We know insurance brokers are innate salespeople. They’re selling themselves before they’re even presenting quotes! However, at the same time insurance agents are selling their trust, ethics and knowledge – they are also debating – should I write this risk? It’s a valid question. Insurance brokers put a lot of time and energy into their clients – whether that involves helping them control their losses, analyzing their emergency evacuation plans, shopping their insurance or simply remembering to wish them happy birthday – insurance brokers still have to compare the pros and the cons.

So what should they find out first?

1. Auto Risk Management Program – The losses on a food bank’s auto policy can be adverse if not properly managed. You should check to make sure the Food Bank has updated procedures that are visible for all volunteers. An Auto Risk Management Program should include the insured’s process for hiring and terminating drivers. This should also involve what the insurance carrier considers minimum requirements and automatic declinations based on a driver’s Motor Vehicle Record. If the insured has Non-Owned Auto and allows drivers to use their own vehicle, the insured should be inspecting the drivers’ vehicles for safety reasons – such as tire pressure, oil changes, gas tank, functioning mirrors, etc. The Auto Risk Management Program should also include information regarding continuing education opportunities and training courses for the drivers. This is especially important for Food Banks that require their drivers to have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
2. Accident & Health (A&H) for Volunteers – Does your potential insured have volunteers working for them? If so, they should have an Accident & Health policy that extends to their volunteer labor. Generally speaking, if an incident occurred and one of the Food Bank’s volunteers was hurt or injured, the organization’s Workers Compensation insurance coverage would not extend to the volunteer. However, if the Food Bank has Accident & Health Insurance, the volunteer’s medical costs would be covered and the insured would have avoided a General Liability claim.
3. Food Distribution –Where does the Food Bank’s food come from? Who is distributing it? How is it being processed? What procedures are in place to ensure that the food is safe and not contaminated? Is it more of a grocery or a wholesaler? Your prospective client should know these answers. The Food Bank is providing a necessary service to people in need and in order for their organization to continue normal operations they have to know how to avoid food-related hazards. According to the Natural Resources Institute, hazardous food sources include biological, chemical and physical hazards. The Food Bank has a responsibility to serve quality, low-risk foods that are prepared in a clean, uncontaminated, temperature-friendly environment. Managed safety precautions can prevent foodborne illnesses, food contamination, bodily injury and other related losses.
4. Youth – Does your prospective client offer their services to children and youth? If yes, it is in the best interest of the insured to protect these children and their organization with Sexual Abuse & Molestation Insurance Coverage. Not that anyone really wants to think about it, but the risk is real. An abuse claim can not only traumatize the victim, but it can also damage an organization’s reputation with the people they serve, within the community and overall public image. In the world of insurance – it will also come back to their insurance premium and loss history, a terrible experience they will have to explain to insurance carriers each time they shop their insurance.
5. Nutritionist – Does your prospective client collaborate with or employ a nutritionist? Nutritionists often provide workshops or training that offer nutritional education. This type of service could be a professional exposure for the Food Bank, but it also may broaden the scope of their overall general liability exposure as well.

For more information on Food Bank Insurance, contact AFC Insurance at 877-456-5323 or email submissions@afcins.com.

Resources:

Natural Resources Institute, “Potential Food Hazards”

AFC Insurance writes this blog. The content and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly for informative purposes from sources that are presumed accurate. AFC Insurance does not assume responsibility for any misguided information and no guarantees are implied.

