As parents across the U.S. and Canada grapple with their children’s return to school amid a pandemic, “learning pods” have emerged as a potential solution to meeting kids’ academic and social needs while minimizing contact with large groups.

Two mothers in Delaware County, Ohio recently launched Web Student Services, LLC, a learning pod startup that pairs certified teachers with limited groups, or “pods” of students to facilitate an at-home school curriculum on public grounds. The company has already enrolled more than 70 families, most of whom pay about $90 per week.

Other parents are organizing learning pods with neighbors and hiring tutors or nannies to support their children’s online learning at different homes each week. Others are enrolling in commercial programs, either at existing child care or tutoring centers or other facilities—like fitness centers—that have reconfigured their traditional model to offer child care and learning support services for school-aged children.

Despite widespread need and the potential for revenue these new ventures are not without risk.

“As with anything where kids are involved, many things can happen, or go wrong,” said Jim Phillipp, Senior Broker, Commercial, Burns & Wilcox, Chicago, Illinois. “If your facility has not usually had children entering and exiting the premises, there is increased risk of slips and falls, for example. Many of these startups may be offering services without even having insurance coverage in place, which leaves them very exposed and vulnerable.”

While the pod and “micro-school” trend may only grow as more school closures are predicted, home and business owners considering starting their own learning pod—for profit or in collaboration with friends and neighbors—should carefully review their insurance coverage first. In many cases, liability coverage is excluded from standard Homeowners and Dwelling Insurance and Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance policies if a business is not disclosed to the insurance carrier before it becomes active.

“That parents are looking for solutions to meet their families’ needs is of course understandable; however, most—or possibly all—Homeowners and Dwelling Insurance policies do not cover an exposure like this,” said Pamela Alphabet, Regional Practice Group Leader, Personal Insurance, Burns & Wilcox, Scottsdale, Arizona. “There are unique requirements for running a business out of your home, and these pods would most likely be considered businesses. Parents may not be thinking about potential legal ramifications.”

Precautions do not eliminate injury liability

Unintentional injuries such as burns and falls are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. and in Canada. Many of these injuries occur at home, with some of the most common unintentional home injury deaths among children resulting from fire and burns, suffocation, drowning, firearms, falls, choking and poisoning. Homeowners could be held liable if a child is injured while participating in a learning pod, said Tyson Peel, Vice President and Director, Property & Casualty, Burns & Wilcox, Toronto, Ontario.

“Children’s injuries can become quite expensive, depending on the extent,” Peel said. “A simple fall down the stairs could result in significant injuries to a child, and if you did not have proper handrails or gates installed in your home, you could absolutely be held liable for those injuries.”

In December, the family of a 1-year-old girl who suffered a brain injury at an understaffed day care in Buffalo, New York received a $200,000 settlement in its lawsuit against the facility. Serious injuries can occur anywhere, which is why homeowners hosting a learning pod should seek out either a Homeowners and Dwelling Insurance policy enhancement — only available in rare cases, Alphabet said — or a separate In-Home Business Insurance policy to cover losses related to injuries.

Those who already operate home-based child care centers, like one mother in Cleveland, Ohio who oversees e-learning for a pod of students at her home-based day care, should still consult a knowledgeable insurance broker or agent about how their insurance needs may have changed. Even pods held outside a home require coverage, Alphabet added.

“Whether a pod meets on or off premises, you still have some liability risk,” she said. “I cannot stress enough how important it is to consult an insurance broker or agent and obtain the appropriate coverage before starting a business. Otherwise, you stand to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars – it is a huge financial risk.”

The need for in-home child care has soared in recent months, according to data from caregiver site Care.com, which reported triple-digit percent increases in demand. In Ontario, Canada, where a significant percentage of Toronto-area parents are opting for remote learning due to COVID-19 concerns, one teacher said she has been overwhelmed with requests for her services.

Families sharing a teacher or tutor in a learning pod could pay $700 to $1,000 a month per family for those services. If the location of the pod rotates between multiple homes, each homeowner should be properly insured. “Each individual needs to have the appropriate insurance in place,” Peel said, adding that all hosts should adhere to workplace safety regulations, including those related to COVID-19.

