liability insurance.
- A spyware virus compromises patient information. In turn, patients with information compromised by the virus file a lawsuit. The cost of legal fees will be covered with cyber liability insurance.
At CM&F, we believe in the importance of a lifelong relationship. We want to be a valuable provider from your first day as a home health student until the day you retire. It is our hope to serve as a partner in your career, offering help and guidance along the way.
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CM&F was founded over a century ago. Through up and down markets, CM&F’s dedication to home health care providers and agencies has never wavered. CM&F remains committed to making it easy and cost-effective to secure vital liability coverage with:
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