By Karla Sullivan
The venerable underwriters at Lloyd’s of London have responded quickly to the hazards of working with Ebola-infected patients by introducing coverage designed to indemnify corporations and employees who are engaged in this most hazardous duties.
Nina Pham, the first person infected by Ebola while caring for Thomas Eric Duncan who died on October 8th, was reunited with her dog Bentley after being quarantined while treated with the deadly virus. She is now virus free. He, too, was cared for in a specialized hazardous safe house but did not become infected.
Amber Vinson, the second nurse infected, leaves the hospital, also virus-free last week, after intensive treatment and is reunited with her family. Good news concerning the prognosis of those being affected with Ebola here in the US.
However, in addition to disease related concerns, violence is an ongoing problem in healthcare facilities.
Just early Sunday, a hospital patient in St. Paul, Minnesota died after attacking four nurses. Two nurses were still hospitalized on Monday and one suffered a collapsed lung, the other with a broken wrist. Though, violent situations cannot always be prevented, we can help those who are hurt. That type of specialty insurance is now available for those who protect and help heal us from devastating assault or illness.
This includes from the administrator who checks in a patient to the doctors and nurses treating the suffering to the patrolmen and women responding to 911 calls, threats and risks associated with deadly diseases such as Ebola, HIV, and Hepatitis. In addition, we can respond with adequate coverage to those who respond to violent assaults on the job such as the nurses attacked in Minnesota; the daily realities for healthcare and law enforcement professionals in the United States.
Now, Lloyd’s of London (certain underwriters) through its U.S. distributor, Specialty Insurance Advisors, has added an Ebola benefit to its pre-existing Needle Stick and Workplace Violence coverage that will protect healthcare and law enforcement workers in the event of accidental infection from the Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever.
According to a recent press release, the very first insurance indemnity coverage of its kind, Essential Professional Insurance Coverage (EPIC) goes beyond workmen’s compensation and disability insurance and protects individuals who work on the front lines in hospitals, emergency rooms, fire departments, hazmat units, ambulances, or in law enforcement who are in jeopardy of contracting blood-borne pathogens such as Ebola, HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
“When viruses like Ebola spread and our country is counting on first responders to provide critical care in at-risk situations, affordable insurance options like EPIC are an imperative financial protection if dangers on the job impede health or livelihood. With EPIC Insurance, employees in very risky situations can guard against the worst-case on-the-job scenarios,” said Richard Kosinski, president of EPIC. “Insured persons are paid up to a $200,000 lump sum if they suffer an injury at their workplace as a result of an assault or accidental infection.”
“EPIC does not replace worker’s comp or disability, it is an additional lump sum benefit paid to employees or their beneficiaries. In cases of Ebola, the insured receives $20,000 per month, for up to ten months while infected,” said Kosinski.
“EPIC offers personal policies that are only $269 annually, so it is extremely affordable. Hospice nurses or home health care aides have the opportunity to be covered,” Kosinski adds. “It should be sold to healthcare facilities as a group policy. Group discounts start at 15 percent. This is a new class of employee benefits for anyone who works in a hazardous environments.”
“Ancillary benefits are also provided which include psychological counseling,” Kosinski said.
EPIC can be a significant cost savings tool for your employee benefits program. EPIC offers a split-benefit option, allowing you to allocate a percentage of benefit claim payouts to your organizations. By adding EPIC coverage to your existing benefits, you can offset out of pocket costs with the payout from covered employee claims
Often not talked about when purchasing group insurance, is how, as Richard Kosinski relays, the necessity to build employee morale. Amid the distress of being infected by a disease or even involved in workplace violence incidents, indemnity insurance coverage shows employees, that the employer recognizes the significant danger that can unexpectedly occur. You are taking responsibility to assure that your employees are truly protected.
Centinela Hospital Medical Center in California is one of the first US hospitals to offer EPIC and have had positive results. As many doctors describe, Ebola is scary, largely due to misinformation, but this insurance will also address terminal diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis.
Miller Insurance Services, an independent specialist insurance broker, and William Gallagher Associates (“WGA”), a U.S. retail insurance broker, jointly announce the availability of Pandemic Disease Business Interruption Insurance, provided by the Ark Syndicate at Lloyd’s. Coverage responds to loss of income arising directly out of shutdowns of healthcare facilities as well as diminished revenues in the aftermath of a quarantine. The coverage is available through highly-rated insurers in London that are licensed in the US and in other world markets.
“The need for this coverage is acute at a time where Ebola and the Enterovirus threaten the operating capacity of global healthcare facilities,” pointed out Mark Sleet, Professional Risks broker at Miller. Peter Reilly, WGA’s Healthcare Practice Leader further noted, “Insurance for lost revenue arising out of a non-physical damage event like a voluntary or involuntary quarantine of facilities and medical professionals is not available on most Business Interruption coverage forms. Together we have designed coverage that can be triggered by events like we have already seen in the Dallas Ebola case.”
“Hospitals and related entities have exposure to a voluntary or involuntary quarantine of their premises given the potential accumulation of people and the need by the Authorities to try and contain the virus. This could be potentially catastrophic for any Medical related facility,” commented Richard Bryant of Ark Syndicate, Specialty Programs.
Groups such as hospitals, unions and police departments seeking to bolster existing coverage can now add this new affordable employee benefit by contacting their broker.