An In-Home Business Insurance policy is not all-inclusive, Alphabet pointed out, and parents should know that lawsuits related to COVID-19 transmission are usually excluded from such policies.

Potential liabilities include teaching errors, abuse

In response to the growing need for school-age child care, some companies have launched subsidized “school-day supervision” programs for their employees’ children. One such partnership was recently established between Accenture and Bright Horizons to provide small-group, part-time supervision at existing child care and tutoring centers.

Learning pods are also being offered at other types of businesses, from gymnastics and arts studios to an Ottawa parent looking to host a pod at his martial arts gym. Fitness chain Life Time recently reconfigured 100 of its gym facilities, many closed since the start of the pandemic, to host distance-learning camps for children aged 4 to 12. Students bring their own technology and can take part in games, art and other activities while their online learning is supervised.

For any business changing its operations to accommodate camps or learning pods, CGL Insurance coverage is essential to mitigate costs related to third-party injuries, along with Commercial Property Insurance to properly cover costs related to repairing or replacing a building and equipment. “If a gym designed for adults is converted into a child care center, the gym owner would need to inform their insurance broker or agent about the changes in activity and patrons on their premises to ensure coverage and obtain the appropriate insurance policy,” Peel said.

Professional Liability Insurance, Teachers Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance, and Accident and Health Insurance may also be needed, depending on the situation.

“Accident and Health Insurance can be an important auxiliary coverage in the event a child gets hurt and requires medical care,” Phillipp explained. “The language within a Teachers E&O Insurance policy is broadened to include coverage for costs related to errors made while providing professional services.”

Business owners will also want to confirm whether assault and battery and abuse are included in their coverage. “Those types of events do not happen very often, but they are possible,” Phillipp said.

Follow guidelines, consider liability waivers

Anyone involved in organizing a learning pod should keep up to date on state mandates and local limits on gatherings and adhere to all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) school guidelines related to COVID-19, including the use of masks and social distancing. Temperature monitoring and specific cleaning protocols may also be advised. “Follow the CDC guidelines and take whatever precautions your insurance broker or agent recommends,” Alphabet emphasized.

Requiring employees, clients and patrons to sign liability waivers is an increasingly common practice among organizations operating during the pandemic. Waivers are often utilized by large, institutional tutoring services and learning centers, according to Phillipp, who recommends their use, especially for larger operations.

“Liability waivers are not bulletproof,” Alphabet cautioned. “Even with signed waivers in place, if an incident involves negligence, a waiver may not offer much — or any — protection from liability.”

Preparations for opening a learning pod business should include a pre-inspection of the premises from a loss control agent, Peel said. “This can help to identify and mitigate potential liability or property exposures,” he said. “Working with an insurance broker or agent who is an expert in this line of business is especially helpful, because they are familiar with the regulations and requirements for operating an education center or day care.”

Pandemic learning pods may be here for the long haul, Phillipp noted, and insurance policies to meet their needs may evolve over time as well. “Alternative education arrangements are something the insurance market is poised to provide coverage for,” he said, noting that the insurance market is hardening. “Insurance companies may be pulling back on the types of coverages they offer or adding more exclusions. It is important to read through your policy coverage and ask questions if you do not understand it. A good insurance broker or agent can help you obtain as much coverage as possible with as few restrictions as possible.”

The same advice applies to homeowners, Alphabet said. “Take care to seek out an insurance broker or agent well-versed in personal insurance. Too many homeowners do not appreciate the importance of expert advice until they suffer a loss and find themselves without the proper coverage,” she emphasized. “Experience matters. With all of the new and evolving risks prevalent today, it is critical to work with a knowledgeable broker.”

To get a quote for abuse and molestations go to: https://www.paperless-insurance.com/abuse-and-molestation-insurance-quote-request/

For almost 15 years, Paperless Insurance Services agency has offered exceptional and cost-effective insurance solutions for educational institutions. We specialize in Higher Education insurance for colleges and universities with 10,000 or fewer enrolled students and provide excellent insurance products that cover everything from general liability, property, educators legal liability, employment practices liability as well as risk management solutions.

Higher Education insurance is a specialized product with specific coverages designed to protect colleges and universities against the numerous hazards they may face. We offer dedicated insurance packages tailored to fit the needs of our higher education clients. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about our coverage.

