Car insurance for home health

[sistasoul]

Hi all,

I am starting a home health job soon and I was told my car insurance has to be 100,000/300,000 for liability and damages, etc. I currently have 50,000/100,000 and have had it for years. I asked a friend of mine who works for the same VNA if she was told this and she said no. I am wondering why such a high amount when I will not be transporting patients in my car.

Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks

[camoflower]

Worse case scenario; in a wreck, someone dies, they see your badge......hospital gets drug into a lawsuit. Unless it was before your clock in. Its for the agency you work for.

[caliotter3]

One agency dispensed with the car insurance requirement and the HR person told me it was because they realized that one can not have a registered car without it being insured. Furthermore, you are not allowed to transport patients, so another reason not to bother the employee regarding car insurance. I am certain that in situations where one would be transporting patients, there would be a valid reason to insure that the employee maintains valid insurance. It is somewhat annoying when hh agencies insist on seeing the insurance document when you renew it every six months.

[sistasoul]

Thanks, I always have had car insurance and I live in a state that does not require it- NH. My car is 14 years old and I just do not want to spend the additional money on insurance for that old of a car. So, if I am understanding this correctly-the only reason to upgrade my car insurance is so it decreases the hospital's liability?

Thanks

[sistasoul]

Thank you! So it is too protect the hospital!

[caliotter3]

The employer always desires to limit their own liability. That is why many of them also require that the home health nurse provide a copy of their personal malpractice policy.

[sistasoul]

Thanks, I am not going to upgrade then.

[toomuchbaloney]

I dunno

I have never been told how much auto insurance I must carry in order to have a home health or a hospice job. That is in 3 different states.

I, personally, would question this and would wonder if the agency is requiring a certain level of auto insurance which portion of it are they going to pay for?

[dienw]

Yes, I've seen this. I once had to have an even higher amount of coverage.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Even if you don't transport Pts, if you drive from pt house to house and are paid for that time, the agency is liable.

[caliotter3]

But there is no justification to require insurance information from an employee who is doing extended care. You drive to your patient's house, do your shift, then drive home, just like a regular job. You aren't using your car to go from patient to patient. The agency has no liability for you to get to and from work.

[sistasoul]

Does this mean that no matter how much insurance I carry the hospital is still liable? What happens if I get into an accident? Does my insurance pay or does the hospital?