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1. Railings & Ramps – As with the majority of social service organizations, your insured has clients and visitors entering and exiting the building. Aside from caring for the appearance and safety of the entryway, your insured must perform maintenance checks on all stairway railings and handicap ramps. These areas should be sturdy and properly updated. Certain social services organizations that assist the elderly — Adult Day Care Centers, Agencies for the Aging – and services that provide assistance to people who are physically handicapped, may rely on the handrails and ramps more than other risks. One loose nail can be the cause of a major injury and loss to the insured.
2. Polished Floors – Specific types of floors like marble, slate, terrazzo and limestone have proved to increase the likelihood of slips and falls over other types of floors that provide additional friction. Marble, slate and limestone floors may also require polishing or waxing on a regular basis. As the seasons change, people have welcomed open-toe footwear, which unfortunately may not provide the same gripping that winter boots and sneakers did during the cooler seasons. If your insured is planning to polish their floors, make sure they are planning this maintenance in advance and preparing their clients of the situation. They should also display caution signs to prevent accidents.
3. Heat-Related Injuries– Weather can be a bit unpredictable, even when it’s predicted! For the majority of states this time of the year, we start to see the temperatures rise and a need for Ultraviolet protection and sunscreen! Heat-related injuries are no joke – they have the ability to cause serious illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat strokes. When a person’s body is exposed to heat for too long, it can cause the body’s cooling system to overwork and result in one of these heat-related illnesses. Advise your insureds to educate their employees and clients on the warning signs and the dangers of heat exposure. They may want to display heat-related injury prevention tips for their clients –
   1. Drink plenty of fluids, such as water or a sports drink, throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
   2. Wear light, loose-fitting clothing.
   3. Stay in air-conditioned buildings to avoid direct exposure to the heat.
   4. Use sunscreen to protect your skin from sunburn, skin cancer, etc.
   5. Avoid rigorous outdoor activities during extreme weather.
   6. The most dangerous times of the day tend to be between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
4. Driver Safety, as discussed in “Safety Tips to Avoid Risk This Holiday Season”, is also extremely important during all seasons. The spring and summer tend to bring more dirt, dust, grit, pebbles and exposed pot holes on the road. Drivers should also be aware of any harsh sun glare reflected on their windshield and should protect their eyes accordingly.  Advise your insureds to caution their drivers of these hazards and to stay alert at all times. Vehicles should be kept up to date with maintenance, oil changes, tire pressure, inspection reports, registration and more!

Please note: The above mentioned provides only a selection of the hazards brokers should help prepare their insureds for this spring and summer. This blog does not cover all areas of concern.

For coverage information relating to spring and summer hazards, AFC advises insureds to also contact their insurance broker and brokers to contact their insureds’ insurance carriers. If you partner as an agent/broker with AFC, please feel free to contact us at 877-456-5323 or via email at info@afcins.com.

Resources:

• Human Diseases and Conditions, “Heat-Related Injuries” http://www.humanillnesses.com/original/Gas-Hep/Heat-Related-Injuries.html#b
• Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford, “Heat-Related Illnesses (Heat Cramps, Heat Exhaustion, Heat Stroke) http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/orthopaedics/heat.html
• Universityof Wisconsin– Milwaukee, “Accident Prevention: Slips, Trips and Falls” http://www4.uwm.edu/usa/safety/general_safety/slips.cfm

AFC Insurance writes this blog. The content and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly for informative purposes from sources that are presumed accurate. AFC Insurance does not assume responsibility for any misguided information and no guarantees are implied.

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According to the Autism Services Group, “More than 30,000 children are diagnosed with autism in the U.S. every year, more than the number diagnosed with childhood diabetes, cancer, and AIDS – combined.”

By bringing awareness to society and organizations, the hope is to promote early detection, intervention and research toward a cure. For the many people living with autism, there are a variety of specialized programs specifically designed to provide additional daily support.

These services may include:

• Residential Habilitation
• After School and Educational Programs
• Adult Day Services
• In-Home Clinical Support
• Respite Care
• Family Education, Counseling and Training Services
• Speech Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Behavioral Health
• Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• Pharmacy Care

Within AFC’s Human & Social Services Property & Casualty Insurance Program – Humanity Plus – we insure a variety of these services that support people with autism. For more information on insurance for autism services, contact us at 877-456-5323 or via email at info@afcins.com.

If you are looking for a way to get involved with the autism community and show your support, check out Autism Speaks Inc.  This month on April 20, AFC will be participating in the Walk Now for Autism Speaks fundraising event in Allentown, Pa. at Dorney Park. You can review the AFC Team Page here. We appreciate your consideration to support our team’s efforts to support the autism community!

