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Frequently Asked Questions |
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Answers to most customer questions about coverage and the application process can be found here.
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Occurrence Coverage vs. Claims Made Coverage |
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Q.
What type of coverage do I have with CPH & Associates?
A.
CPH only offers Occurrence coverage. We believe that this coverage is superior to Claims Made policies.
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Q.
What are the main differences between Occurrence-based and Claims Made policies?
A.
Occurrence coverage is lifetime coverage for the policy period. This means that if there is a claim or suit against you, as long as you were insured at the time of the incident or treatment that resulted in the claim or suit, this policy will still apply. The premium will also remain the same every year and each year will be secured with its set of limits for whichever option was chosen (i.e. $1 million/ $3 million).
A Claims-Made policy will only cover claims made while the policy is in effect. Coverage starts with a lower premium which increases as the liability increases. If policy holders wish to extend the amount of time they can report a claim after the policy expiration date, they will need to purchase what is known as a “tail coverage’ depending on the amount of time they want to cover. This tail can be quite expensive.
We compare claims-made coverage to renting insurance while occurrence coverage is truly buying the coverage. We believe occurrence coverage is better coverage for the consumer, and the associations that endorse our policy agree.
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Q.
Does CPH and Associates offer tail coverage?
A.
Because we only offer Occurrence coverage, we do not offer tail coverage. If you are switching to our policy from a Claims Made policy, please contact your prior carrier about tail coverage options.
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Professional Liability Insurance Coverage |
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Q.
I am supervising interns. Can I cover them under my policy?
A.
Customers with Individual policies cannot add employees or interns to their policies. The employees or interns must take out their own policies. Your policy automatically covers you for supervising interns as long as such practice falls under the scope of your licensure.
If you are a customer with Group/corporate coverage, you may add employees to the policy by completing the New Employee form. This form can be found under the Customer Service tab and then clicking on Make Changes to Your Policy.
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Q.
Is there any coverage for the premises where I am seeing clients?
A.
Some coverage for Bodily Injury & Property Damage Liability is already included under the “Supplemental Liability” portion of your Professional Liability coverage. See the "Supplemental vs. General Liability" FAQ's below or the Program Highlights under the "Applications" tab of the website for details.
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Q.
What do the "Limits of Liability" mean?
A.
The first number (“Per Incident” or “Per Occurrence”) refers to the maximum amount that can be paid as "damages" for any single claim. The second number (“Aggregate”) refers to the total amount that can be paid for all claims during the policy period (in our case, the "policy period" = 1 year).
Defense costs are unlimited and are not deducted from the limits of liability.
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Q.
How do I take out a group policy?
A.
Currently, group/corporate/non-profit entities may not apply online. In order to take out a group or corporate policy, you must fill out the Group Entity application available in the Printable Applications section on our website. Group policies cover the named corporation and any individuals included on the policy for practice under the umbrella of the corporation. At least one person must be listed as owner/partner/principal in order to take out a group policy. All administrative staff are automatically covered under the policy and do not need to be named on the application.
If you are currently insured under an individual policy, you do not need to take out a second policy. You may instead upgrade your current policy to corporate status. See instructions for making changes under the section “Current Policyholders.”
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Q.
What if I am incorporated and the only employee of my corporation. Can I cover both under one policy?
A.
If your professional practice is incorporated, you can take out a corporate policy even if you are the only employee. You would still use the Group Entity application, but you would list yourself as the sole Owner/Partner/Principal. If you do additional practice outside the umbrella of your corporation, you may make an additional written request to be covered for practice outside of the corporation. If you are currently insured under an individual policy, you do not need to take out a second policy. You may instead upgrade your current policy to corporate status. See instructions for making changes under the section “Current Policyholders.”
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Q.
What does "separate limits" mean on the Group Entity application?
A.
If you have a corporation providing mental health services, it can be sued separately as its own entity in addition to any suits against individual counselors that may be working for the corporation. Paying an extra 10% of the premium for “Separate Limits” gives the corporation name itself its own limits of liability (for example $1Million Occurrence/$3 Million Aggregate) in addition to the existing ($1/3 Million) limits of liability covering all individuals listed under the policy. “Shared limits” means that if the corporate entity is sued in addition to any individuals, the $1/3 Million limits of liability must be shared between them, and the coverage may be exhausted more quickly.
NOTE: Separate limits will only be issued in amounts identical to those covering the individuals listed on the policy (e.g. $1/3 Million limits; $1/3 Million separate limits). Separate limits are NOT available in denominations differing from the main set of limits (e.g. $1/3 Million limits; $2/4 Million separate limits).
