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Like most homeowners, you’ve spent thousands (possibly hundreds of thousands) of dollars to purchase your home, most likely making it the largest purchase you will ever make. In order to protect your investment, you (hopefully) bought a homeowner’s insurance policy that will provide funds to replace your house if it is destroyed or to repair it if it is damaged.

But are you aware of everything that is covered and not covered (exclusions)? Are you confident that the amount that your homeowners insurance will pay out in the event of a claim is sufficient to cover all damage or loss?

Few consumers actually know what their policies cover or the limits of that coverage. Avoid costly homeowners insurance surprises with these 6 tips:

#1. Know what your homeowners policy covers and
what is excluded

A policy generally will pay for damage to your property and your possessions in the event of fire, storms, theft or vandalism. It also provides liability coverage if someone gets hurt on your property. Homeowner’s insurance also covers shelter costs for you and your family while your house is being repaired or rebuilt. It can protect belongings outside the home, too. For instance, items stolen from your car or lost on an airline would be replaced by your homeowner’s coverage.

There are some typical exclusions:

• Earth movements, like earthquakes and landslides
• Power failure
• War
• Faulty zoning
• Poor workmanship
• Flooding
• Some water damage

#2. Take preventive measures to reduce your premiums

Installing a burglar alarm system could reduce your premiums by 15-20%. Even something as simple as a deadbolt installation could save you 5%. If you have a pool, surrounding it with a fence and using a pool cover can substantially reduce your liability risk. Remember, insurance companies establish your premium based on how much risk they anticipate. You will reduce your premium by reducing your liability risk with some preventive measures.

#3. If you have a homeowners insurance claim, file it promptly

Homeowner’s policies might come with time limits for reporting a claim. Be sure to ask about time limits when buying your policy, and then abide by them. If you wait too long, you may not be eligible for benefits—especially if the problem becomes worse while you delay. For example, if you fail to submit a timely claim for water damage and it turns into a mold problem, your insurer could refuse to pay.

#4. Keep good records

Don’t allow a valid insurance claim to be denied because your recordkeeping is shoddy. Writing everything down that occurs during a loss may feel like an inconvenience, but it will help to mitigate your losses with documentation. Receipts, appraisals, and contracts are a good starting point, but you should also write down any conversations, to whom you spoke, and when. Keep your documents in a safe place or save digital copies on a program like Dropbox.

#5. Understand how jewelry is covered under your insurance policy

Save yourself an expensive surprise by checking the limits that your homeowner’s policy places on jewelry. Items like engagement and wedding rings will probably not be covered under the basic limits of your policy, and you could end up with a $3000 check from your insurer for a lost ring worth twice that amount. Best advice: Stop by a jeweler and get your pieces appraised. Then, talk to your insurer about purchasing a supplemental policy to cover your expensive items.

#6. Bundle your homeowners insurance policy with other policies

Another way to save money is to bundle your homeowners insurance with other policies that you already own. It makes financial sense to have your car and homeowners policies with the same company because they’ll usually offer you some kind of discount. But don’t go buying insurance because the agent says you’ll save money on other policies. After all, if you’re spending money on something that you don’t need, what are you actually saving?

Get Ready to Save on the Best Homeowners Insurance! 

Want to save on homeowners insurance? As independent agents, we're well qualified to find you the best homeowners insurance at the right price because we represent MANY competing insurance carriers.

Why settle for a single insurance brand when we can shop and compare for you? Contact American Insuring Group online or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848. You'll be glad you did!

Litigation is like lightening; it can never be accurately predicted. So, the best defense against both is to avoid them altogether. While it’s possible to seek shelter and stay out of harm’s way during a storm, avoiding a professional liability lawsuit can be much more complicated.

Being diligent in all areas of your business could be an asset if you face a professional liability lawsuit, even if you have professional liability insurance, but it can’t always prevent one.

If you own a small-business and you’re being threatened with a lawsuit, your best defense is preparation. Assume that a lawsuit could be coming at any time and you may be ready if it actually does.

