Most families read a caregiver contract for the hours and the rate, then sign. The lines that matter most when something goes wrong are usually shorter and easier to skip. Find them first. They are the lines that answer a simple question: who pays when a cup breaks, a door cracks, or a person in the home falls.

Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.

Step 1: Find the words

Search the quote and the contract for each of these words. Mark where each one appears, or write 'not found' next to it:

  • damage, breakage, or property
  • insurance, liability, or bond
  • workers' compensation or injury
  • claim, deductible, reimbursement, or replacement

Write the page number for each: ____________________________________________

Step 2: Ask for the certificate of insurance in writing

Ask the provider for a current certificate of insurance. Check four things on it:

  1. The named insured is the provider or company you are hiring, not an individual you have not met.
  2. The coverage types are listed. You are looking for general liability and, if they employ the caregiver, workers' compensation.
  3. The coverage period includes the days you plan to sign and the days the caregiver will work.
  4. There is a contact at the insurer or agency who can confirm it on the phone.

Name of the insurer and the contact: ____________________________________________

Step 3: Write the claim route

Ask the provider to answer these questions in writing, and keep the answers with the contract:

  1. If the caregiver breaks something in the home, who do I call first, and what do I send?
  2. Will you repair, replace, or only record the damage?
  3. How long will it take you to answer, and who signs the answer?
  4. If the caregiver is hurt while working in my home, which policy responds?

Their written answer to question 2: ____________________________________________

Step 4: Check your own policy

Ask your home or renter's insurance agent whether a caregiver working in your home is covered, and whether a claim would be filed against your policy or the provider's. Do not assume either answer. Write down the agent's name, the date of the call, and the answer you received.

Why this matters before you sign

After a problem starts, the provider has more reason to delay and you have less leverage. A written claim route, a named insurer and a current certificate are the three things that make the paperwork work for you on the worst day. If you want to see where the claims about provider rules and coverage come from, the Sources page lists the public references behind this desk's guides. For questions about how the language applies to your own situation, ask the insurance agent or a lawyer you choose, because the contract wording and your state rules decide the answer.