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Q.
Can I cover my administrative staff?
A.
If you have a group/corporate policy, administrative staff are covered automatically and do not need to be listed on the policy. If you have an individual policy, you cannot cover your administrative staff.
NOTE: Patient intake personnel are not considered to be "administrative staff." To cover them under a group policy, they must be named and paid for as employees
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Q.
What is a retroactive date? Does my policy have one?
A.
Policies written on a Claims-Made basis contain a specific date on which coverage begins (commonly known as the "retroactive date") and provides no coverage for claims arising out of occurrences that take place prior to this date.
Your policy with CPH & Associates is written on an occurrence basis, and there is no "retroactive date" named in the policy. Occurrence coverage applies to claims or suits resulting from professional incidents occurring during the policy period. See the "Occurrence Coverage vs. Claims Made" section below for additional information about the differences between the two policy types.
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Q.
Does this policy cover online therapy (also called e-therapy or Internet therapy)?
A.
Yes - provided such practice is authorized or allowable under the scope of your license in the state where you practice and provided you are performing such services lawfully. Contact your state licensing board if you are unsure.
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Q.
Can I submit my application online?
A.
Yes, applicants for Individual coverage may apply online. Full payment is required in the form of Visa or MasterCard only. You must also be able to provide a valid e-mail address where we can send your documents. On the menu (above) go to "Applications" > "Online Applications", or click here to go to the online application area.
Currently, applicants for Group Entity, Corporate, or Non-Profit coverage cannot submit applications online. To print an application, on the menu (above) go to "Applications" > "Printable Applications" and then select the appropriate Group Entity application based on your membership status with the Associations listed.
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Q.
Can I apply over the phone?
A.
No, we do not accept applications over the phone. Every application must be completed in full and signed by the insured. Applications may be submitted online or via mail or fax.
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Q.
Can I apply by fax?
A.
Yes. You must first fax your application, then call our office no later than 5 minutes after your application has been faxed (during business hours). At this time, you may give your credit card information (Visa or MasterCard only) over the phone.
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Q.
How do I know when I am covered?
A.
Once paper applications are received in our office, it takes 2-3 business days for them to be underwritten and processed. Depending on which method of receipt you have chosen, proof of coverage is automatically e-mailed, faxed, or mailed to you the same day that your application is processed.
Applications submitted online will result in a confirmation page with links to your documents. In addition, the documents are automatically e-mailed to you.
You can also pull up copies of your most current policy documents anytime from our website. Just go to the Customer Document(s) Lookup in the Customer Service section of this website.
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Q.
What if I can't apply online but need proof of coverage as soon as possible?
A.
All printable applications have a section where you may select ONE preferred method of receipt. You may choose to receive your policy documents by e-mail, fax, or mail. Normal processing time for applications submitted by mail or fax is 2-3 business days after the application has been received in our office. Once processed, your documents are sent immediately via the method you have selected. For faster sending, choose E-mail or Fax as your preferred method.
You may also download your documents from our website. Go to the Customer Service tab at the top of the screen and then select Customer Document(s) Lookup. You can then pull up and save or print your current policy documents.
Credentialing agencies may also contact us directly to verify that you have coverage.
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Q.
If I already sent a fax with credit card information, do you need the hard copy sent to you in the mail?
A.
No, please do not send multiple applications to our office. This can result in duplicate policies and duplicate charges to your credit card. As always, please call our office within 5 minutes AFTER faxing your application so that we can confirm receipt and alert you to anything missing on your application that could hold up the process.
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Q.
If my fax machine prints a confirmation that the fax went through, should I assume that you did receive it?
A.
Sometimes fax transmissions come in with such poor quality that we may not be able to read your contact information, rendering the application useless. Sometimes faxes are sent upside-down, resulting in a blank page on our end. Again, the only way to confirm that your fax came though in a timely fashion is to call our office no more than 5 minutes after faxing the application.
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Q.
Why should I call your office 5 minutes after I faxed the application? Why not an hour later or the next day?
A.
Many faxes come through our office every day, and they are picked up periodically to start the underwriting process. From the moment they are picked up until the 3rd business day when they are processed in our computer system, there is no way to easily locate a fax or confirm its receipt.
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Q.
Can I apply by mail?
A.
Yes, you can use our Printable Applications to apply by mail. When applying by mail, the preferred method of payment is check or money order. To print an application, click here, or go to the blue "Applications" tab above and click on "Printable Applications." Follow the instructions to select the correct application, and then download and print either the Word.doc or Acrobat.pdf version of the form. Our mailing address is printed on the form.