Here are 3 key strategies to maximize your odds of successfully defending your business against a professional liability lawsuit:

#1. Document all communications with your clients

During the course of a lawsuit, your lawyer may ask you for a particular document or certain facts relating to an important incident. If you’re working from memory alone, you’re going to have trouble presenting a cohesive defense. You will have much easier access to information about your lawsuit if you have left a thorough paper trail. Depending on your type of business, that trail might include:

• Written contracts
• Work documents
• Invoices and receipts
• Confirming emails sent after meetings and phone calls
• Changes to contracts and proposals

Just keep in mind that overly-complicated documents may hurt your case. If a mediator or jury can’t follow the information in a key document, they could easily assume that your client couldn’t either. 

#2. Work with your lawyer

The relationship between lawyer and client can come under considerable strain during the course of a lawsuit. A good working relationship can increase the odds of a positive outcome and reduce your anxiety considerably. You and your attorney are a team. Here are some teambuilding hints to improve your odds of winning:

• Keep your lawyer informed by disclosing everything that might pertain to the dispute. Don’t hold back. Lawyers are trained to sift through information and determine what is useful and what is not.
  
  
• Prepare summaries, timelines, and other materials. Be as accurate as possible. Your lawyer will base your claims and defenses on this information.
  
  
• Respond promptly to all requests. Your lawyer may have to work under a very tight deadline. The more time you give your lawyer to digest the material you provide, the better job your lawyer can do of using that material to prepare important legal papers.
  
  
• Keep your lawyer apprised of your schedule. You will need to be present at certain events in a lawsuit. Most of these events can be postponed or moved up to accommodate your schedule, but your lawyer must have enough advance warning that you won't be available.

Assess the professional liability lawsuit honestly

Your first instinct after being hit with a lawsuit might be to fight the claim with all available means. After the initial emotions have subsided, however, and you can approach the dispute objectively, you might discover that it makes sense to settle. An honest assessment might make you realize that that you were in error to some extent, or you may come to the conclusion that a sustained legal battle would drain your financial resources.

You should realize that most lawsuits settle, and that the court system is designed to put pressure on both parties to settle. You continually need to reassess whether defending the lawsuit makes economic sense. If you see yourself spending a large amount on legal fees, settling the lawsuit is probably a good move. Remember that your time is worth something. So is your peace of mind.

Protection starts with the right business insurance - call today!

To learn more about Professional Liability Insurance, which helps you pay for the cost of lawsuits and other expenses for which you are legally responsible, and for all your Business Insurance needs contact American Insuring Group online or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610)775-3848.

Maybe you’re like many employers who believe that workers’ compensation insurance is just one of those unavoidable costs of doing business and an expense over which you have little control. Good news: controlling your workers comp costs isn’t as difficult as you might think!

The following six steps could help you reduce your workers comp insurance costs by 20% to 50%, depending on how many of them you have already initiated. 

#1. Build your workers compensation program on a solid foundation

You cannot get your program underway unless everyone in your company is on board. Everyone on the management team must be committed to understanding their specific roles and the responsibilities of everyone throughout the company. This commitment from your key employees includes a thorough knowledge of how the workers’ comp system works; an understanding of experience modification rates, the formulas that produce them, and proper classification of employees is a good place to start.

#2. Pay attention to your hiring process

Competent employees tend to be safety conscious workers who are less likely to incur workers comp claims. Make sure your system for hiring brings the best into your company:

• Good interview techniques and thorough background checks will help you identify potential problems.
• Carefully review the applicant’s resume, paying attention to gaps in employment history. Ask the applicant to explain these gaps. Probe for information about the applicant’s attendance record during previous jobs.
• Conduct a complete background check after you have obtained written consent from the applicant.

