AARP Online Community and Discussion Forums - Insurance carriers for our caregiver?

SherylS960421 · ‎05-05-2018

My step mom ìs under Hospice care. Also, due to her health conditions, we have home care about 16 hrs per day. We have a home care-giver that is great (8hrs day] but need to manage my Dad's liability for any caregiver injury. The home care agency files employee and employer payroll taxes etc, but it's wide open liability.

His homeowner's insurance restricts to max of 3 caregivers, and 20 hrs per week. Adding a rider to existing policy isn't possible 😞

Any suggestions?

GailL1 · ‎05-05-2018

@SherylS960421wrote:
My step mom ìs under Hospice care. Also, due to her health conditions, we have home care about 16 hrs per day. We have a home care-giver that is great (8hrs day] but need to manage my Dad's liability for any caregiver injury. The home care agency files employee and employer payroll taxes etc, but it's wide open liability.

His homeowner's insurance restricts to max of 3 caregivers, and 20 hrs per week. Adding a rider to existing policy isn't possible 😞

Any suggestions?

If the agency files employee /employer payroll taxes, then they are an employee as opposed to an independent contractor and thus the agency should also provide workmans compensation coverage.

Ask the insurance agent if they will write an UNBRELLA Liability policy to cover any liability exposure for all the caregivers coming onto the premise to give care - including Hospice workers and if that would give you the coverage that you need.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners (2016) - Insurance Considerations for Caregivers

If for some reason this does not work with the current policy, check with your state insurance commissioners office to find out about the rules in your state and/or check with some other insurance companies to find out what is covered and how.