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Understanding the Application |
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Q.
Do I need to send money?
A.
Yes applications are considered incomplete without payments in full. Payment is made at one time each year, in the form of one single payment. Payment may be made by check, money order or Visa or MasterCard. Make sure to total your premium correctly using the space provided on the application, as incomplete payments will slow your application process.
Group entity/Corporate/Non-Profit applicants are exempt from this requirement--upon receipt of your application, we will rate the application and then bill you for the amount due. Payment is still required in full by the due date designated on your bill.
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Q.
When can my coverage become effective?
A.
New applicants may request an effective date as soon as the date the application is received in our office and up to 75 days into the future. Effective dates cannot be backdated. If you do not select a "desired effective date," we will default to the date the application was received.
Renewals become effective the date the current policy expires. Customers may renew no earlier than 75 days prior to their expiration date.
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Q.
What is an Additional Insured?
A.
An Additional Insured is usually your landlord (someone you hold a lease with), an employer, board members, or an agency you contract with. Adding them to your policy gives that entity protection (an identical set of limits of liability) under your policy. These limits will be used in the event that they are sued for a Professional Incident that arises from services that YOU provide while under contract with them.
NOTE: A business partner, employee, sublessor, intern you are supervising, or a corporation that you own CANNOT be added as Additional Insureds. These cases may require that each individual take out their own coverage or that a group/corporate policy be started. In no way will the policy cover Professional Incidents that arise out of acts, errors, or omissions made by the Additional Insured entity.
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Q.
Do I qualify for any discounts?
A.
If you have recently (within the last 24 months) been licensed or certified for the first time* as a mental health professional, or if you have taken a continuing education course**, you may qualify for discounts. See the application for more detailed instructions.
NOTE: If you are considered Category D or E (Student, Post-master’s/Intern under supervision, Post-Doctoral under supervision, Psych. Assistant/Associate, or if you are required by your state to practice under supervision), you do NOT qualify for ANY discounts.
*You do not qualify for any Newly-Licensed discounts if you have held a previous license or certification in any state and/or if you have possessed the credentials (required by your state) to practice unsupervised for more than 24 months, if your state does not require licensure or certification to practice unsupervised, or if your state has just recently passed licensure laws where licensure was not previously available or required. The key here is that this discount is meant for new professionals, not people who have recently become licensed due to changes in state law or who elected to get a higher level of licensure than the minimum required to practice in your state.
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Q.
What kind of courses are acceptable to take the risk management discount?
A.
Law and ethics, HIPPA. A minimum of 4 CEU's completed within 24 months prior to your policy effective date is required unless you can demonstrate that your state requires a lesser number of CEU's to fulfill re-licensing requirements for either Law, Ethics, or HIPAA.
If you are not sure if the course you have taken fulfills your state requirements, contact the course administrator or your licensing board. Typically, the course must include the words "Law," "Ethics," or "HIPAA" in its title to qualify for our discount.
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Q.
How do I choose my category? What do the "employed and/or self-employed" hours mean?
A.
Categories A, B, and C are for professionals with full credentials (licensed, registered, or certified by your state). Category D is for students in practicum. Category E is for Post-Masters or Post-Doctoral individuals who are NOT yet fully-licensed and are required to be supervised as they complete hours toward a license. Click here to view a chart with all of the rates for individuals.
ALL categories cover an unlimited amount of EMPLOYED work, meaning work where you are a W-2 employee and have taxes taken from a paycheck. Do not factor these hours into making any distinctions between categories.
In order to choose among the 3 categories for fully licensed or certified professionals (categories A, B, and C), choose your category based on the average number of client hours you work a week as a SELF-EMPLOYED therapist (NO taxes taken out of your paycheck).
Special Cases: LEP, School Psych, and Psych Assistant/Associate are Category E. Limited Licensed Psychologists in Michigan apply as Mental Health counselors under Categories A, B, or C.
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Q.
Do you need the address of each place where I am practicing?
A.
For Professional Liability coverage, we only keep one address for you on file, and this is your mailing address. Your Professional Liability coverage is portable, meaning that you are covered for practice no matter what physical address you are using for counseling, provided that you are practicing under the scope of your licensure and within the U.S. To change your mailing address online, click here.
If you have purchased Commercial General Liability coverage, you must provide us with the physical premises address of each primary location you have insured. You are not required to provide us with the address of locations where you practice on a temporary or very limited basis UNLESS you have requested a certificate of insurance naming such locations as "Insured locations."
