Traditional coverage religious organizations typically require include:
- Liability Insurance – liability insurance protects the church when it is liable for damages caused to another or another’s property
- Professional Liability or Acts, and Errors & Omissions Coverage – protects employees and the church in the event of a lawsuit for an actual or alleged wrongful act in connection with their position at the church
- Business Auto – if the church owns a fleet of vehicles, they need to explore business automotive coverage
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance – depending on state laws, churches may need to provide workers’ compensation coverage to its employees.
However, the following two unique insurance coverage are applicable to every religious organization:
I. Retiree Benefits
Like any other type of employer, religious organizations and churches experience the retirements of clergy and other permanent employees. Our partner carrier offers a specialized retiree medical insurance program that has been designed expressly to meet the unique health insurance needs of retired clergy and lay employees age 65 and over for churches (or other religious organizations) throughout the country.
For the past 20 years, this company has helped churches reduce the cost and administrative burden of providing senior healthcare benefits by delivering cost effective, fully insured medical and pharmacy benefit solutions that save churches time and money. The plans work seamlessly with Medicare and pick up where it leaves off.
Key advantages of Retiree Benefits program include:
- Cost Savings
- Portability of Coverage
- Ease of Administration
In addition, a state-of-the-art call center services and handle every aspect of benefit administration, including open enrollment, billing, collections and policy renewals. This means organizations can free up their staff to attend to more important issues they currently face.
II. Accident Policies – Religious Organizations’ Accident Needs Now Covered With One Low-Premium Policy
Religious organizations play a large role in creating and enhancing a sense of community. They are a source of fellowship and a place of worship. They provide an outlet for spiritual escape and build service leaders that champion community development. They are a resource when few other options remain. That’s why our partners introduced a new accident product to provide protection to religious organizations for the various ways they reach a community. With a single annual policy, optional accident limits and a single, low individual minimum premium, protection throughout the year, with the flexibility to include additional exposures as needed. This product is specifically designed to help minimize a church’s daily liability exposure by preventing simple injuries from developing into contentious liability claims. A single accident policy from is now available to provide coverage for all of a church’s or religious group’s various exposures, including:
- Day Care
- Volunteers
- Youth and Adult Groups
- Athletics
- Day and Overnight Camps
- Concerts
- Sunday School
- Mission Trips
- Other Events
Regardless of size, scope or denomination, religious groups serve as a community resource, providing comfort during times of exceptional distress and relief from the trials of everyday tension or need. We help these groups by providing the protection they need to continue to impact the people in their communities without worry of exposures.
In today’s turbulent health benefits environment, it’s increasingly difficult for religious organizations to find a cost-effective means to cover all of their insurance needs. Our breadth of options and unsurpassed industry knowledge allow us to provide the most effective and cost-efficient combination of benefits to religious organizations, regardless of size.
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This article was originally published by AmWINS Group, Inc., a leading wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products and services. AmWINS publishes The Edge, a monthly email with informative and timely articles for P&C and benefits insurance agents and brokers. To sign up to receive The Edge or for more information about AmWINS, visit amwins.com.
Legal Disclaimer: Views expressed here do not constitute legal advice. The information contained herein is for 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.
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