#3. Make workplace safety a top priority

Safety needs to command equal status with production and quality. Train new employees to perform their jobs safely. Wellness initiatives, which reportedly return three to four dollars for each dollar invested, must be included here. Safety and wellness programs are critical in preventing claims from ever happening. Continually remind your employees to practice safety by posting reminders in common areas and holding meetings to discuss any issues affecting your staff.

#4. Set up a post-injury system

Studies of temporary and permanent disability claims reveal that timely medical treatment reduces expenses. Require employees to report all injuries, no matter how minor they may seem, and then ensure that injured employees receive prompt medical attention. Make sure that your company’s communications systems and post-injury response systems are in place and that you have an effective return-to-work program and policy that monitors your injured employees’ recovery and helps them get back on the job as quickly as possible. These are the core components of your workers’ compensation management program.

#5. Manage workers’ comp insurance claims efficiently

This might begin with using surveillance to prevent workers’ comp fraud. You’ll need to decide whether to request an independent medical examination (IME) and when to use various vendors. Planning for settlements and Medicare set-asides are important aspects of managing your claims. Your claims adjuster, armed with detailed account handling instructions, is also vital in managing claims efficiently.

#6. Control medical costs

Medical and pharmacy costs are rising at an unprecedented pace. Managing these expenses will take a substantial bite out of your workers’ comp bill. Building relationships with a medical provider, using a medical advisor, and utilizing a nurse case manager to monitor complex cases are all steps to be considered here. Also, be aware of the dangers to your injured employees from prescription drug overdose, which has become the biggest killer in the country.

No one benefits when employees get hurt on the job. With focus and effort, you can make workplace injuries less frequent, less severe, and less costly.

Reduce the Cost of Workers Comp Insurance: Get Help From American Insuring Group! 

Contact American Insuring Group online or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 for help in lowering the cost of workers compensation insurance for your business. 

Experienced small-business owners know that it’s wise to expect the unexpected. Bad things often happen without warning.

Different insurance policies protect their businesses from surprises in different ways, and it’s important to understand the coverage that is included and the differences between the policies.

Comparing business liability and commercial property insurances is a good place to start! 

Business liability insurance protects you from lawsuits

Anything that your business is legally responsible for is called a liability. When you cause someone a loss, you are legally responsible for replacing the loss, usually with money. And that’s where lawsuits come into play. Business Liability Insurance helps you pay for the cost of lawsuits and other expenses for which you are legally responsible.

For example, let’s say you own a machine shop that mass produces parts for an automobile manufacturer, and one of your parts is recalled because it wasn’t made to specification. What happens now? You’re likely to be sued for your mistake or for negligence, which means you will need to hire lawyers and prepare yourself for the possibility of a lengthy trial. You could amass huge costs.

Since small businesses don't have that kind of money, they invest in business liability policies that offer insurance coverage that includes:

• Attorney fees
• Out-of-court settlements
• Judgments from losing the lawsuit
• Other court and legal fees

Business liability insurance also helps you deal with the responsibilities you have to the people who come into contact with your business:

• Employees
• Customers
• Suppliers
• Partners
• Vendors

Types of commercial liability insurance

It's important for you to know that there are various kinds of business liability insurance that cover different types of lawsuits:

• General Liability Insurance covers physical injuries, slander, libel, infringement, and property damage lawsuits when someone outside of your business sues you.
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance covers lawsuits related to injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
• Professional Liability Insurance, sometimes called Errors and Omissions Insurance, covers lawsuits related to your work. It typically pays for your legal expenses when a client claims your work was negligent.
• Employment Practices Liability Insurance covers lawsuits arising from wrongful termination, discrimination, or unpaid benefits.

Commercial property insurance protects your company’s physical assets

When you buy commercial property insurance, assets like equipment, computers, supplies, inventory, offices, and other business property are insured against loss or damage. Your insurance will repair or replace property that was damaged by the specific events that are outlined in your policy, which can include:

• Fire
• Theft
• Vandalism
• Some weather-related damages
• Explosions

For example, a fire does serious damage to a building that houses tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of your equipment. Much of the equipment is lost and the building itself needs major repairs. You will need to replace furniture and the cleanup costs will be substantial. 