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Q.
I am practicing outside of the Continental U.S., Alaska or Hawaii—do I still qualify for coverage?
A.
Coverage only extends to practice within U.S. states or territories. You are required to provide a mailing address within the continental U.S., Alaska or Hawaii. Military personnel must provide an alternate mailing address—we cannot accept APO addresses as your mailing address.
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Q.
What is a DBA?
A.
DBA is an abbreviation for "Doing Business As". This section should be completed only when you operate as an individual or partner under a registered fictitious trade name (example: ABC Therapy Group) Certificates of insurance would be issued to the individual using the business name ABC Therapy Group.
If you are incorporated this is not a DBA. In order to cover your corporate entity, you need to complete a Group Entity application. These applications are available for downloading from this website.
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Q.
What if I have more than one license/occupation that I need coverage for?
A.
The general rule is that as long as both licenses types fit the profile of what we normally insure, you pay the higher premium of the 2 licenses (e.g. if you are a clinical psychologist and an MFT, you would pay the psychologist rate), but there is no additional charge to cover the second license. However, if the additional occupation requested is irregular and does not appear in the list of insurable occupations on our homepage, or if you are requesting that we cover additional services provided (such as mediation, biofeedback, or hypnotherapy) that are considered to fall outside of the normal scope of your licensure, there will be a charge for an additional 10% of your premium for adding the additional occupation/set of services.
If you would like coverage for more than one license or additional services provided outside the scope of your primary license, attach a separate sheet of paper to the application, outlining what you need coverage for. Provide us with all license/certification #’s that apply. The underwriter will review it to determine the best way to write your policy.
NOTE: The online applications currently only accept one occupation. Whether you are a New applicant or a Renewal, you still must make a written request each year in order to insure the second occupation. To have the policy endorsed to cover multiple licenses, we recommend applying by mail or fax. If you have already applied online and would like to insure a second occupation, you may follow your application with a written request via e-mail. Be sure to include your name and policy number on all correspondence.
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Q.
What is the "CPH TOP"?
A.
CPH TOP is an optional enhancement that will add the following coverage to your professional liability policy:
GENERAL LIABILITY COVERAGE. Also known as “Slip and Fall,” or “Premises Liability, coverage. This coverage also includes:
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Bodily Injury & Property Damage Liability
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Host Liquor Liability
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Personal Liability
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$250,000 for Fire & Water Legal Liability (damage to the rented premises)
$15,000 PROPERTY COVERAGE, which covers damage to your property and property of others that is in your care, custody or control. This coverage also includes:
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$5,000 Identity Theft Expense
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$5,000 Emergency Real Estate Consulting Fee
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$5,000 Temporary Meeting Space Reimbursement
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$5,000 Workplace Violence Counseling
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$5,000 Image Restoration and Counseling
AND MORE…
This coverage is new to our program and has been added due to high demand from our many policyholders. We created this enhancement specifically to meet the needs of the counseling practitioner with a small office. Property coverage is currently unavailable in Florida.
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Q.
I am a recent graduate from school. What do I do?
A.
If you are an intern/post-master’s AND you are required by your state to complete a number of supervised hours towards a license, you are eligible for the "Intern" rate. If you are currently insured and originally applied under student or trainee status, you must upgrade your policy to reflect your new employment status. See frequently asked questions under the section "Current Policyholders" for instructions.
After you have completed your intern hours and receive your full state license or certification, you may be eligible for the 50% savings the first year off of your professional rate at the time of your next renewal. This rule is subject to review based on the state you live in.
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Q.
Can faculty members be covered? Is there an additional cost?
A.
Faculty members are automatically covered for claims arising out of incidents while supervising and instructing students insured under the provisions and within the limits of this policy and there is no additional premium charge for this coverage.
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Q.
Can the school be covered?
A.
Yes, the school may also be covered for an additional charge of 25% of the students' total annual premium. When a lawsuit results from a student's action, the school will often be named in the suit. This policy will provide coverage for the school when it is named in the same claim or suit for damages for which a student and /or faculty member insured under the policy is also named, however, it will not provide coverage for a claim or suit if the school is solely named.
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Q.
What is the difference between the "Individual Student" and "Student Blanket" applications?
A.
"Individual Student" applications are for ONE student to take out their own individual policy. "Student Blanket" applications are for universities taking out coverage for multiple students. Currently, Student Blanket group policies cannot be purchased online. To open and print a Student Blanket application, go to the Printable Applications section of this website.