Do we cover college sporting events?
We offer excellent coverage for college athletic events, provided there are CDC concussion procedures in place at the institution. Contact sports injuries like concussions and traumatic brain injuries are a major issue in higher education, costing colleges millions of dollars every year. Our coverage options include participant accident and student accident insurance to protect college staff members and student-athletes in the event of an incident.

Do we cover extracurricular events?
Yes. Colleges and universities often host extracurricular events both during the academic year and during school breaks. We cover a wide range of these extracurricular activities for our higher education clients.

Some examples include:

– Special Events and volunteer service activities
– Arts and performance events
– Multicultural activities
– Academic events

Many colleges and universities also host summer camps and recreation programs – many of which may involve minors. Because of our decades of experience in risk management, we bring a high level of expertise in protecting minors for extracurricular events on college campuses. In this area, we offer superior abuse prevention services, which includes access to:

– Special discounts on Abuse Prevention Systems (APS) membership
– Online training sessions
– Web-based abuse prevention materials
– Leading background check and screening services from partners like IntelliCorp Records, Inc

What risk management services do we offer?
Our insurance programs for higher education feature a number of risk management solutions that are designed specifically for educational institutions.

We empower college administrators to take a proactive approach to deter inappropriate behavior with STOPit, an anonymous reporting system that allows students to flag potential abuse, threats, and suicide risks in real-time. This technology solution for regulatory compliance and risk management is offered at no additional cost to eligible customers.

In addition to programs like STOPit, we offer several pieces of training and materials that cover topics such as:

– Active shooter training and campus security
– Sexual abuse awareness training
– Suicide prevention training
– Skillful screening for prospective employees (with special discounts on background checks)

We also offer a hotline for legal consultations for employment-related issues when coverage is purchased from our partners and property evaluations to help prevent common occurrences like pipe freezing. All of these risk management solutions from our partners are designed to meet the unique needs of colleges and universities.

What do we offer for fleet and vehicle safety?
For automobile risk management, we offer the Trac telematics program for colleges and universities. This program features a GPS tracking solution that provides real-time insights into driving behavior, creating opportunities for corrective measures and lowered driver risks. Ideal for college and university vehicles, this is offered at no additional cost to eligible customers. Our partners offer superior auto coverage that includes several benefits such as:

– Coverage for owned, non-owned, and hired vehicles
– Liability and physical damage coverage
– Rental reimbursement
– Coverage for fleets including 60+ passenger buses

What experience do we have with sexual harassment and assault claims?
As colleges have seen a rise in sexual assault reports and lawsuits, this issue is increasingly a major concern for higher education institutions. Our dedicated background in human services allows us to offer advanced expertise and support in this area, as our partners have handled sexual assault and abuse claims in our more than 30 years of experience in the sector. We also offer access to excellent legal resources through our partners’ collaboration partnerships with top law firms.

Do we offer crisis management services?
Our insurance products and services include Crisis Management and Violent Event Response endorsements for colleges and universities. We also include a Public Image Restoration endorsement that covers the public relations costs associated with an incident that causes reputational damage. Expenses covered with this endorsement include:

With the extensive experience, we bring unique expertise that makes us an excellent partner for our higher education clients. Request a quote today to take advantage of our Higher Education insurance!

To get a quote for abuse and molestations go to: https://www.paperless-insurance.com/abuse-and-molestation-insurance-quote-request/

According to Adjuster’s International Disaster Recovery Consulting, compliance with ordinances and laws after a loss can add 50% or more to the cost of the claim*.

Insureds should take a proactive approach to their insurance program and the coverage provided by the program. Learning about important exclusions and limitations after a catastrophe strike will cause the Insured to experience frustration and anxiety. Insureds should always read their policies, and in some states, may be required by law to do so.

Ordinance or Law Exclusion

Most property insurance policies will have an Ordinance or Law exclusion. The exclusion applies to both physical damage and time element coverage.

This exclusion will preclude coverage when an enforcement of any ordinance or law (1) regulates the construction, use, repair or removal of any property, including debris removal; or (2) requires the tearing down of such property, including the cost of removing its debris; or (3) results in increased costs of complying with any ordinance or law.

