Most people hear 'we are fully insured' on the first call and move on. This page is for the moment before you sign anything, when the only thing that matters is whether a piece of paper says what the caller said. Ask for the certificate in writing, read it line by line, and write down what it does and does not name.

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.

Steps

  1. Ask the agency or the individual caregiver for a current certificate of insurance. Also ask for any bond or workers' compensation certificate they carry. Write the issue date and the expiration date here: ____ / ____
  2. Find the named insured. The company name on the certificate should match the company on your agreement. If it differs, ask why and get the answer in writing. Write the name: ____
  3. Find the certificate holder line. Ask whether your household is listed. If it is not, ask how you request a new certificate when the coverage changes. Write the request route: ____
  4. Read each coverage type on the certificate. Write one line per type in your own words, saying what the coverage is for. Do not stop at the type name.
  5. Ask for the insurer's name and the way to confirm the policy is active. Write the contact: ____
  6. Put a reminder on your calendar for two weeks before the expiration date, and ask for the renewed certificate then.

Questions to ask

  • Who is the insurer, and who is named as insured on this certificate?
  • Does this coverage apply to work in a private home, or only to work at an office or other site?
  • If the caregiver is injured in my home, who is notified, and how fast?
  • If I hire an individual directly, do they carry their own coverage, and how would I verify it?
  • When does this policy expire, and who sends me the replacement?

Answers to listen for

  • A certificate sent the same day, with the company name matching the agreement.
  • A named insurer you can call to confirm the policy is active.
  • A plain statement of each coverage type and what it is for.
  • A commitment to send a renewed certificate before the old one expires.

Signs to walk away

  • They say they are insured but will not produce a certificate.
  • The certificate has expired, and the renewal is 'in process' with no date.
  • The named insured is a different company from the one you are contracting with, and no one can explain why.
  • You are asked to accept a verbal description in place of the document.

What to write down

Keep one page for each provider. Record the issue date, expiration date, insurer, named insured, certificate holder, and your reminder date. Attach a copy of the certificate. A certificate shows what was in force on the dates printed on it. It does not tell you what any claim would pay, so read it alongside the agreement and get written answers to any gap you find.

For how this desk checks what it cites, see the Sources page.