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Q.
I am a student. Who can I add as an Additional Insured?
A.
Generally speaking, students can add supervisors or agencies where they are doing practicum. Students may not add landlords as Additional Insureds. All other cases are subject to review.
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Q.
I am already insured with CPH and Associates. How will I renew my policy next year?
A.
Save time--renew online! Individuals may renew online up to 75 days prior to your policy expiration date.
Printed renewal applications are automatically mailed out to all customers at least 60 days prior to the date your policy expires. These applications are mailed to the address on file. If your mailing address changes, it is your responsibility to notify us in writing of your new mailing address. CPH & Associates is not responsible for renewal applications that are returned to our office as a result of incorrect mailing addresses.
Your policy will expire on the expiration date if the completed application and full valid payment have not been received by our office as of that date. Any "grace period" beyond the expiration date that is extended to an Insured for processing of the renewal application is done so as a courtesy and on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the underwriter. Any such "grace period" shall not extend beyond 30 days after the policy expiration date, and should you fail to complete the renewal process by the end of the "grace period," the policy will expire on the previously designated policy expiration date. "Grace period" eligibility will be determined upon review of your completed renewal application by an underwriter. Any representations made to you by a customer service representative regarding potential eligibility for a "grace period" will not bind CPH & Associates to any obligation to award such a "grace period" if upon review of your file we determine you are ineligible.
NOTE: If circumstances require that you answer "yes" to any of the qualification questions on the renewal application, you will not be eligible for such a grace period, and the policy will expire on the designated expiration date if the application process has not been completed as of that date.
Group entity/corporate/non-profit policies can only be renewed using the paper renewal applications. Contact our office at info@cphins.com if you need another copy. Please do not use the printable applications on this website for your renewal--this could result in duplicate coverage.
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Q.
I am already insured with CPH and Associates, but the type of policy that I need has changed. Do I need to fill out a new application and take out a new policy?
A.
No, in most cases you do not need to fill out a new application or take out a new policy. Usually, you can change your policy to fit your needs. If you fill out a new application instead of upgrading, you may actually overpay for your policy or end up with duplicate coverage. Instead, send us a request in writing to change your policy (see the next question for more detailed information).
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Q.
I am a new professional who recently became licensed/certified for the first time, and I am upgrading my employment category to reflect this change. When do I receive the 50% newly-licensed discount?
A.
If you have become licensed during the current policy year and are upgrading your coverage, you will not receive the newly-licensed discount at the time of the upgrade. You will be able to take the 50% discount off of the full premium (as opposed to a discount off of the lower, pro-rated premium) when you renew your policy for the next year. In the end, this will be a bigger discount because you will then be eligible the next year for a 25% discount off of the full premium.
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Q.
I just want to change my mailing address, phone number, or e-mail address. Can I do this online instead of submitting a written request?
A.
Yes, you can change your address online by going to the "Customer Service” tab at the top of the page and then clicking on the link “Change your address online.” First you must pull up your current record using either your policy number and zip code OR your address and phone number that we currently have on file. Once your record has been pulled up, then you may make and submit your changes. Please remember that your coverage is portable, so the address we keep on file is a mailing address only. You do not need to inform us each time you change the location of your practice unless you would like your mailing address to change as well.
If you do make a change to your mailing address, we will send you an endorsement within the next week that amends the policy. Endorsements are not created for phone or e-mail changes.
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Q.
What happens once I have submitted a request to make a change?
A.
Any premium adjustments will be pro-rated and the customer will either be refunded the leftover premium or billed for additional premium owed. Unless we require more information from you, changes will be processed first and then you will be billed for any required payment. *If payment due is under $10, payment must be received first before any endorsements will be issued. Payments under $30 may be made by check or money order ONLY.
All required information and payment must be received in our office within 30 days from the date of your request or the change will be deleted from the policy. Changes to the policy are usually processed within 5-7 business days. Documents outlining changes made to the policy are automatically mailed to the insured immediately upon completion.
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Q.
I want to make a change to my policy, (upgrade limits/hours, change licensure status, correct spelling, change my mailing address, cancel my policy, etc.) How do I start the process?
A.
All changes to the policy must be preceded by a written request from the Insured. You may use one of the forms on this website specifically designed for this purpose (under the Customer Service tab, click the link entitled “Make Changes To Your Policy”), or you may simply mail, fax, or e-mail us a statement containing your name, policy number, and a description of the change to be made. Requests to change the policy cannot be backdated but may be requested up to 75 days in advance.
