# Chamberlin & Reinheimer Insurers - Complete Content > Specializing in insurance for home-based care providers for over 100 years. Based in Scranton, PA, serving home health and home care agencies nationwide. --- ## About Us Chamberlin & Reinheimer Insurers has been providing insurance solutions for over 100 years. We specialize exclusively in insurance for home-based care providers, including home health agencies, home care agencies, and hospice providers. Our expertise in the home care industry means we understand the unique risks and challenges you face. We work only with insurance companies that specialize in this sector, ensuring you get coverage that truly protects your business. ### Contact Information - **Phone:** (800) 246-3740 - **Fax:** (570) 558-5881 - **Address:** 215 Wyoming Ave, Scranton, PA 18503 - **Website:** https://chamberlinreinheimer.com ### Team - Kenneth G Reinheimer III, MBA - Vice President - Lindsey Reinheimer - Staff --- ## Why Choose Us We are the largest Agent in the country that writes Home Care. Here's why home care agencies trust us: - We have specialized in Insuring Home Care for 25 years - We represent every Insurance Company that will Quote Home Care Accounts - We belong to State and National Associations around the country - We can write in all 50 states - if you expand, we can manage your insurance needs - Mr. Reinheimer is invited to speak on Home Care at conferences nationwide - We are the Preferred Vendor for 4 National Home Care Franchises - We provide 22 editable loss control policies and procedures for free - We have relationships with companies that buy and sell agencies - Ken Reinheimer is always available for Zoom calls or phone calls - There is not 1 claim we have not experienced - we understand Home Care --- ## Franchise Vendor Program We are the preferred insurance vendor for major home care franchises: - **Home Helpers Home Care** - Preferred Vendor - **Caring Senior Service** - Preferred Vendor - **Acti-Kare** - Preferred Vendor Our franchise program provides: - Specialized coverage designed for franchise operations - Consistent pricing and coverage across locations - Streamlined onboarding for new franchisees - Dedicated support for franchise-specific needs --- ## Insurance Coverage Types ### 1. Professional & General Liability In the Home Care industry, both Professional and General Liability coverages are needed, and they should be written by the same insurance company. **General Liability** covers: - Bodily injury (e.g., patient falls during transfers) - Property damage to patient's belongings - Legal defense if you're sued **Professional Health Care Liability** covers: - Medical incidents where a caregiver fails to recognize critical changes in a patient's condition - Claims resulting from medical crises, adverse outcomes, or fatalities - Defense costs for malpractice allegations **Key Insight:** Many Home Care firms make the costly mistake of relying only on General Liability policies. Without Professional Liability coverage, claims from medical errors won't be covered. **FAQ:** - Q: Why do home care agencies need both professional and general liability insurance? A: Because the Insuring Agreements are different - General Liability covers bodily injury and property damage, while Professional Liability covers medical incidents. Without both, claims from medical errors won't be covered. - Q: What is a medical incident in Professional Liability? A: A medical incident occurs when a caregiver fails to recognize critical changes in a patient's condition, resulting in a medical crisis, adverse outcome, or fatality for which the agency is liable. --- ### 2. Workers Compensation Workers Compensation coverage is required by law to protect employees against work-related injuries and disease. It covers lost wages and medical costs for injured employees. **Key Facts:** - Operating without Workers Comp can result in felony charges - In home care, Workers Comp is your second highest cost after payroll - Your profitability is directly linked to Workers Compensation costs **Cost Factors:** 1. Rate per $100 of payroll 2. Experience Modification Factor (based on claims history) - 1.00 = break even - 1.20 = 20% debit - 0.80 = 20% credit **Common Injuries in Home Care:** - Strains and sprains from patient transfers and lifting - Fall-related injuries - Motor vehicle accidents when driving between appointments **FAQ:** - Q: Is Workers Compensation required for home care agencies? A: Yes, Workers Compensation is required by law to protect employees against work-related injuries and disease. Operating without it can result in felony charges. - Q: What affects the cost of Workers Compensation insurance? A: Two main factors: the rate per $100 of payroll, and your Experience Modification Factor based on your claims history (1.00 is break-even). --- ### 3. Cyber Liability Home care agencies handle confidential patient records that are prime targets for cyber criminals. This coverage protects against data breaches and cyber attacks. **Why It's Essential:** - Patient records contain names, SSN, addresses, medical and financial information - Cloud storage providers do NOT indemnify you for breaches - HIPAA regulations impose fines for data breaches **Cost of a Breach:** - $316 average cost per record in healthcare - Covers: notification, credit monitoring, forensics, PR, call centers, regulatory defense, liability settlements **Minimum Premium:** $1,000 for coverage that's both affordable and realistic. **Key Stat:** 49% of all data breaches are caused by malicious and criminal attacks. **FAQ:** - Q: Why do home care agencies need cyber liability insurance? A: Home care agencies handle confidential patient records (names, SSN, medical/financial data) that are prime targets for cyber criminals. HIPAA regulations also impose fines for data breaches. - Q: How much does a data breach cost in healthcare? A: The average cost per record in healthcare is $316, covering notification, credit monitoring, forensics, PR, call centers, regulatory defense, and liability settlements. --- ### 