Support Workers, do you have car insurance coverage for your clients?

Support Workers, do you have proper insurance to transport clients in your vehicles?

A few years back, while registering with a company as a rehab contractor, the company requested proof of Schedule 6A coverage. Hhmmnn? What the heck is that?

The HR rep explained that they had contractors who were involved in accidents while driving with their clients, and their insurers refused coverage because the workers lacked Schedule 6A coverage. The rep added that the company would no longer hire contractors without such coverage.

I followed up online and learned that Schedule 6A covered drivers who transport clients for a fee. It applied to Taxi and Uber drivers. Yet, that wasn’t me? Sure, I transported clients to their programs, and I often received travel and mileage allowances for doing so, but that wasn’t the same as being a taxi driver?!

Confused, I jumped on the phone to my insurance company. I explained my job to the person that I reached. She responded that my company did not offer Schedule 6A coverage under personal coverage, but she also agreed that I was not using my vehicle for a taxi service and that I would not need to apply for such expensive commercial insurance. She explained that my work was more akin to that of a real estate agent who transported customers in their vehicles for viewings, and that they provided personal coverage for that type of work. She explained that she would update my records to grant me such coverage and that I would shortly receive an email confirmation.

After not receiving the email confirmation, I called the next day again and spoke with another rep. I explained the situation to the new rep again, but they were not accommodating. She explained that the person I previously spoke with was mistaken, and they did not provide personal coverage for my lines of work. She added that I should immediately stop transporting non-relatives in my car, since my passengers and I would not be covered in case of a claim. She added that the only other option for me was to apply for commercial insurance.

Alrighty then! Given the choice between immediate unemployment and a transfer, I requested a transfer to their commercial insurance department.

The next rep spoke with me again about my work, and I explained to him that I was a Support Worker who transported clients in my vehicle to their programs. He then provided ridiculous commercial quotes before suggesting that I stick with my personal coverage and simply increase my liability from 1 million to 2 million to cover my non-relative, business clients. After griping that this should have already been explained at the personnel department, I was transferred back, and the coverage was finalized. Sure, with the added liability protection, my insurance premium increased, but it was nowhere near the rate for commercial insurance.

And, what’s the lesson to be taken from all this? Support Workers, insurance companies will play games and look for ways to deny coverage. Stay on top of them, and make sure nothing is lost in translation.

OP CF - 6A

https://www.google.com/search?q=schedule+insurance+6a&rlz=1C1CHBD_enCA962CA973&oq=sched&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MgoIARAuGLEDGIAEMgYIAhBFGDsyBggDEEUYOTIHCAQQABiABDIHCAUQABiABDIHCAYQABiABDIGCAcQRRg80gEIMzI4OWowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8