Coverage begins with the Insuring Agreement

An Insuring Agreement will usually stipulate what causal connection must exist between the covered cause of loss, damage, and ordinance or law in order for coverage to apply.

An Ordinance or Law insuring agreement might include:

• Coverage if the insured building or structure sustains direct physical damage by a covered cause of loss and as a result, the Insured is required to comply with an ordinance or law in force at the time of the loss.
• Coverage, when the direct physical loss to an insured building or structure is caused by both a covered cause of loss and an uncovered cause of loss and the resulting damage, requires the Insured to comply with an ordinance or law in force at the time of the loss.

Ordinance or Law forms traditionally trigger coverage based on ordinances or laws at the time of the loss. But what if an ordinance or law is changed after a loss occurs but before the repair or reconstruction begins? Providing coverage for post-loss ordinances and laws is less common in the marketplace, but it is available.

The Causal Connection – One Size Does Not Fit All!

How an Insurer links the cause of loss to the ordinance or law that was triggered depends on the wording the Insurer drafted in its coverage form. Courts will interpret coverage based on the words in the form.

City of Elmira v. Selective Ins. Co. of N.Y.**

• On March 10, 2006, the City of Elmira (N.Y.) suffered windstorm damage to the southern wall of its historic three-story brick building known as the Armory Building, causing the wall to collapse.
• Engineers determined the collapse of the wall was caused by hidden deterioration of mortar, which weakened the wall and left it unable to withstand gusting winds.
• It was determined such deterioration was not exclusive to the southern wall, and as a result, the building was found to be unsafe. The Code Enforcement Officer found the Armory to be in violation of the New York State Property Maintenance Code. The building was evacuated, and the City was told to either repair or demolish the structure.
• The City had Ordinance or Law Coverage with Selective.

* The coverage did not require that the covered cause of loss (wind) be the reason why the ordinance or law was invoked.

* Instead, the policy’s causal link requirement was that a covered cause of loss occurs and the City incur costs to demolish and clear the site of the undamaged parts of the property as a result of the endorsement of an ordinance or law.

• The court ruled that “if [Selective Insurance Company] wanted to limit its coverage to only those situations where the enforcement of an ordinance or law is caused by a covered cause of loss, it could have easily done so through the language of the contract. It did not.”

This case, and others make it clear – words matter.

Ordinance or Law Coverage

Ordinance or Law coverage consists of several parts. Unless an Insurer automatically includes coverage, each part must be negotiated for and purchased.

I. Coverage A – Undamaged Portion of the Building. When an Ordinance or Law requires an Insured to tear down the undamaged portion of a building, this coverage provides protection for the value of the undamaged portion of the building.

II. Coverage B – Demolition. When an Ordinance or Law requires an Insured to tear down the undamaged portion of a building, this coverage pays for the cost to demolish and haul away debris from the undamaged portion of the building.

III. Coverage C – Increased Costs of Construction. When an Ordinance or Law requires modifications in how a building must be repaired or reconstructed, this coverage provides protection for the increased costs of construction associated with repairing or rebuilding the structure to the code existing at the time of the loss. Coverage usually applies to both the damaged and undamaged portions of the building.

Coverage will not apply until the property is repaired or replaced. In addition, there is often a time limit (e.g. 2 years) to have the repairs or reconstruction finished. Insurers may offer to extend the period required for repairs or reconstruction, but the Insured must request this extension of time in writing.

Orleans Parish School Board v. Lexington Insurance Company, ET AL.**

• When Hurricane Katrina struck the New Orleans area on August 29, 2005, the Orleans Parish School Board (“OPSB”) was managing 126 public schools in the area. The storm significantly damaged the properties.
• The damage to the properties triggered the Ordinance or Law provision in OPSB’s property program, and specifically, the Increased Costs of Construction coverage.
• The policy provision for Increased Costs of Construction included a requirement that code upgrades would need to be performed by August 29, 2007 (2 years after the initial damage) in order for OPSB to be indemnified for the increased costs of construction. Failure to satisfy this condition precedent would result in payment not being made to OPSB for the upgrade costs.
• The provision included wording which stated that the two-year requirement could be increased if Lexington agreed to do so in writing.
• It was determined that OPSB never made a request to increase the period of time to have the upgrades performed on its properties.
• Instead, OPSB argued:

* Lexington had agreed to extend other dates during the claim adjustment process.