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So as an industry leading Program Administrator for For-Profit and Nonprofit Social Services Insurance, we’re asking you to dust off your old markets and put them in storage. Let AFC in your door! You may already have go-to markets, or maybe markets that leave you feeling stagnant and not providing the results you deserve. We would like the opportunity to partner with you, to be your go-to social services insurance market. Our Social Services Insurance Program insures a wide variety of human & social services organizations, such as Adult Day Care Centers, Group Homes, Alcohol & Drug Rehabilitation Centers, Eating Disorder Treatment Centers, Counseling, Mental Health Facilities, Homeless Shelters, Food Banks, Soup Kitchens and more!

AFC Insurance has an experienced team of insurance professionals that offer an elevated level of specific risk knowledge and comprehension. We also offer value added marketing services specifically for agents and brokers. These services are to provide you with the marketing moxie you deserve in a true insurance partner.

For more information on our For-Profit & Nonprofit Social Services Insurance Program, call 877-456-5323, visit  www.afcins.com or email at info@afcins.com. We look forward to speaking with you! Happy Spring!

AFC Insurance writes this blog. The content and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly for informative purposes from sources that are presumed accurate. AFC Insurance does not assume responsibility for any misguided information and no guarantees are implied.

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St. Patrick’s Day is coming up on March 17 and it’s time to get your green on! St. Patrick’s Day is well known for Irish folk songs, corned beef and cabbage, green beer and a pot of gold at the end of each rainbow.

If you insure a nonprofit that is planning a St. Patrick’s Day special event and will be serving the infamous green beer or other alcoholic beverages, here are a few tips regarding liquor liability protection.

1. Make sure the nonprofit organization is well versed on the liquor liability they have on their current insurance policy. When an insured is not in the business of selling alcohol, their insurance policy should include Host Liquor Liability. However, as their agent, have an honest conversation with them about the event as they may require a higher limit of coverage for full protection.
2. When in Rome, right? Well on St. Patrick’s Day, the tradition is to live as the stereotypical Irishman. Caution your insured to have strict rules regarding the limit of alcohol permitted by each guest. In the event of an accident, your insured may be found liable due to the alcohol intake of the claimant.
3. Depending on the type of special event, the nonprofit may have recruited other local businesses to volunteer their services to serve beer and wine to guests. If this is the case, your insured must be aware of the importance of requiring a Certificate of Insurance that indicates the nonprofit as the Additional Insured from all vendors.
4. When a freelance bartender has been recruited for the special event, advise your insured to run a thorough background screening and reference check. Even if the individual is only hired for the one event, that person must have the proper training and skills required by the insured’s state.

For additional resources on alcohol training and safety measures, visit:

• Training Institute for Responsible Vendors Inc. – Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service (RASS)
• National Restaurant Association – ServSafe Alcohol Training & Certification
• Health Communications Inc. - Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS)

Please note: The above mentioned provides only a few tips on liquor liability protection and does not cover all areas of concern. For more information on Host Liquor Liability, we advise insureds to contact their insurance broker and brokers to call their insureds’ insurance carriers. AFC Insurance can be reached by calling 877-456-5323 or emailing info@afcins.com.

AFC Insurance writes this blog. The content and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly for informative purposes from sources that are presumed accurate. AFC Insurance does not assume responsibility for any misguided information and no guarantees are implied.

The post A Day for Green: Host Liquor Liability & Nonprofits appeared first on AFC Insurance.

In honor of Brain Injury Awareness Month, we wanted to highlight the services that facilitate the rehabilitation, therapy and care for those who have suffered Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI).

According to the BIAA, “A brain injury can happen anytime, anywhere to anyone – a brain injury does not discriminate. In fact, 1.7 million Americans sustain a brain injury each year.”

BrainLine explains that “At least 125,000 people each year are considered permanently disabled as a result of their [Traumatic Brain Injury] TBI.”

The recovery process involved with a TBI requires trained professionals with the necessary skill level to support both the patient and the patient’s family. Since every TBI is not the same, every injury will require its own medical analysis and treatment will be determined based on the severity of each case. Once the initial medical attention has been provided and the patient has stabilized without complications, the patient may be transferred to a rehabilitation center or other outlet providing similar services.

Within our Human & Social Services Insurance Program, we insure a wide range of these specific types of services that specialize in and provide care for TBI patients. Facilities may include home health care support, outpatient residential facilities, job training and vocational rehabilitation services, community-based apartment settings, skilled nursing and more.

