Insuring and Protecting

1. INSURANCE ISSUES
FOR HOMECARE
PROVIDERS
Tony Gill FCII
First Ireland
Insurance Brokers

2. First Ireland
• First Ireland are one of Irelands largest Insurance Brokers
specialising in arranging Insurance cover for the care sector .
• First Ireland are based in Parkgate Street (Opposite Heuston
Train Station) and operate nationwide .
• Tony Gill FCII Chartered Insurance Broker is Joint Managing
Director and has been with First Ireland since 1984 during
which time has led its expansion into the Care Sector
• First Ireland have exclusive insurance facilities for the Care
Sector
• Notice
• This presentation is a general synopsis and should not be taken as individual advice

3. “Accident” Claim Risks
• Homecare providers face substantial “accident” claim
litigation risks carrying out their business
• This potential comes from staff through workplace injuries
but there is also potential from clients and their families
from “slips n’ trips” and care related issues
• Workplace injury presents by far the greatest claims
potential ( Employers Liability)
• To protect themselves Homecare providers need to have
very solid insurance coverage
• In conjunction with this insurance, they also need to have
very extensive Health & Safety and Incident & Claims
management programmes

4. Current Legal Environment
• Compensation Culture well established – have accident
will sue !
• Courts seem very pro - claimant
• Low threshold to win significant damages by claimant
• High threshold to defend even where claimant partly at
fault
• The Injuries Board getting squeezed out of claims with
majority of our claims now going through legal system via
solicitors
• Significant increases in level of court awards in last 2
years

5. Effect on Insurance Premiums
• Premium levels follow claim levels
• Higher claims costs = Higher premiums
• California Compensation = California Premium
• New Solvency rules for Insurance companies require
claims reserves to be increased which is by and large
being funded by higher premiums
• Shareholders and Regulators putting pressure on Insurers
to correctly price the coverage they give leading to
general rate increases and specific sector increases
• Other factors are putting upward pressure on premiums
including increased wages , compulsory reimbursement of
disability social welfare payments upon settlement , low
interest rates

6. The Insurance Market for Homecare
• A lot of Insurers avoid the business – the majority in fact
avoid due to various fears eg remote working ,
perceived medical exposures ,
• Its been a volatile insurance market with several
insurers eg RSA – Zurich – Hiscox – Ecclesiastical
exiting the sector over the last few years
• A small number of specialist Insurers both here in
Ireland and the UK provide capacity to the sector
• First Ireland have established relationships with
these insurers so as to be able to offer bespoke
packages specifically for Homecare risks.

7. What Insurance to Have
• The key coverages are :
• Employers Liability
• Public Liability including care extension
• Medical malpractice if care goes beyond a certain
medical level
• There are other miscellaneous insurances that are
relevant eg Office , Directors &Officers Liability, Legal
Expenses including Employment Practices Liability
but we will focus on the above

8. Key Insurance Coverage
Required
• Employers Liability –Standard cover €13m
Premium is calculated as percentage of payroll(s)
• Clerical /supervisors low rated
• Carers high rated
• Public Liability – Standard cover €6.5m
Premium is calculated as percentage of turnover
Homecare Public Liability extended to include Care risk excluding medical work as
defined but will include wound dressing – administration of oral drugs – peg cleaning
If Care extends into medical arena a Medical Malpractice policy may be required
• Medical Malpractice – Standard Cover €6.5m
Premium is calculated as percentage of turnover weighted by degree of medical work
Taken out if medical related activities beyond normal care occur

9. Health & Safety Management
• Main causations of claims – Back related and Slip n’ Trips
• Hard to defend against unless Employee Training and Health &
Safety Risk Assessment paperwork is perfect
• Paperwork includes risk assessments , health and safety statement ,
documented training particularly if any lifting involved and is key to
any defence decision
• Back injury claims can come from domestic work and general care
situations – they are the hardest to defend ( and quantify)
• Signed off training is best – before ,during and after each training
module by the employee

10. Incident & Claims Management
• Accident notification procedure should be in place so employee
call accident in and make statement over phone in real time
• Solo remote working alters usual witness possibility so
immediate investigation by employer essential .
• Immediate notification to Insurers of incidents essential for
investigation while information is fresh – this is a policy
condition
• Defence strategy decided based on information available
• Any human factor background information useful
• Early intervention often saves on cost

11. Conclusions
• Accept that we live in a litigious environment
• Risk assess and document all activities carefully
• Document all training with employee sign offs
• Have accident report procedures that work for remote
workers
• Immediately investigate and document any incidents
• Notify your Broker immediately
• Keep an interest in on going claims
• Keep your insurance up to date !

12. First Ireland Contacts
• First Ireland Homecare Insurance Contacts
• Tony Gill FCII |Joint Managing Director | First Ireland
15 Parkgate Street | Dublin 8 | Ireland
DD: +353 (1) 882 0859 Mobile: +353 (87) 2540113
Email: tgill@firstireland.ie
• Mr. Keith Gill CIP | Associate Director| First Ireland
First Ireland House|15 Parkgate Street | Dublin 8
DD: +353(1)882 0848 Mobile + 353 (87) 2409 439
Email - kgill@firstireland.ie
First Ireland Risk Management Ltd trading as First Ireland is Regulated by the
Central Bank of Ireland