A commercial property insurance policy will cover all of these expenses, and if you add Business Interruption Insurance coverage to the standard policy, you can cover the income you would lose if your business has to shut down when it suffers too much damage to operate normally.

Bottom Line: You need BOTH commercial property and business liability insurance policies!

Small businesses need both business liability and commercial property coverage, because they work together to make sure you have enough money to pay your bills when an incident or loss threatens your business. Either a lawsuit or property damage could wipe out your company’s savings, put you in debt, and require that any new revenue go toward legal bills or repair costs. Meanwhile, your business suffers.

Buy both types of coverage and save! 

The good news is that as a small-business owner, you might qualify for a lower rate if you purchase these two policies together. This insurance bundle, often called a Business Owner's Policy (BOP), offers this discount to qualifying small businesses.

Get help for all your business insurance needs right here

To learn more about business liability and commercial property insurance from our independent agents, contact American Insuring Group online, or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848.

As independent agents we're free to shop among lots of competing insurance carriers to find the best policy for your needs at the right price. Call or click today to get started!

Employers have been using cameras and video surveillance in the workplace for many years. In fact, in a 2005 survey, over half of the responding companies indicated they used video surveillance to counteract theft, violence, or sabotage. 16% of those respondents used surveillance to monitor their workers’ performance.

Still others were monitoring their employees to help prevent workers’ compensation fraud—something that could pay dividends for their companies in terms of payouts and workers compensation insurance rates.

Staging a workers comp injury caught on video

A California workers’ comp insurer had three cases in 18 months where workers’ comp fraud was proven because of videos that showed the workers staging their injuries. The videos—two from restaurant kitchens and the other in a warehouse--show the workers rearranging furniture and objects, kicking the objects, then screaming out in pain. They were subsequently taken away in an ambulance.

The videos were proof that the injuries were faked, and after an investigation, criminal complaints were filed and convictions resulted in a matter of months. There was no impact on the company’s experience rating, or a corresponding premium increase, because the cases were handled quickly, and fraud was easily proved. 

Caution: Employers must respect the laws on workplace privacy

If employers want to use video cameras to monitor employees, they must have a legitimate business reason to do so. State privacy laws will usually determine the extent at which video monitoring is considered legitimate and lawful. Yet, cameras that also record sound may be in conflict with federal wiretapping laws, with or without an otherwise legitimate reason. Most laws that limit surveillance in the workplace pertain to those areas in which there is a reasonable expectation of privacy—restrooms and break rooms, for instance. Some states also prohibit the use of two-way mirrors in restrooms, locker rooms, and similar locations.

Once a company has ascertained a legitimate need to use video monitoring, employees must be notified of the cameras, and filming must be confined to public areas. Under these conditions, the surveillance is likely to be upheld by the court. But since filming can involve privacy rights, it is critical that employers not cross the line.

Certain employee activities remain private

Other activities may also be off-limits for employer surveillance. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRB) prohibits employers from using video cameras to monitor employees' union activities, including union meetings and conversations involving union matters. Employers are required to bargain with union employees before using video surveillance in the workplace. Also, video surveillance may not be used in a manner that is meant to intimidate current or prospective union members.

Some employees have challenged employer surveillance of their activities while on leave for a medical condition or workers' compensation injury. The courts sided with the employer and denied the challenges in cases that involved clear employee abuse of leave laws. (One employee took FMLA leave to vacation in Las Vegas, while another was caught on camera working out at a gym after claiming he was too injured to work). Aside from these flagrant examples, courts would likely rule differently if an employer's surveillance drifted into private activities and effectively deterred employees with a legitimate need from exercising their legal rights.

Workplace video surveillance guidelines

Employers use video cameras to monitor employees for a host of reasons, all of which could save their businesses money. But it is important to do it lawfully. Here are some general guidelines:

• Make sure you have a legitimate reason to use surveillance
• Do so only in public areas
• Inform your employees that you have cameras in the workplace
• Do not record their conversations
• Refrain from taping union activity

Consider speaking with a labor lawyer in your area if you have additional questions or concerns. To find out more about your state's workplace privacy laws, contact your state labor department.