For additional information on our comprehensive package designed to meet the unique insurance needs of these risks, visit our website or call us at 877-456-5323. More information on Brain Injury Awareness Month can be found by visiting the BIAA website for facts, ways to get involved and donation details.

AFC Insurance writes this blog. The content and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly for informative purposes from sources that are presumed accurate. AFC Insurance does not assume responsibility for any misguided information and no guarantees are implied.

Resources:

Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), www.biausa.org
All About Traumatic Brain Injury, http://www.allabouttbi.com/centers/
BrainLine, http://www.brainline.org/

The post A Focus on Traumatic Brain Injuries appeared first on AFC Insurance.

The risk of theft occurring is increased specifically for home health agencies as they have the ability to provide care services at the homes of their clients. An employee is not supervised and monitored on every shift as a person would be in an office setting. The employer must instill an increased level of trust and discipline for employees to handle situations as professionals and as individuals.

When fraud claims occur at a home health agency, more than likely it was due to the incorrect billing of Medicare by the agency owner. The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) says that, “An estimated $250 million is lost to purposeful health care fraud each year.” With this in mind, it is very important that clients choose the correct home health agency for themselves or for their loved ones.

According to the SMP, a few examples of fraud that may occur at a home health agency include:

• Billing incorrectly, specifically –
  • Billing Medicare for patients who do not qualify as someone who is *homebound by Medicare’s standards.
  • Billing for unnecessary care or care that was not provided at all.
  • Billing the client a co-pay when Medicare does not charge co-pays for services other than for medical equipment.
  • Faking patient records with incorrect medical history.
  • Bribing a doctor to classify someone as *homebound per Medicare’s standards.

To help your insureds prevent theft and avoid fraud, advise them to try the following:

1. Stress a strict no tolerance policy for theft, fraud and related behavior. This policy should be included in their employee handbook and emphasized during training and continued education. See more on employee handbooks for home health agencies by AFC here.
2. During the hiring process, your insureds should require mandatory pre-employment background checks. IntelliCorp, a provider of comprehensive risk management solutions, explains that      background checks can “help your company mitigate risk for candidate behaviors such as criminal activity, fraud, embezzlement and abuse.” IntelliCorp describes background checks as a company’s “first line of defense.”
3. Discuss with your insured how their Commercial Crime insurance will respond in the event of a claim, so they are aware of the type of protection they have when dealing with employee theft, forgery or alteration, and fraud.  Coverage can vary with each insurance carrier, so it is important that the client understands how their policy will respond in the event of a claim.
4. In the event that your insured has to file a claim for theft or fraud, prepare them with how to deal with the press. By taking all the right steps –their due diligence– to protect the public before a claim occurs, your insured can be better prepared to help mitigate any further damage to their public image if an incident does occur.
5. Discuss implementing a risk management plan to prevent such claims or as a solution to eliminate further occurrences.

*See the definition for “Homebound” at the Official U.S. Government Site for Medicare.

AFC Insurance writes this blog. The content and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly for informative purposes from sources that are presumed accurate. AFC Insurance does not assume responsibility for any misguided information and no guarantees are implied.

References:

Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), “Home Health Fraud Tips for Protecting Yourself and Medicare”
IntelliCorp, http://www.intellicorp.net/marketing/Home.aspx
Care Anyware, November 26, 2012, Kapera, Stephanie “Preventing Theft in Home Health Care”

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In general, the assistance that counseling can provide may be healthy for anyone who may be struggling in certain areas of their lives, especially if the upcoming holiday makes it that much more difficult. Counseling provides an anonymous, objective outlet for healing emotionally and mentally with the chance at a positive lifestyle change.

According to Mayo Clinic, marriage counseling or couples therapy “helps couples of all types recognize and resolve conflicts and improve their relationships.” Counseling can help to promote a healthy change for both partners. This may be accepting the past or any faults and moving forward in the relationship or knowing when it just isn’t working and moving on in a healthy and mutual fashion.

