Professional Liability Insurance Questions and Answers for NASW Members

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1 Professional Liability Insurance Questions and Answers for NASW Members 1. Questions about Professional Liability Insurance a. Why do I need professional liability insurance? Professional liability insurance protects social workers if sued for malpractice by someone not satisfied with an outcome. Social workers need protection from frivolous lawsuits that can be brought years later and from legal action due to negligent acts, errors and omissions that can arise from their practices. Without coverage, you could spend precious time and resources defending yourself, regardless of whether there is any merit to the claim. Professional liability insurance provides you with experienced legal defense and coverage for settlements or damages. In addition, NASW s-endorsed Professional Liability Insurance Program covers you for other specific risks, including supplemental liability for clients tripping and falling in your private office, legal counsel for a licensing board complaint and administrative hearing. Many new and enhanced coverage benefits have been added see chart below for more details. b. If I receive liability insurance through my employer/agency/school, do I still need individual coverage? Social workers covered under the professional liability policy of their employer, agency or school also need their own individual coverage. Employer coverage does not necessarily protect you individually from risk and you may be liable for your own negligence. Employers may require you to reimburse them for damages they pay on your behalf, or their insurance may be inadequate. If you don t currently have individual liability insurance, consider adding that protection. Our program administrator, CPH and Associates, is able to handle your application immediately. You can visit their website at to access the NASW Member Professional Liability Portal with easy online quoting, applications, and downloads of proof of coverage documents. Or, call CPH at to speak with a knowledgeable, insurance licensed representative. Hours of operation are listed here. CPH and Associates Hours of Operation & Customer Service Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 10:00 am PAGE 1 OF 8 3/25/13

2 2. Questions about NASW s-endorsed Professional Liability Program a. Why should I purchase liability insurance through NASW Assurance Services? There are many good reasons to purchase your liability insurance through NASW Assurance Services (ASI). Our NASW-Endorsed Professional Liability Program was designed by social workers with the specific needs of social workers in mind, and with unique benefits that can best protect members. This program provides you with the best possible professional liability insurance at the most competitive group rates for the value you receive. You can have peace of mind knowing that your coverage is provided by an organization that you trust and that cares about you. We have more than 40 years of experience in providing professional liability insurance coverage to our members. We currently have more than 70,000 policyholders. This is insurance by and for social workers - instead of working on behalf of corporate shareholders, NASW Assurance Services works to serve you and the social work community. NASW s-endorsed professional liability insurance program is the ONLY program that includes the advocacy of our association. Members who purchase professional liability insurance through a different organization will not have the support and backing of NASW Assurance Services a wholly-owned subsidiary of NASW. NASW Assurance Services manages all aspects of the professional liability program, from making sure that benefits stay current to meet the needs of our profession to helping to keep program costs low. In fact, through these efforts premium costs have held steady for sixteen years. Also, importantly, we will advocate on your behalf if you re unfairly denied coverage or renewal. b. Do I need to be a member of NASW to participate in the NASW-Endorsed Professional Liability Program? The NASW Endorsed Professional Liability Program is only available to NASW members; social workers must be current members of NASW to participate in the NASW Purchasing Group and to receive this coverage. There are important reasons for this requirement. There is strength in numbers and your NASW membership allows NASW Assurance Services to manage all aspects of the program to make sure the benefits stay current to meet the needs of our profession and to help keep costs low. Also, importantly, we are able to advocate on behalf of NASW members in the NASW-Endorsed program if they are unfairly denied coverage or renewal. c. What new benefits, enhancements, and discounts do I have with the NASW-Endorsed program? Over the past months, NASW Assurance Services has been working to make significant improvements to the NASW-Endorsed Professional Liability Program with the goal of providing you with the best PAGE 2 OF 8 3/25/13