*Groups adding employees are required to complete and submit a "New Employee Application" form for each person added. Universities must use the New Student Application Form to add students to a Student Blanket policy.
*Third parties cannot make changes to a policy. All requests must be submitted or otherwise formally authorized (in writing) by the Insured.
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Q.
Is it OK to let my policy lapse?
A.
Generally speaking, while you are practicing it is recommended that you always maintain continuous coverage. If you allow your policy to lapse, you will have to re-apply for a new policy. If you have had 2 or more lapsed or canceled policies with CPH & Associates, you are ineligible for another policy with our company.
If you must allow your policy to lapse because you will not be practicing for an indefinite time period (e.g. due maternity leave, a break between completion of your professional degree and receipt of your license, a break between the end of your student practicum and provisional licensure or intern registration, or to begin retirement), please notify us in writing prior to your policy expiration date so that we may mark your record and prevent lapse notices from being sent to you. If you choose to re-apply at a later date, having pro-actively notified us of your impending lapse may allow us to make an exception to the 2-lapse rule (subject to underwriter approval).
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Q.
What does it mean if I have a "gap in coverage?" Are there any disadvantages to having a gap?
A.
If you have canceled or allowed a policy to lapse and did not secure another policy to begin effective the date your previous policy lapsed or was canceled, there is a "gap" or period of time betwen the prior and subsequent policies where you are uninsured. This means, if a claim arises out of a Professional Incident or therapy occurring during this "gap," the insurance company will not be obligated to pay the claim on your behalf.
Other disadvantages to having coverage gaps:
- Insurance companies (including CPH & Associates) may decline to write a new policy on your behalf due to the gaps in your coverage.
- If a claim arises out of therapy that was conducted over a period of time during which there was a gap between policies, any assistance from any involved insurance company could become delayed or declined altogether due to the existence of a gap.
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Q.
What does my Supplemental Liability Cover?
A.
All of our Professional Liability Policies include Supplemental Liability Coverage. Supplemental Liability is a separate set of limits for Bodily Injury, Property Damage, and Personal Injury Liability resulting from a Professional Incident. Roughly translated, Bodily Injury and Property Damage covers bodily injury to your clients or damage of their personal property if such alleged injury or damage occurs while they are in your office or office suite. Coverage does NOT apply for damages or defense of claims regarding actual or alleged injuries occurring outside of your office suite and waiting room areas, even if such injuries occur elsewhere on the premises (such as hallways, stairwells, sidewalks or parking lots).
Supplemental Liability is not the same as or interchangeable with Commercial General Liability. Managed care organizations and landlords often contractually require that you maintain Commercial General Liability coverage (also known as "Premises Liability," "Public Liability," or "Slip and Fall" coverage). Read the next section for more information on General Liability coverage.
Refer to your policy booklet for more details about Supplemental liability coverage. If you do not have a copy of the booklet, you may pull up a copy using our Customer Document Lookup (policyholders only), or you can view a Policy Specimen.
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Q.
What does the CPH TOP cover?
A.
CPH TOP is an optional enhancement that will add the following coverage to your professional liability policy:
GENERAL LIABILITY COVERAGE. Also known as “Slip and Fall,” or “Premises Liability, coverage. This coverage also includes:
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Bodily Injury & Property Damage Liability
-
Host Liquor Liability
-
Personal Liability
-
$250,000 for Fire & Water Legal Liability (damage to the rented premises)
$15,000 PROPERTY COVERAGE, which covers damage to your property and property of others that is in your care, custody or control. This coverage also includes:
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$25,000 Identity Theft Expense
-
$25,000 Emergency Real Estate Consulting Fee
-
$25,000 Temporary Meeting Space Reimbursement
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$25,000 Workplace Violence Counseling
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$25,000 Image Restoration and Counseling
AND MORE…
This coverage is new to our program and has been added due to high demand from our many policyholders. We created this enhancement specifically to meet the needs of the counseling practitioner with a small office. Property coverage is currently unavailable in Florida.
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Q.
How is General Liability different from Supplemental Liability?
A.
All of our Professional Liability Policies include Supplemental Liability Coverage. Supplemental Liability is a separate set of limits for Bodily Injury, Property Damage and Personal Injury Liability resulting from a Professional Incident. Roughly translated, this covers bodily injury to your clients or damage of their personal property if such alleged injury or damage occurs while they are in your office. Coverage does NOT apply for incidents occurring outside of your office suite. General Liability extends this coverage to the entire premises of your office location (including hallways, stairwells and entryways). It also is not limited to covering only your patients thus would extend to anyone coming into the building (such as family members of patients who are not receiving therapy). If you have a contract requiring Commercial General Liability with an entity such as a Managed Care company or a state or county department, this would not be met by the Supplemental Liability included in the policy. To meet these requirements, we recommend adding the CPH TOP to your policy, which would include Limits of $1million/$3million for Commercial General Liability.