Valentine’s Day also has the potential to stir up a lot of mixed feelings of loneliness, anxiety and anger. According to Listverse, 40% of people have negative feelings toward Valentine’s Day and 75% of suicide attempts are attributable to relationship problems. CBS Local Media St. Louis reported in 2012 from an interview with the Missouri Suicide & Crisis Hotlines that Valentine’s Day is busier than most days. Calls to the hotline will actually increase from an expected 600 calls versus an average day of 400 calls.

By providing a unique outlet for many, counseling centers and hotlines also require business insurance coverages that are tailored to their needs. If you’re an agent who writes counseling centers or hotlines, contact AFC Insurance for more information on insurance for counseling and hotlines. The American Counseling Association can provide additional details on counseling.

AFC Insurance writes this blog. The content and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly for informative purposes from sources that are presumed accurate. AFC Insurance does not assume responsibility for any misguided information and no guarantees are implied.

References:

Mayo Clinic, November 19, 2011, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/marriage-counseling/MY00839
Listverse, “14 Miserable Facts About St. Valentine’s Day” February 10, 2010 http://listverse.com/2010/02/10/14-miserable-facts-about-st-valentines-day/
CBS Local Media St. Louis, “Calls to Suicide Hotlines Up During Valentine’s Day” February 14, 2012, http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2012/02/14/calls-to-suicide-hotlines-up-during-valentines-day/

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(Left) Lori Ann Purnell trying to warm up after her dip in the Delaware River. (Right) Some of the participants exiting the water.

On January 19, 2013 more than 600 people, including one of our very own Business Development Leaders, Lori Ann Purnell, took the ‘plunge’ into the Delaware River in Easton, PA! It was the 1st Annual Lehigh Valley Polar Bear Plunge, which supported the Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA). In its first year as the “official event of Winter” – the Lehigh Valley Polar Bear Plunge was extremely successful raising a total of more than $76,000!

“I have always wanted to participate in a Polar Plunge and was thrilled at the prospect of doing something a little crazy, AND supporting a fantastic cause!” explains Purnell. “The event was exceptionally run for an inaugural event, yet being a first-time plunger, I didn’t realize you should stay fully clothed until your group is called. I froze waiting for our turn!”

The Delaware River was an estimated 37 degrees. Participants waited for their turn in groups of 75 while friends and family stood by to support their plunger.

“I committed to going in up to my chin, which sounded simple until the water got to my knees,” Purnell says. “I did what I set out to do, and ran like my version of a cheetah to get out. I loved it and I will absolutely polar plunge for charity again!”

For more information on the event, visit the Polar Bear Plunge website. You can also find similar events throughout Pennsylvania by visiting www.plungepa.org.

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With more than 7.5 years in the insurance industry, Glazer is most familiar with consulting and rehabilitation risks, specifically mental health counseling, mental health therapists, in-home support, assisted living and adult day health care.

He explains that, “As with every risk, the most interesting [aspect] is to be able to assist executives in shifting the risks, associated with general liability, professional liability and workers compensation.”

Glazer has noticed that some of the biggest liabilities he has seen with mental health risks depends on the type of facility. For instance, for insureds that provide transportation, these mental health facilities have high risk for injuries of their passengers.

“For assisted living, [they] lack good locks and entry alarms on external doors,” he explains.

For other mental health professionals, Glazer has noticed a variety of common liabilities such as misleading statements regarding quality of care, costs in the advertising materials, incomplete or outdated patient records, and confidentiality and data breach.

In order to truly understand mental health risks, Glazer believes that a broker must complete a “comprehensive and thorough review of the insured’s operations, including breach of confidentiality, transportation and abuse exposures.”

For risk management purposes, Glazer feels it is extremely important for insureds to establish and follow strict guidelines.

“We do our best to make it very important for our insureds to establish and follow strict policies, procedures, formal accident investigation and reporting policies,” He explains. “[We provide] examples of different accidents, prevention and risk management tools.”

When writing mental health risks, Glazer links the biggest mistake made by brokers to not mentioning Professional Liability exposures.

“Insureds are not aware of increasing data breach exposures and confidentiality exposures,” he explains. “Many professionals are not aware that business liability does not provide coverage for exposures associated with professional liability [and] errors & omissions.”

For more information on Paperless Insurance Services Inc., visit their website at www.paperless-insurance.com.

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