Growing up, I always loved back-to-school shopping. It meant indulging in a special kind of shopping and brought a different sense of joy compared to regular shopping. There was something magical about picking out a new Trapper Keeper or a new Snoopy lunch box. But more than that, it felt like by purchasing everything on the list, I’d be ready to tackle anything that school year might throw my way. Of course, that wasn’t how it worked out.
Similarly, when it comes to purchasing insurance, many people look at piecing together multiple policies as a way to safeguard against any issues that might arise over the year. While brokers and agents make every effort to cover all bases, some risks and exposures, particularly those involving Allied Health schools, come with more unique, nuanced challenges that can make proper coverage tricky.
Unexpected and unusual exposures will inevitably arise, making it crucial to partner with a carrier that can think through those risks and exposures and help craft bespoke solutions for each account’s needs.
Key Insurance Considerations
Since it is that time of year when everyone—from elementary school kids to college students—is gearing up for back-to-school season, it’s a good opportunity to brush off those Allied Health school policies and examine the unusual exposures that these schools often encounter.
Insured vs Insured Coverage
In Allied Health schools, students often practice clinical skills on each other. This could mean taking blood pressure, administering immunizations or performing other medical procedures. This kind of interaction can lead to potential injuries, medical malpractice or even claims of sexual misconduct. Pretty standard stuff for medical training. But here is where things get complex: since, in instances like this, students fall under the “insured” category, producers need to ensure there is a carve back for coverage for these situations, avoiding exclusions tied to insured vs. insured incidents.
Similarly, since students are “insureds,” it’s crucial for producers to ensure that coverage extends to general liability situations as well, safeguarding the school against common risks like slips, trips and falls. Again, this validates that the insured versus insured exclusions do not apply in these general liability situations.
Clinical Rotations & Affiliation Agreements
To complete their required clinical hours, students often have to do rotations at various healthcare facilities. The best practice here is for Allied Health schools to have clear Clinical Affiliation Agreements outlining the responsibilities of both the clinical site and the school. Given the number of these sites, opting for a Blanket Additional Insured endorsement, as required by contract, is usually the preferred solution to address this exposure.
Faculty Coverage
When placing coverage for Allied Health schools, considering the role of faculty is vital. Most policies cover faculty for their administrative and classroom duties. However, coverage should be reviewed to ensure it also protects faculty when they’re supervising students hands-on at clinical sites or providing medical services themselves. High-level practitioners like physicians, dentists, and CRNAs often fall outside the typical definition of "insured" in many policies, suggesting the need for additional endorsements.
Study Abroad Insurance
In our post-COVID-19 world, study abroad opportunities are common, even for students in Allied Health schools. Like any standard study abroad program, Allied Health training involves the same classroom and clinical training as in the United States. In these cases, it is critical for producers to review the coverage territory policy language and ensure coverage for these exposures.
Safeguarding the School Year
These are a few of the exposures that producers (and underwriters) should be mindful of when dealing with Allied Health schools. Like the back-to-school shopping list, addressing the above exposures will set you on the right track. However, unexpected and unusual exposures will inevitably arise, making it crucial to partner with a carrier that can think through those risks and exposures and help craft bespoke solutions for each account’s needs.
My go-to phrase in underwriting is “it depends,” and this applies more often than not to large accounts, but also to medium and small accounts. Navigating these nuances ensures that Allied Health schools—and their students—are properly protected as they head back to school.
Want to learn more? Contact one of Skyward Specialty’s experts or comment below if your client is evaluating coverage options for their Allied Health training school client.
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