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Q.
How do I apply for CPH TOP?
A.
If you are a current customer, you can add the CPH TOP to your policy using the form available under "Make Changes to Your Policy" from the Customer Service tab above. Once you download this form you can mail or fax it to our office and we will process the change within 5-7 days. The effective date of the change will be the day we receive the application. For faster receipt of your documents you can elect to have the documents emailed or faxed to you once they are processed. We will prorate the additional premium and send you a bill along with the endorsement to your policy. If you are applying for new coverage or renewing your policy, you can simply check the box on the applicaiton indicating you'd like to add CPH TOP to your policy and calculate the rate accordingly.
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Q.
How does the CPH TOP compare to a Business Owners Policy?
A.
We have taken the general components of a typical Business Owners Policy and paired it down to coverages essential to a therapist with a small office.
The essence of the enhancement is Commercial General Liability and Business Personal Property coverage, which are the basis of any Business Owners Policy. We offer limits for Commercial General Liability which are above industry standards, and we believe the $15,000 is adequate to cover the essential furnishings for most practitioners.
This coverage is not meant for those who own an office building as it does not include coverage for the structure.
The CPH TOP does not include coverage for Business Income or Extra Expense coverage as may be found in some Business Owners Policies. This is coverage for the loss of income due to the suspension of work resulting from a covered loss under the policy. As counseling is a service that can easily be provided at an alternative location in the event of damage to the premises, we have left this coverage out to help lower the premium from the typical cost of $500-$1000 for a Business Owners Policy. CPH TOP does include a $25,000 reimbursement for the cost of a temporary meeting space due to unavailability of using the primary office due to failure of a climate control system, or leakage of a hot water heater.
There are a number of additional coverages not found in typical Business Owners Policies that we have included in the CPH TOP including the following:
Identity Theft Expense Coverage: Up to $25,000 reimbursed for expenses incurred as the direct result of Identity Theft first discovered during the policy period.
Emergency Real Estate Consulting fee: Up to $25,000 reimbursed for a real estate consulting fee necessitated by the Insured’s need to relocate due to the “unforeseeable destruction” of the insureds principal location.
Image Restoration and Counseling: up to $25,000 for cost of restoring a named insureds reputation through image consulting following the acquittal of the named insured.
For complete details download the Policy Specimen.
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Q.
Is there a deductible?
A.
The only deductible on the policy is $500 for damage to your personal property. All other coverages within the CPH TOP enhancement have no deductible.
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Q.
How is my Personal Property covered?
A.
The CPH TOP includes a broad definition for the causes of loss. If there is not an exclusion listed than the cause of loss is covered. The main exclusions are Water Damage, or Earth Movement. To view a list of all exclusions download the Policy Specimen.
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Q.
I am not getting sued, but have legal questions regarding a situation with an existing client. Who can I talk to in order to try to prevent a claim situation from occurring?
A.
If you are a member of a professional association such as AAMFT, CAMFT, AHMCA or ACA, we recommend to first always call your professional association. Many of them have attorneys on staff and can provide legal and ethical guidance as well as share with you valuable practical experience they have gathered from other members who may have experienced similar dilemmas. Do not underestimate the value of your professional association as a practical resource and advocate on your behalf!
If you are a policyholder, you can also call CPH and Associates at 800-875-1911. Depending on the nature of your question, we may be able to set up a phone appointment with an attorney with our "Avoiding Liability Helpline." "Helpline" calls are limited to 2 hours per policy year.
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Q.
I have received notice of a claim or lawsuit against me, a subpoena, a summons, or another complaint which might result in a claim against me, or I need to collect reimbursement for one of the Additional Policy Benefits listed under Section C of Coverages listed in my policy booklet. What do I do?
A.
First, determine whether or not you were insured with CPH and Associates at the time of the incident or treatment that led to the complaint or claim. You must have been insured with CPH and Associates at the time of the incident in order for coverage under this policy to apply.
To report a claim, you must fill out an Initial Incident Report and immediately fax it to our office 312.987.0902. Call 5 minutes after faxing to confirm receipt. The form is available on our website under the link “Report a Claim” or you may call our office and request that it be e-mailed, faxed or mailed to you. Review SECTION IV of your policy booklet ("CONDITIONS"--> "DUTIES IN THE EVENT OF A CLAIM OR SUIT).