Lower Your Workers Compensation Insurance Costs

For more information about workers compensation insurance, contact American Insuring Group online or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848.

Our independent insurance agents will help you find the best policy to meet your needs, and do it at the right price. As an independent agency, we're free to shop among many competing insurance carriers, and to provide you with the best deal on quality workers comp insurance.

Call or click today to get started!

Every day, thirty men and women across the United States are severely injured in work-related accidents. That amounts to over ten thousand workers each year who are hurt so critically that the consequences to themselves and their families are sometimes permanent. Clearly, many U.S. worksites have been hazardous to workers. Reducing workplace hazards is good for employees and a smart way to reduce workers compensation insurance claims and costs.

Until last year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was not receiving timely information about where and how most of those injuries were happening. Then, on Jan. 1, 2015, a requirement took effect that compelled employers to report to OSHA, within 24 hours, any severe work-related injury, such as amputation, in-patient hospitalization, or loss of eye.

The new requirement should enable the agency to target their compliance assistance and enforcement efforts to the areas where workers are at greatest risk. It should also help to engage more high-hazard employers in identifying and eliminating serious risks.

Some interesting findings from the requirement

After one year of the reporting program, employers had notified OSHA of 10,388 incidents involving severe work-related injuries, inclding 7,636 hospitalizations and 2,644 amputations

Not surprisingly, nearly one-half of the hospitalizations and about two-thirds of the amputations occurred in companies from the manufacturing and construction sectors.

The industry groups with the most severe-injury reports were:

1. Building exterior contractors (391)
2. Building equipment contractors (343)
3. Support activities for mining such as drilling oil and gas wells (323)
4. Non-residential building construction (271)

According to an OSHA report on the findings, most of the hazards that led to these severe injuries are well-understood and easily prevented. And they also account for a majority of work-related fatal injuries. In most cases, employers can stop these injuries and deaths with some clear-cut and cost-effective changes, including providing fall protection equipment, installing guarding over dangerous machinery, and clearly marking pathways.

Failure to report a workers comp insurance claim can be expensive

After one year of the requirement, OSHA concludes that, based on injury claim numbers for workers’ compensation, there has been some serious underreporting of severe injuries—possibly as much as 50%. To discourage this, OSHA has said that it is more likely to cite businesses for non-reporting, and it is raising the penalty for not reporting a severe injury from $1,000 to as high as $7,000. While these penalties pertain to many small and mid-sized companies that may not even be aware of the new reporting requirements, the penalty can be even more costly if OSHA discovers that an employer intentionally and willfully chose not to make a timely report. 

A safe working environment is smart for business

A better way to avoid severe injury reporting is to avoid the injury. A safe workplace should be every company’s goal. Without it, businesses faces higher workers’ compensation insurance costs, loss of employees from potentially severe accidents, and an increase in liability exposure. A safe working environment, on the other hand, saves money by reducing workers’ compensation insurance claims, and it gives OSHA fewer reasons to launch an on-site inspection of a facility—a potential money saver in itself.

Contact Us for Help in Reducing Workers Comp Insurance Costs

If you want to discuss how your business can maintain a safe worksite or if you would like to lower your workers compensation insurance premiums, contact American Insuring Group online or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848. 

You’re single and have many things on your mind—moving up the ladder in your career, investing for the future, relationships, and the list goes on. Something that you might not be thinking about, but should be, is life insurance.

If you’re like many single people, you likely assume that life insurance is for married couples and those with kids. While it is true that not all single people need life insurance, here are six reasons why life insurance could make good sense for you:

1. Student loan debt
   While it’s true that student loans through the federal government are discharged if you were to die, personal loans that have a cosigner are usually not. If your parents co-signed your loan through a bank, they would be responsible for paying the rest of the loan if something happened to you. The bank may even call for the loan to be paid in full immediately after a death, leaving your parents to deal with grief and loan payments.
   