4. Commercial Auto (Hired & Non-Owned) As an employer, you are responsible for the actions of employees who operate their personal vehicles in the course of employment. **Coverage Types:** - **Hired Auto:** Covers vehicles your agency leases, hires, or rents - **Non-Owned Auto:** Covers employees using personal vehicles for work duties **Examples of Covered Use:** - Driving between patient appointments - Transporting patients to appointments - Running errands for patients **Important:** Most policies do NOT personally cover employees. You need an "Employees as Insureds Endorsement" for that protection. **Pre-Hire Screening:** - Run MVRs (Motor Vehicle Records) on all new hires - Run MVRs annually on existing employees - Look for: multiple speeding tickets, accidents, license suspensions, DUI **OSHA Statistics:** - Motor vehicle accidents cost employers $60 billion/year - Average cost of injury accident: $74,000 - Average cost if fatality involved: $500,000 **FAQ:** - Q: What is hired and non-owned auto coverage? A: Hired Auto covers vehicles your agency leases, hires, or rents. Non-Owned Auto covers employees using their personal vehicles for work duties like driving between patient appointments. - Q: Are employees personally covered under hired and non-owned auto? A: Under most policies, no. You need to add an "Employees as Insureds Endorsement" for the coverage to protect employees personally. --- ### 5. Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) Lawsuits against employers for discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation are at an all-time high. **Key Statistics:** - Over 40% of EPL claims are against firms with fewer than 100 employees - Three of five employers are sued by former employees every year - Median compensatory award: $325,000 **Coverage Types:** - **First Party Coverage:** Claims by employees against the employer - **Third Party Coverage:** Claims by patients for caregiver actions (e.g., discrimination) - **Wage and Hour Defense:** Coverage for payroll error lawsuits (attorney fees, not back wages) **Common Claims:** - Discrimination and harassment - Wrongful termination - Retaliation - Failure to promote - Negligent evaluation **FAQ:** - Q: Why do home care agencies need EPLI coverage? A: Over 40% of EPL claims are against firms with fewer than 100 employees, and three of five employers are sued by former employees each year. The median compensatory award is $325,000. - Q: What does EPLI cover? A: EPLI covers actual and alleged acts of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. It includes first-party claims (by employees) and third-party claims (by patients). --- ### 6. Abuse Coverage This coverage defends against allegations of abuse of vulnerable children or adults. **Forms of Abuse Covered:** - Sexual behavior, assault, battery, or molestation - Non-sexual assault or battery - Threatened or alleged acts **Why It's Necessary:** This coverage pays for legal defense if a claim is brought against a caregiver and the home-based care provider, even for unfounded allegations. **FAQ:** - Q: What forms of abuse does this coverage protect against? A: Sexual behavior, assault, battery, molestation, non-sexual assault or battery, and threatened or alleged acts against vulnerable children or adults. - Q: Why is abuse coverage necessary for home care agencies? A: To pay for legal defense if a claim is brought against a caregiver and the home-based care provider, even for unfounded allegations. --- ### 7. Client Property Theft Essential coverage for when caregivers work in private homes where theft exposure exists. **Coverage Details:** - Covers theft by an employee acting alone or in collusion - Typical limit: $25,000 - Typical deductible: $1,000 **Goodwill Client Hours:** Sometimes, even without proof of theft, a home care firm will pay compensation to a patient to retain their business. This coverage helps with such situations. **FAQ:** - Q: What is client property theft coverage? A: Third-party theft coverage that protects against theft by an employee acting alone or in collusion, typically with $25,000 limits and $1,000 deductible. - Q: What are Goodwill Client Hours? A: Sometimes, even without proof of theft, a home care firm will pay compensation to a patient to retain their business. This coverage helps with such situations. --- ### 8. Property Insurance Coverage for business property and operations as your home care business grows. **Coverage Types:** **Business Personal Property:** - Office furniture - Phone systems - Computer systems - Copiers, fax, scanning equipment - Covers property at listed locations and in transit **Building Coverage:** - Covers structures owned by the home care company - If renting from owner's separate real estate company, building coverage should be in that entity's name **Business Income/Extra Expense:** - Loss of income from covered events (e.g., fire) - Costs for renting temporary space - Data recovery from offsite backups **FAQ:** - Q: What does Business Personal Property insurance cover? A: Office furniture, phone systems, computer systems, copiers/fax/scanning equipment at locations listed on the policy and in transit. - Q: What is Business Income/Extra Expense coverage? A: It covers loss of income and extra expenses if a fire or other covered event damages your office, including costs for renting temporary space and recovering data from offsite backups. --- ## Resources ### Free Forms Downloadable policy templates and MVR release forms available at /free-forms-for-our-clients/ ### Client Testimonials Reviews from home care agencies nationwide, including: - Access Home Care - Beck-n-Call - Compassionate Home Caregivers - Home Helpers - JJ System ### Get a Quote Request personalized insurance quotes at /get-a-quote/ ### Blog Articles on home care insurance, risk management, and industry news at /blog/ --- ## License Content © Chamberlin & Reinheimer Insurers, Inc. All rights reserved. When citing this content, please attribute to "Chamberlin & Reinheimer Insurers" with a link to https://chamberlinreinheimer.com