* Lexington’s own adjusters did not complete their inspections and estimates until May 2006, and then re-priced their estimates in 2007, yet Lexington wanted the repairs and upgrades completed by 8/29/07.

* OPSB had only received a portion of its insurance funds, which complicated its ability to make timely repairs.

• The court ruled there was no reason for the delay by OPSB to request in writing to Lexington that the two-year period be extended. Lexington was not obligated to remind OPSB of the two-year requirement in the policy.

IV. Increased Period of Restoration (sometimes referred to as Coverage D). When an Ordinance or Law requires the undamaged portion of the building to be demolished and/or results in increased costs of construction, the Business Interruption Period of Restoration increases because the length of time required for the Insured’s business to reopen increases.

Ordinance or Law coverage does not usually provide any coverage when the ordinance or law is triggered due to contamination by pollutants, decontamination costs or the loss in value or costs due to an ordinance or law the Insured was required to comply with before the loss. However, decontamination coverage is available.

Loss Payment

While each Ordinance or Law endorsement may differ, the following is a common approach to determine the amount of loss paid under Ordinance or Law coverage:

I. Coverage A – Lesser of the amount spent at the same location for the same height, floor area, style, quality or limit of insurance. If the Insured does not have replacement cost coverage, then actual cash value for the undamaged portion of the building will apply.

II. Coverage B – Lesser of the amount spent or the limit of insurance.

III. Coverage C – The amount paid depends on where the building is constructed. The valuation method of replacement cost is usually required to have Coverage C and the repairs and/or replacement must be completed before Coverage C costs are reimbursed.

1. If the building is repaired or reconstructed at the same location, then the lesser of:

a. The Increased Cost of Construction that would have been paid at the existing location; OR

b. Limit of Insurance.

2. If the Ordinance or Law requires relocation of the building, then the lesser of:

a. The Increased Cost of Construction at the new location; OR

b. Limit of Insurance.

Payment for costs to comply with ordinances or laws often means complying with the minimum standards required.

These loss payments may be subject to a Proportionate Payment provision.

Allocation of Payment Provision – Multiple Causes of Loss

An Allocation of Payment Provision is not found in all Ordinance or Law coverage forms, and wording will not be standard between forms.

It is not uncommon for physical damage to a building to be caused by both a covered cause of loss and a cause of loss excluded by the policy. When this happens, and there is Ordinance or Law coverage with an Allocation of Payment Provision, the policy will pay a portion of the Ordinance or Law coverage based on the amount of loss applicable to the Covered Cause of Loss and the amount of loss applicable to the excluded cause of loss.

This Allocation of Payment Provision may apply to Coverages A, B, and C.

Example:

A hurricane strikes the Gulf region of the United States.

• The Insured’s building valued at $1,500,000 sustains a physical loss to their building in the amount of $800,000. There were varying degrees of loss over 65% of their building.

* It was determined that wind (covered cause of loss) caused 45% of the damage and flood (excluded cause of loss) caused 55% of the damage.

• The Insured sustains an Increased Cost of Construction loss in the amount of $175,000.
• The direct damage to the property was the result of both a covered cause of loss (wind) and an excluded cause of loss (flood).
• The Insured has an Increased Cost of Construction Limit of $250,000.
• An ordinance or law requires the Insured to repair all of its property to the current codes if the property damage is to more than 55% of the square footage of the building.

Assuming there are no exclusions or limitations to the contrary, what allocation of the Increased Cost of Construction loss will be paid?

$250,000 limit x 45% (covered cause of loss allocation) = $112,500.

Even though the Insured had a limit of $250,000 (enough to pay the $175,000 Increased Cost of Construction loss), only the portion the covered cause of loss bears to the total loss is insured (45%).

Determination of a Limit of Insurance

Coverage A, the undamaged portion of the building, should be equal to the value of the building.

Coverage B, demolition  and debris removal requires the Insured to evaluate potential costs associated with demolishing the undamaged portion of the building and hauling the debris away. The following questions can help determine what those costs could be.