   
2. Living with your significant other
   Living together means sharing the financial responsibilities. You probably need two incomes to pay the rent (or mortgage), utilities, taxes, and other living expenses. Think ahead to the possibility of one of you dying prematurely. Would the other partner be able to maintain a similar lifestyle on one paycheck? Or would the apartment have to be abandoned or the house sold? Life insurance may be the only way to create an estate immediately, offering an easy answer to those questions.
   
   
3. Lock in a low price now
   You’re young and healthy. Your age and your health will mostly determine how much you’ll pay for life insurance. It makes good financial sense to lock in a low price if you have both of these right now. A healthy 30-year-old non-smoker can get a 20-year $250,000 term life insurance policy for about $20 a month. Remember, if you wait until you believe life insurance is a necessity, your age and any health issues that have developed will make the insurance more expensive—or impossible - to get.
   
   
4. Lock in your insurability now
   You plan on having kids in the future. Statistically, it costs nearly $250,000 to raise a child to age 18. And that’s not factoring in the cost of college. You may not be thinking about this right now, but when the kids arrive, they bring with them additional bills and expenses. Purchasing life insurance now means you have coverage in place for when you do have a child, and you have protected your insurability for the future.
   
   
5. Others may need your support
   You know now you’ll be taking care of family members in the future. You may need to provide financial support to aging parents or a special-needs sibling. Think about what would happen if your support disappeared with your death. Life insurance can ensure that there is money in place to fund those needs into the future. In cases like these, permanent life insurance, as opposed to term insurance, might be a better choice. Talk to an agent for details on the difference between the two policies.
   
   
6. It can pay for your funeral
   With the average cost of a funeral at over $7,000, you don’t want to leave the burden of paying for it to your parents, partner, or other family members. No one, especially young and single adults, likes to think about such things, but the truth is if you die without life insurance, someone you care about will likely end up paying for your funeral.

We Make Life Insurance Easy - Just Click or Call! 

Getting life insurance doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process. Contact American Insuring Group online or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848, and we’ll walk you through your options—at no cost to you.

Our independent agents will compare plans from competing life insurance providers to craft a quality life insurance plan at the right price. Contact us today to get started!

Many workers’ compensation insurance claims are filed as a result of back injuries, and the majority of these injuries come about because employees are not using the correct techniques for lifting.

Proper lifting methods could eliminate most, if not all, of the workers compinsurance claims associated with back injuries. Teaching these techniques needs to be part of any company’s safety program.

6 Lifting Mistakes to Avoid

Here are six of the most common mistakes your workers might be making while lifting objects and suggestions for lifting them safely:

1. Bending the back.
   Employees who lift with their back bent and their legs straight are inviting a back injury. In fact, this common mistake in lifting is actually the exact opposite of the correct method. Proper lifting is done with a straight back and bent knees, allowing the body to be closer to the object. In this way the worker is using the strength of the legs instead of straining a bent back to lift the object.
   
2. Holding the object away from the body.
   If what they are attempting to lift is dirty or greasy, employees may hold the object away from their body in order to keep themselves clean. This may make sense for their appearance, but it is a sure recipe for a back injury. Workers must be trained to keep the object they are lifting close to the body—even if it is not very heavy—to avoid straining the back.
   
   
3. Twisting while lifting.
   When lifting something from the floor to a higher level, employees will many times position themselves parallel to the shelf or table on which they will place it. This forces them to twist their body in order to set it down after they have lifted it. Using a safer technique, the worker would turn to face the higher level before attempting to lift the object, allowing the object to be lifted and placed without any twisting.
   
   
4. Losing balance while lifting.
   Workers can lose their balance in a number of ways. Having the feet too close together, picking up something that is too heavy, or attempting to lift an irregular shaped object are just a few of the causes that lead to loss of balance. Workers must be trained to place their feet at least shoulder width apart and to seek help when lifting heavy or awkward objects.
   