3 possible professional liability insurance at the most competitive group rates. The new and enhanced NASW-Endorsed program, launched September 14, 2012, offers you many new and attractive benefits. To makes these improvements possible, NASW Assurance Services has joined with three excellent new insurance partners: 1. CPH and Associates will now provide customer service to NASW members; 2. Lloyd s, London will provide financial backing to ensure the program s financial stability; and 3. Western Litigation will provide claims administration, litigation oversight, and a risk management helpline staffed by attorneys who will assist policyholders with questions about possible claims situations. Please note that NASW members renewing policies through APA will no longer have the benefit of NASW Assurance Services program oversight and advocacy efforts on their behalf. d. How is NASW Assurance Services able to offer enhanced coverage at discounted rates? Because of our new partnerships with Lloyd s, London and CPH and Associates, NASW Assurance Services is able to introduce new program benefits and decrease administration costs, allowing additional savings that we can then pass on to NASW member policyholders. e. How will you be communicating with NASW members and policyholders about these new benefits, policy enhancements, and discounts? Following the program launch on September 14, all NASW members will receive an announcement from NASW via mail and about the enhanced, new NASW-Endorsed professional liability program. Additionally, NASW Assurance Services will send mailings to all policyholders with detailed information about our enhanced professional liability insurance program, and will also try to reach you by phone in order to answer any questions that you may have. These communications will help you understand the steps to take and when to take them and we promise to make it easy and quick for you! NASW will also communicate with members through its newsletter, NASW News, NASW Memberlink, and other member communications channels. f. What kind of customer service will I receive as part of NASW s Professional Liability Program? After a careful search, NASW Assurance Services has chosen CPH and Associates as our new program administrator. This new partnership allows NASW Assurance Services to ensure excellent customer service for all NASW member policyholders while bringing numerous service and program enhancements to our members, along with lower administrative costs: Expanded hours of operation and customer service, including weeknights and Saturdays. A state-of-the-art system offering an easier, faster process for applying for and renewing coverage; PAGE 3 OF 8 3/25/13

4 Real-time online applications with Proof of Coverage Certificate available for immediate download and printing; Personal service from knowledgeable, insurance licensed representatives when you have a question or request; 24-hour online access to applications, policy documents and legal resources; CPH and Associates Hours of Operation & Customer Service Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 10:00 am g. How quickly can I obtain a policy and proof of coverage in the enhanced, NASW-Endorsed program? The enhanced NASW-Endorsed program application process is quick and easy! Apply Online for a 5% online discount! The quickest, easiest, and least expensive way to obtain coverage is to apply online! If you apply and make payment online, and your application is approved online, coverage is provided the same day, within minutes, and proof of coverage is available for downloading immediately. Apply online at to take advantage of a 5% online discount! You Can Also Apply by Mail or Fax If you apply by fax or mail, the process is still fairly quick and easy, with 2-3 day processing time once your application is received, provided payment and all required information is included with your application. If you do not include payment, an invoice will be sent to you, and proof of coverage provided as soon as payment is received. To receive an application form to complete and mail back, simply call You can choose which works best for you: Pre-Fillable Electronic PDF Applications: You can type, print, and sign the electronic-fillable PDF application form and return it by mail or fax. Make sure to include your payment to avoid processing delays. You can also call to make a credit card payment once your application is received. PAGE 4 OF 8 3/25/13

5 Hard Copy Application Form: Once you receive the application form by mail, you can fill it out, sign by hand, and return the hard copy application form by mail or fax. Please make sure to include payment to avoid processing delays. You can also call to make a credit card payment once your application is received. Return your application by mail or fax to: Mailing Address: NASW Assurance Services Program Administrator 711 South Dearborn Street, Suite 205 Chicago, IL Fax Number: h. How much does professional liability insurance cost? There are many variables that impact insurance cost, including the amount of liability coverage you choose and whether you work full-time or part-time. NASW Assurance Services works hard to ensure that members are provided with the best possible professional liability insurance at the most competitive group rates for the value you receive. For specific information or to obtain a rate quote online access the website at for our new program administrator CPH and Associates. Or, you may contact CPH and Associates at to speak with a knowledgeable insurance licensed representative. Expanded hours of operation are listed here: CPH and Associates Hours of Operation & Customer Service Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 10:00 am PAGE 5 OF 8 3/25/13