• How will the debris have to be hauled away? By truck? Barge? Ferry?
• How far must the debris be transported?
• What are the projected costs to dispose of the debris?
• What is the projected length of time to accomplish demolition and debris removal?
• What might additional costs be incurred? (e.g. increased wages, equipment rental, cost for disposal at the landfill(s), etc.)
• Are there any local codes that will dictate who must haul away debris? Private company? Army Corps of Engineers?
• Is the building located in a densely populated area? Rural area?
• Are permits required?
• Are additional or special personnel required during demolition? (e.g. police officers)
• Will the demolition require explosives?
• Will debris need to be retrieved from water? (e.g. coastline, lake, bay)
• What additional cost and time for removal and/or remediation of pollutants and contaminants might be required? Note: Unless coverage for this cost is negotiated into the policy, this cost is often excluded. Covered or not covered, it is still a cost to be analyzed.

Coverage C, increased costs of construction, is often said to be the most difficult to calculate. Unfortunately, some Insureds believe that “replacement cost” will pay for increased costs of construction at the time of loss. A replacement cost provision in conjunction with other provisions of the policy must be reviewed to determine if this is true. It likely is not the case.

In order to have an adequate limit for Coverage C, an Insured must do the work. How have ordinances, laws and codes changed since the building was last updated? What would be the cost to get the building up to code? This process requires knowledge of the ordinances and codes that affect an Insured’s building.

Conclusion

Ordinance or Law coverage is readily available in the market. The limits and nuances of coverage available will vary by Insurer and the risk profile of the property requiring the coverage. The coverage wording should be parsed and studied carefully to determine if the coverage offered meets the needs of the Insured. Always remember, these provisions may contain condition precedents that the Insured must oblige in order for coverage to apply. Coverage wording is not standardized between insurers. Therefore, it would be dangerous to assume such a premise.

* Paul O. Dudey CPCU and Donald S. Malecki, Adjusting Today Issue #3009, “Ordinance or Law Coverage – Code for Recovery!”

**Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, New York, April 2011

***Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, Louisiana, June 2013

[framed_box]ABOUT THE AUTHOR: This article was authored by Jennifer Walker, CPCU, CRM, CIC, CEBS, CIT, GBA, ARM, AIM, AIC, ALCM, associate broker with AmWINS Brokerage of Georgia in Atlanta and member of AmWINS’ national Property practice. This article was originally published by AmWINS Group, Inc., and edited and adopted by Paperless Insurance Services.

Legal Disclaimer: Views expressed here do not constitute legal advice. The information contained herein is for the general guidance of matter only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Discussion of insurance policy language is descriptive only. Every policy has different policy language. Coverage afforded under any insurance policy issued is subject to individual policy terms and conditions. Please refer to your policy for the actual language.[/framed_box]

Chapter 175L was signed into law on Jan. 7, 2015, by then-Gov. Deval Patrick and became effective on April 7, 2015. The DOI stated in its bulletin 2015-02 on May 8 that the purpose of this new law is to regulate and standardize the practice of using certificates of insurance.

Chapter 175L defines a certificate of insurance as “a document or instrument, regardless of how titled or described, that is prepared or issued by an insurer or insurance producer as evidence of property or casualty insurance coverage.” The bulletin notes that the term shall not include a policy of insurance, insurance binder, policy endorsement or automobile insurance identification or information card. Chapter 175L explicitly regulates certificates of insurance for the first time in Massachusetts.

The new law codifies the long-time rule that insurance certificates may not modify the terms or conditions of the underlying insurance policies that they evidence. In this regard, Chapter 175L requires that all certificates of insurance must be both true and accurately reflect the policy they represent, and mandates that no one may knowingly prepare, issue or require the issuance of a certificate of insurance that contains any false or misleading information or that alters, amends or extends the coverage provided by the underlying referenced policy.

The new law applies to all certificates issued in connection with property, operations or risks located in Massachusetts, regardless of where the certificate holder, policyholder, insurer, or insurance agent is located.

The bulletin further stated that a certificate of insurance that violates the requirement of Chapter 175L will be deemed to be null and void. Under the law, the insurance commissioner is authorized to examine and investigate the activities of any person that the commissioner reasonably believes has been or currently is engaged in an act prohibited by Chapter 175L. Additionally, Chapter 175L grants the commissioner the authority to enforce the law by imposing a fine of up to $500 per violation.