   
5. Contorting the body in cluttered areas.
   Sometimes the load to be lifted is surrounded by other objects that prevent the worker from making a safe and proper lift. Workers who contort the body to make a lift under these conditions are asking for a back injury. Workers should be taught to move the surrounding objects away before attempting to lift their object. A clear pathway and surrounding area are essential to a safe lift.
   
   
6. Failure to coordinate the lift with others.
   If two or more employees are attempting to lift an object when a forklift is not an option, clear communication is needed. Make sure everyone involved in the lift knows where they will be grasping the object, its intended destination, and exactly when they will lift to object. Not only can this prevent back injuries, but smashed toes and pinched fingers may be avoided as well.

Avoid Workers Comp Claims with Our Lifting Techniques Checklist

Remember, you can keep your workers safe and avoid workers’ compensation claims by training them to use proper lifting techniques including:

1. Keep the back straight during a lift
2. Bend the knees
3. Place the feet at least shoulder width apart
4. Keep the load close to the body
5. Avoid twisting the body during the lift
6. Ask for help when it’s obviously needed 

Keeping these techniques in mind will keep your workers safe and minimize back injuries; thereby, saving you on the cost of workers’ compensation insurance.

Get the Right PA Workers Compensation Insurance

For more information about workers compensation insurance, contact American Insuring Group online or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848. We offer plans from competing providers, so we're positioned to help you find the right insurance and the right price. Contact us today to get started.

Opioid use and misuse by workers has become a major concern for employers and their workers’ compensation managers.

An increasing number of injured workers are being prescribed these powerful and addictive drugs to alleviate pain, but frequently the opioid use results in extended disability and additional medical issues for claimants. The overuse of these prescription painkillers is burdening the workers’ compensation system by increasing the cost of each insurance claim. 

These startling workers compensation insurance statistics attest to this:

• Average cost of a claim without opioids: $13,000
• Average cost of a claim with a short-acting opioid, such as Percocet: $39,000 (I.e., triple)
• Average cost of a claim with long-acting narcotic, like OxyContin: $117,000 (I.e., 10x)

Adding to the costs, workers’ compensation insurers are now being compelled to pay for prescriptions of buprenorphine and naltrexone, two drugs that are used to wean workers off these addictive opioids.

Opiod Abuse: A Growing Problem

State governments, insurers, and an assortment of workers’ comp stakeholders have been obliged to contend with the issue of opioid usage by injured workers in varying degrees through myriad methods. But pinning down the problem has proved to be as difficult as correcting the problem of opioid abuse itself.

Utilization of statewide databases that track opioid prescriptions, finding and punishing overprescribing doctors, and stricter controls in management provider networks are some of the solutions states have adopted - or are considering - to tackle this complex problem.

And, as opioid abuse continues to grow, it’s gotten the attention of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

“It’s a big problem, and it’s a growing problem,” said Dr. Leonard J. Paulozzi, a medical epidemiologist with CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention & Control, which has been studying the impact of opioid overdoses, and the problem of overuse. Paulozzi views the drug problem as being potentially more prevalent among the injured worker population.

“There’s an awful lot of back injuries in the workers’ comp population and subsequent surgery related to back problems, and back pain is one of the most common indications now of use of opioids in the United States,” he said. “And it’s being used frequently for back pain and it’s being used long-term for back pain.” 

