Guest blog: Insurance – preparing for your upcoming renewal in an increasingly hard market

Guest blog by UKHCA’s preferred insurance broker Towergate Insurance

As the preferred insurance provider of UKHCA, we recently took part in an exclusive webinar for UKHCA members, where Carolyn Baker-Mellor, our Head of Care and Charity, and Richard Barnes, the dedicated Business Development Executive for UKHCA members, shared some tips and advice to think about when you are renewing your insurance. Below is an overview of the topics discussed on the webinar.

Plan your renewal in advance

We suggest that UKHCA members start making arrangements with their broker 90 days in advance of the business renewal date. It’s a good opportunity to tell them about what is happening in your business, such as changes to service users, income, etc so that they are able to obtain the renewal quotation on the correct basis. Although communicable disease is still offered as part of our cover, many insurers have removed this from their terms.

Now that we have lived through a pandemic and we are seeing new variants of COVID-19, insurers can no longer treat communicable disease as something that is unexpected; it’s something we may have to live with for the foreseeable future, much like the flu. Speak to your broker and see what measures they may still have in place within their policy and what may no longer be covered.

Understand what additional information may be needed

In a market that is shrinking, you may be asked by insurers to submit extra information about your business, such as an infection control questionnaire, provide CQC actions plans, or details of the number of recent COVID-19 deaths. You should also be prepared to provide additional information to your broker for them to obtain an alternative quote, should your current insurer stop offering renewal terms. These could include your business plan, statement of purpose and director’s CV’s. As a partner of UKHCA, we work to arrange insurance as quickly as we can, as well as supporting new start-up businesses.

Keeping your records up to date
Make sure that your policies and procedures are robust, in terms of being able to defend a potential claim; insurers will always expect that you are acting with reasonable care. Can you fully demonstrate that you have undertaken necessary risk assessments, staff training, care plans etc and that this is all suitably documented? If you are able to evidence that you have been complying with the latest guidelines, you will most likely be able to defend any claims. However, it is worth mentioning that, although you may successfully defend any claims made against you, you will most likely have to pay for the defence costs of any claims, including solicitor fees.

We work with Markel Care Practitioners, to offer UKHCA members effective and integrated tailored solutions; whether it be an improvement journey, managing complex risk, responding to incidents from safeguarding, to serious case reviews. Each member of the team has a social care background, so are able to understand situations that you may need assistance with and can meet directly with you, should you wish to, to discuss your needs further.

Exclusive discount*

As a member of UKHCA, you receive a 10% discount on Towergate’s Domiciliary Care policy and, what’s more, if you have been claim free for 3 years, you can benefit from an additional 15% discount, bringing your total saving to 25%.

To find out more about how to best approach your insurance renewal, and how we may be able to assist your business, call us on 01438 739280 or email [email protected]. You can also visit www.towergateinsurance.co.uk to find out more about the services we can provide to the social care sector.

*25% discount is on Domiciliary Care insurance only. All discounts to be applied to gross written premium before insurance premium tax and any customer service fee. 15% discount valid until 31 December 2021 for new customers who are claim and incident free for 3 years. 10% discount valid until 31 December 2021 for UKHCA members. All cover subject to insurers underwriting criteria. Full terms and conditions available upon request.

Towergate Insurance is a trading name of Towergate Underwriting Group Limited. Registered in England No. 4043759.

Registered address: 2 Minster Court, Mincing Lane, London EC3R 7PD. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.