6 3. Questions about our insurance program partners a. What role does NASW Assurance Services have in providing professional liability insurance coverage for NASW members? How does NASW Assurance Services management, oversight, and advocacy benefit NASW member policyholders in the NASW-Endorsed program? NASW Assurance Services (ASI) works hard to be a socially responsible organization dedicated to improving the lives of social workers. A wholly-owned subsidiary of NASW, NASW Assurance Services (ASI) exists to manage NASW member insurance programs with your best interests in mind. In all our insurance products, we offer excellent value: the best possible product to meet the specific needs of NASW member social workers at the most competitive group rates. Unlike many insurance companies that focus on creating profits for corporate shareholders, our goal is to pay program expenses then invest any excess amounts in initiatives to benefit NASW member social workers and to advance the social work profession. In fact, our program is overseen by a board of directors comprised mainly of social workers, who always keep your interests and needs in mind. With more than 40 years of experience in managing the professional liability insurance program for NASW members, NASW ASI staff has done the research and legwork needed to select a high-quality, affordable program. We manage the program to ensure that members receive excellent, caring customer service. Importantly, we will advocate on your behalf if you re unfairly denied coverage or renewal. The management, oversight, and advocacy efforts of NASW ASI might not always be apparent if you haven t experienced issues in obtaining coverage or renewal directly through a big insurance company that reports to Wall Street and its corporate shareholders. But there are some important considerations about NASW ASI to keep in mind when choosing a company to provide you with professional liability insurance coverage. About NASW ASI advocacy efforts in our liability and other insurance programs: We advocate on behalf of NASW member policyholders to prevent premium increases in fact, there has been no increase in premiums in our liability insurance coverage for sixteen years. We intervene on behalf of members who believe they have been unfairly denied coverage or renewal. We develop and provide in-person and online risk management trainings to help our members mitigate their risks from lawsuits. Our current and past board members offer risk management trainings at NASW chapter and other professional conferences, providing malpractice risk management education, insights, tools and resources to help social workers reduce their risk. We have provided thousands of NASW members and their spouses / domestic partners with guaranteed acceptance into the NASW member term life and long term disability insurance programs, and in some cases where they might have otherwise been turned away due to medical eligibility issues. PAGE 6 OF 8 3/25/13

7 b. How are CPH and Associates; Lloyd s, London; and Western Litigation involved in this program? NASW ASI has joined with three excellent partners to bring NASW members this Professional Liability Insurance Program: CPH and Associates will now provide customer service to NASW members; Lloyd s, London will provide financial backing to ensure the program s financial stability; and Western Litigation will provide claims administration, litigation oversight, and a risk management helpline staffed by experienced attorneys who can assist with questions about a possible claim situation. About CPH and Associates CPH and Associates has over 25 years of experience, and specializes in providing coverage to mental health professionals. CPH and Associates will provide NASW members with access to, knowledgeable, insurance licensed customer service representatives during expanded hours of operation including weeknights and Saturdays. Their state-of-the-art systems permit them to rapidly handle online applications, generate individual rate quotes and provide immediate certificates for download. CPH and Associates will also provide us with the high level of service that we require for our members, while keeping administrative expenses low. About Lloyd s, London: Rated A for their financial security, Lloyd s, London has an unparalleled reputation in the insurance industry. With more than 300 years of experience, Lloyd s, London has grown to become the world's specialist insurance market in 200 nations. (You may be more familiar with their former name, Lloyd s of London.) About Western Litigation, Inc.: Western Litigation, Inc. (WLI) is a Fortune 300 litigation and risk management company dedicated to serving healthcare related entities and insurers. NASW member policyholders will have access to WLI s national panel of lawyers and staff, all of whom are ready to provide legal defense, claims management and general litigation oversight. WLI attorneys will staff the NASW-Endorsed professional liability program s Legal and Risk Management Helpline. We believe that our new partnerships with CPH and Associates, Lloyd s, London, and Western Litigation, Inc. allow us to meet these goals. We re very excited about the enhanced policy benefits and expanded customer service capabilities the new partnerships bring to our members. 4. Questions about obtaining a new professional liability insurance policy with NASW a. How can I enroll in the NASW-Endorsed Professional Liability Program? There are several different options available, depending on your personal insurance needs. Click on the description that best describes you for more information and directions. PAGE 7 OF 8 3/25/13

8 I am a new member and would like to obtain a new policy through NASW s-endorsed program. NASW Assurance Services and our new program administrator CPH and Associates are able to handle your application immediately. Visit the NASW member professional liability insurance portal at naswasi.cphins.com to obtain an online quote and complete a quick and easy application. Or, call CPH and Associates at to speak with a knowledgeable insurance licensed representative. Hours of operation are listed here: CPH and Associates Hours of Operation & Customer Service Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 10:00 am I am an existing member and would like to obtain a new policy through NASW s-endorsed program. NASW Assurance Services and our new program administrator CPH and Associates are able to handle your application immediately. Visit the NASW member professional liability insurance portal at naswasi.cphins.com to obtain an online quote and complete a quick and easy application. Or, call CPH and Associates at to speak with a knowledgeable insurance licensed representative. 5. I still have questions whom should I call? If you have additional questions not covered on this website, please contact NASW Member Services toll free at (Monday thru Friday, 9:00 am 9:00 pm EST). PAGE 8 OF 8 3/25/13