Education and communication are essential

Workers’ compensation managers are fighting a prescription drug epidemic, and the stakes are high. Failure to wage an effective battle can lead to unfortunate consequences:

• Increased costs from protracted disability, medical care, and treatment
• Increased case valuation and settlement costs, which deplete financial reserves
• Increased possibility of deaths and drug overdoses

In order for claims managers to be effective in controlling costs that result in higher workers compensation insurance premiums, they may need to seek outside help. Many are now forming partnerships with various Pharmacy Benefits Management companies that have specific expertise in effecting change. Communication is the first step:

• Educate the injured workers directly about the importance of safe treatment
• Communicate with physicians, explaining all concerns regarding opioid-based prescription drugs
• Post bulletins warning of the dangers of prescription painkillers

Good communication yields encouraging results

Results from companies that have used this system of communication have been encouraging. One pharmaceutical company saw a reduction of almost 11% in opioid usage among their workers’ compensation clients. In addition, the percentage of injured workers using long-term opioids decreased by 2.6% during the same period.

The effort makes financial sense

All studies and efforts to curb opioid usage should have a positive effect on the all-important bottom line, since the medical portion of a workers’ comp claim may be open for several years and could be open for the lifetime of the injured worker. The claims management teams need to be proactive and willing to cooperate and collaborate with the pharmacy industry in educating everyone on this crucial issue.

Contact Us for Help in Getting the Right Workers Comp Insurance 

To learn more about workers compensation insurance, and to get the right insurance at very competitive prices, contact us online or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848. 

Imagine: you’ve just finished one of the most successful sales in your store’s history. As you’re closing and preparing to take your receipts to the bank for deposit, an armed robber confronts you and leaves with all of your cash. All of your hard work and thousands of dollars leave with him.

After the shock of the armed robbery subsides, you wonder if the loss is covered by your commercial property insurance policy. Unfortunately, if your policy does not include Money and Securities coverage, the answer is no. 

What is included in money and securities insurance coverage?

Money refers to currency, coins and bank notes but also includes regular checks, traveler’s checks, and money orders. Securities are instruments or contracts that represent money or property. Examples of securities are certificates of deposit, tickets, tokens and stamps. These would likely be excluded on a typical commercial property policy. So, if you own or operate a business in which you handle a significant amount of money each day, Money and Securities coverage is vital.

Money and securities coverage: inside and outside the premises

Inside coverage applies to loss of money and securities that occurs within your premises or a bank. Loss must result directly from theft committed by someone who is inside your business or the bank. The loss must result directly from disappearance or destruction.

Some examples:

• A customer in your store steals cash and money orders from a cash drawer
• A thief breaks into your office, smashes open a safe, and steals $5,000 in cash
• A fire in your bank destroys a safe deposit box you rent that contains $1,000

In the second example, both the damage to the safe and the loss of cash would be covered by a commercial property insurance policy with inside coverage. Vaults, cash registers, cash boxes and cash drawers located inside the premises would also be covered if damaged or stolen.

Outside coverage applies to money and securities that are lost outside your premises. The loss must occur while the items are in the custody of a messenger or an armored motor vehicle company. In addition, the loss must result directly from theft, disappearance or destruction. Messengers are any employees that have care and custody of property outside the premises. This also means you, a relative of yours, or any of your partners. 

Some examples of outside coverage:

• An employee of yours is mugged on the way to your bank to deposit $5,000 in cash. The mugger gets away with the cash.
• One of your partners is robbed of a company laptop after leaving his office. The loss of the laptop, but not the loss of programs and data on the laptop, will be covered.
• Two armored car drivers are entering their truck when they are ordered out of the vehicle by three armed robbers. The robbers drive off with the truck, which contains $10,000 of your money.

This coverage also applies to loss of or damage to other property outside the premises in the care and custody of a messenger or an armored vehicle company resulting directly from an actual or attempted robbery. Other property means property other than money or securities, not including computer programs or electronic data.

Exclusions to Money and Security Insurance Coverage

Money and Security coverage does not apply to losses resulting from theft by you, your company principles, or your employees. Thefts committed by employees can be insured under separate Employee Theft Coverage. Also excluded are losses resulting from voluntary parting with property or any money operated devices.

Contact Us for Help with Money and Securities Coverage Within a Commercial Property Insurance Policy

You’ve worked hard to make your business successful. Be sure to protect it thoroughly by including Money and Securities coverage. Contact us online or give us a call at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 for more details.