A caregiver who works in your house can be hurt there, and a caregiver can damage something there. Before you commit, you need to know which insurer would respond and whether that coverage is in force on the days the caregiver will work. This guide does not tell you what any policy will pay. It tells you what to get on paper and what to check it against.

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: Ask for the certificate, not a verbal yes

  1. Ask the provider: 'Do you carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance for the person who will work in my house? Can you send me a current certificate for each?'
  2. Listen for a named insurer, a policy number, and effective dates that cover your start date. A line like 'we are covered' with no document behind it is the answer to write down and follow up on, not accept.
  3. Ask whether the certificate names your household as the certificate holder or an additional insured, and what that means for your house. Ask the provider to confirm the answer in writing.

Step 2: Check the certificate against the arrangement

  • Ask which kind of worker you are hiring. Agency employees and independent contractors can be treated differently, so ask which one will be in your house and whether the certificate covers that category.
  • Check that the coverage period runs through the full term of the arrangement, including the renewal date. If the policy ends before the arrangement does, ask for the renewal in writing.
  • Check that the company name on the certificate matches the company name on your contract. A mismatch is a question to resolve before the first shift.

Step 3: Call the insurer, not only the provider

Take the insurer's name and phone number from the certificate, or from the insurer's own public listing, and call them yourself. Ask whether the policy number is active, whether it is issued to this provider, and whether it covers the work described. Write down the name of the person you spoke with and the day you called.

What it costs: The Missouri median for non-medical in-home care is $33 an hour, per the CareScout (Genworth) Cost of Care Survey 2025 state data tables, released March 2026. New Plan Care's standard rate is $34 an hour with a four-hour minimum, so a visit starts at $136 (newplancare.com/services).

Step 4: Ask what happens when something goes wrong

  1. Ask: 'If the caregiver is injured in my house, who do I call first, and what do you need from me?'
  2. Ask: 'If the caregiver damages something in my house, how is it reported, and who files the claim?'
  3. Listen for a named office, a written process, and a timeline. Be cautious of an answer that places the whole burden back on your household without naming a route. If you are unsure what your own home insurer would cover, call that insurer and ask. Treat it as a call to make, not a conclusion to assume.

What to write down

Provider name as shown on the certificate: ______________________

Insurer name: ______________________

Policy number: ______________________

Coverage effective through: ______________________

Workers' compensation confirmed (yes / no): ______________________

Insurer contact name and phone: ______________________

Who answers an injury call at the provider: ______________________

Who answers a damage call at the provider: ______________________

Signs to walk away

  • The provider will not send a certificate in writing.
  • The certificate expires before the arrangement does, and no renewal is promised in writing.
  • The insurer cannot confirm that the policy is active for this provider.
  • The provider sends you back to your own policy and offers nothing in writing about its own role.

Once the paper is in hand, the full order of steps is on Start Here: Five Steps to Hiring.