Key provisions of Chapter 175L are as follows:

[list icon=”key” color=”blue”]

• A certificate of insurance encompasses any document or instrument evidencing property or casualty insurance coverage issued by an insurer or insurance producer;
• A certificate of insurance may not “amend, extend or alter the coverage afforded by the policy it evidences;”
• A certificate cannot create any new or additional rights outside the referenced policy;
• No one may knowingly prepare, issue, request or require any false or misleading information in the certificate of insurance concerning the policy;
• No one may prepare, issue, request or require certificate of insurance that purports to affirmatively or negatively reference insurance outside the coverage provided by the underlying policy;
• A certificate of insurance may not warrant that any insurance or indemnification requirements of a contract are fulfilled by the underlying policy of insurance;
• A cancellation notice reference on the certificate of insurance does not create any right to receive notice of cancellation, non-renewal or material changes to a policy unless the terms of the policy or endorsement so provide.

[/list]

In this regard, the DOI further notes that Chapter 175L extends the jurisdictional authority of the insurance commissioner to third parties and prohibits such third parties from requesting or requiring that a certificate of insurance contain false or misleading coverage.

[blockquote]Source: The Massachusetts Division of Insurance[/blockquote]

Here are top 5 recommendations to homeowners to prepare for winter:

• • Do a visual inspection of your roof to look for maintenance issues or things that could make it more susceptible to hail or wind or other damage — like missing or damaged shingles or tiles on sloped roofs. Or if it’s a flat roof, look for surface bubbles in the membrane material or missing gravel.
  • Look at flashing along the roof to make sure it’s in place and in good condition. The flashing is where you transition between vertical places and the horizontal roof — things like around skylights, vents or chimneys. Anywhere where you have a change in roof elevation, you’ve got flashing there and that’s a typical source or place for water to penetrate into the roof covering.

• Take a walk around the home and look for overhanging trees and branches. Trim trees back and remove dead branches  —things that have the potential to fall when you get high winds or heavy snowfall to keep from damaging your roof.
• Check downspouts and gutters to make sure that after the leaves fall the gutters get cleaned out — anything with the potential to freeze and exacerbate the problem with ice damage. Keep the drainage of the water off the roof and not clogged in the gutters.
• Consider impact-rated roofing in parts of the country more susceptible to hail storms. If agents have customers already in the market for or considering replacing their roof, in certain areas of the country, we would suggest they at least consider it.

Want to get a quote for your Homeowners’ Insurance? Visit our website or call 877-239-0067.

Opioid analgesics, such as OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin, are prescribed for moderate to severe pain, and work by suppressing a person’s perception of pain. Approximately 60 percent of all deaths resulting from opioid analgesic overdoses occur in patients who have legitimate prescriptions. Additionally, the proportion of patients in the United States who are prescribed opioids for non-cancer pain has almost doubled over the past decade, indicating the need to do a more focused examination on the safety and efficacy of these and other treatment options. In states allowing the use of medical cannabis, the drugs may be prescribed as an alternative to opioids.

While noting that evidence for the pain-relieving properties of cannabis is limited, some studies have suggested “it may provide relief for some individuals,” said lead author, Marcus A. Bachhuber, MD, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar at Penn and the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. “In addition, people already taking opioids for pain may supplement with medical marijuana and be able to lower their painkiller dose, thus lowering their risk of overdose.

Additional results of the study show that the relationship between lower opioid overdose deaths and medical marijuana laws strengthened over time; deaths were nearly 20 percent lower in the first year after a state’s law was implemented, and 33.7 percent lower five years after implementation.

While safer treatment of chronic pain may help to explain lower rates of overdose deaths, medical marijuana laws may also change the way people misuse or abuse opioid painkillers, as marijuana and opioids stimulate similar areas in the brain’s pathways. The authors suggest that as more states implement medical marijuana laws, future studies should examine the association between such laws and opioid overdoses to confirm their findings.

Penn’s Brendan Saloner, PhD, is also an author on the paper. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Center for AIDS Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center.

Source: Penn Medicine

If you are looking to insure your Marijuana dispensery store, complete a short application online and we will send you a formal insurance proposal.