A home health care situation can range in terms of severity and tasks that a worker is expected to complete, so it's important to have a solid idea of what risks your business faces. Between property, workers, patients, and equipment, there's a lot to consider before pulling the trigger on your insurance. Find out more about what it means to have the right level of coverage for you, depending on the type of business you own.
Home Health Care
Some people hire home health care workers to do little more than provide companionship for a person they love. Whether it's an older person who may be feeling a little lonely or a young adult with cerebral palsy who just needs a little extra care during a daily routine, these workers likely have a stable day where neither the patient nor the worker is likely to be injured. This relatively minor level of risk will probably extend to the risks of property damage or most other types of major insurance incidents. Workers may assist with common activities like running errands, making tea, or just listening with a sympathetic ear.
However, there are some people who engage in a very different kind of home health care situation. They may be in constant danger, as they try to navigate their charge's mood, condition, and daily needs. Not only is it a stressful situation, but it's also particularly fraught with a number of potential complications.
What if a worker is accidentally injured by their charge? What if they're purposefully injured? What if a worker accidentally breaks a priceless object when they're attempting to take care of the patient? All home health care businesses are bonded for this type of thing, but they may not consider the fact that hospices and home health care insurance may fall short of what they need. Expenses can mount fairly quickly. For example, what if the patient's family decides to sue the home health care worker for breaking a family artifact that they'll never be able to replace?
Hospice Insurance
Those who work in hospices have a difficult job in trying to make someone's last few days a little more peaceful. What owners may not consider is the fact that hospice workers also have to go through a number of different dangerous chores on a daily basis.
They may be required to do heavy lifting or they may have to deal with someone whose movements and behaviors are nothing short of unpredictable. Those who own hospices also have to consider the damage that might be done to the property from a number of different angles. Whether it's a wild storm, a freak accident, or even property vandalism, there's a lot to account for when it comes to finding the right amount of hospices and home health care insurance coverage.
How to Work It Out
Sometimes the best way to decide on a level of coverage for you is to think through all of the things that go wrong. You may also want to consult with someone who knows this business inside and out. You may have a good idea of what can go wrong and what you're responsible for, but you may not have the full story. Sometimes the best thing to do is work with your current budget and determine what you would feel comfortable paying for, and what you wouldn't. While you're attempting to work this out, keep in mind that lawsuits can easily drag on for years and that they can stretch into the seven-figure territory quickly.