Social Workers Insurance–What You Need to Know
Social service agencies, from mental health centers to group homes to foster care management, provide valuable services to those who need it most. When starting or operating a social services agency, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of helping people that you may forget one thing–insurance.
Business insurance for social service agencies requires unique coverage that not all businesses need. Because social services professions can be risky business, it is crucial that social services insurance protect workers against lawsuits from those they are serving, as well as coverage for workers’ compensation and others.
Finding the right social services insurance coverage can be a daunting task. These are a few things you’ll want to make sure you cover when searching for social services insurance:
Property Coverage
Unless you are operating a social services agency of some sort out of your home and are already covered under a homeowners’ insurance policy, you must get property coverage for your business. This will typically include loss of use coverage as well, which will pay you for the time that is spent repairing your building in the event of a fire or other peril.
Liability Coverage
This type of coverage is a must and most social services insurance policies will include general liability coverage. There are different forms of liability, however, and your social services insurance should include:
- General liability. Basically, this type of liability will cover any injuries or property damage either at your location or at the home of someone you are serving. For example, if you have a counseling center for teen moms and one of your patients is injured on your premises and sues you in turn, general liability will cover any judgment against you.
- Abuse and molestation liability. This type of coverage is somewhat difficult to obtain, but it is important for anyone working closely with children. Unfortunately many social services agencies deal with children who are already troubled and confused, and allegations, whether unfounded or not, can be very damaging. As a result, this type of coverage is a must.
- Professional liability also known as Errors and Omissions). This covers costs against any type of loss or lawsuit that results in negligence or errors on your agency’s behalf. This is important because everyone makes mistakes, but sometimes they result in costly lawsuits.
- Business auto. Many social services agencies provide transportation services, such as rides to and from counseling or doctor’s appointments. Most agencies also have employees or volunteers who use company cars to perform their jobs, including making visits and traveling to and from appointments. For this reason, business auto is necessary for protecting your company and employees against injury and liability.
Finding Business Insurance for Social Services Agencies
Business insurance is expensive, and social services insurance is no exception. One of the best ways to get affordable business insurance for social services agencies is to shop around and compare quotes from a variety of different insurance providers who specialize in this type of insurance. Netquote.com is an excellent source for this. Not only will you find multiple social services insurance quotes for free, but you can also research the different types of insurance required and recommended for your business, so you can make the most informed decision possible.
See how much you could save today on your insurance. Get your free business insurance quotes today!