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Q.
Is your website safe for my credit card information?
A.
Our website as been issued a QuickSSL certificate to enable server security. This security certificate is verified by GeoTrust.
"Sites secured by QuickSSL are utilizing 128-bit SSL certificates thereby offering the highest level of encryption or security possible. This means you can rest assured that communications between your browser and this site's web servers are private and secure."-- GeoTrust
Note: If your browser gives you an error message stating that it "cannot establish a secure connection" to our server or that it is "unable to verify" the security certificate for this site, this is because your browser may not have a sufficient encryption level to support this site. If this happens, we recommend trying again using a newer browser or sending the application via fax or mail.
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Q.
The page does not appear to display correctly (fields seem to be missing or are out of place, or I can't seem to scroll over to view the whole page). What can I do?
A.
Your internet browser may be the culprit--you may want to try viewing the site using a different browser. Normally, we recommend using Internet Explorer (version 5.0 or newer) or Firefox. If you do not have a different browser installed on your computer, please consider using a different computer, or apply by mail or fax.
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Q.
I received an e-mail from you, but the attachment appears to be an advertisement for another business. Did you send this to me?
A.
CPH & Associates does not send advertisements or share our customer information with third parties.
If you have Adware or Spyware (or a virus) on your computer, it can cause any attachments that you open to point to a different file. Try pulling up your documents directly from our website using the Customer Document Lookup. Otherwise, contact us for a mailed or faxed copy.
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Q.
I attempted to apply online but received an error message that directed me to print the application and fax or mail it to you. Why did this happen?
A.
The most common reasons for this are:
1) You answered "Yes" to one of the qualification questions on the application. "Yes" answers require additional underwriting and must be processed in our office rather than electronically. To expedite the process, provide as much detail as possible in your explanations to any "Yes" answers. Please mail or fax the application to us, and if faxing, please call 5 minutes later to confirm receipt.
2) The credit card billing address that you entered did not match the address the card company or bank has on file for you, or you may have mis-typed your card information or used a card that has expired or reached its limit. If you think you can correct the problem, you may re-try your online application.
3) You attempted to add an additional insured that is NOT a landlord. These too require additional underwriting. Please mail or fax the application to us.
4) Renewal customers only: you have notified us of a claim, complaint, board action, or other professional circumstance that falls under the category of claims activity. Please mail or fax the application to us.
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Q.
I filled out the online application and clicked "Purchase," but nothing happened. What is wrong?
A.
Normally, the website demonstrates that it is processing your application by showing a scrolling message that says "Processing, please wait." If you didn't see this message, your internet browser may have timed out. Sometimes browsers (such as Internet Explorer) time out after a page has been open for a certain length of time. When you successfully apply online, you should receive a confirmation page as well as an e-mail showing your proof of coverage. To find out, first:
1) Check your e-mail to see if your documents arrived. It can take a few minutes for your documents to be generated and sent to you. Make sure to check any "Spam" or "Bulk" folders that may filter out messages from unknown senders.
2) Try to look up your documents on our website using the information you entered on your application. Once a policy has been issued, your documents will be available to download.
3) Contact us if you would like us to check and see if your application was submitted OR reapply by web, mail, or fax.
If your internet browser timed out, most likely the application was not submitted to our database. If your credit card has not been charged, we have not processed your application, and you may try again online. If filling out the application again, try to complete it as quickly as possible to avoid another timeout.
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Volunteering in a time of crisis... |
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Q.
I have decided to go volunteer in a different U.S. state due to a crisis situation (such as the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina). Does my policy automatically cover me for this work?
A.
Yes.
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Q.
I received a form from your office requesting that I sign Louisiana tax form 1265-B in order for my coverage to be properly filed in Louisiana. What does this mean, and should I sign it?
A.
CPH & Associates is a licensed producer in Louisiana. Your policy is considered to be self-procured with an insurance company that is not licensed, but APPROVED to do business in Louisiana (they are called "Approved Unauthorized Insurers," and a copy of this list can be found on the Louisiana Department of Insurance website).
Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance (the underwriting insurance company for all CPH & Associates policies) is an "Approved Unauthorized Insurer" as described above.
Translation: your policy with CPH and Associates is valid. The difference is just that it is written on a "surplus lines" basis that requires special taxes and tax reporting procedures. Your signature is required so that we may complete the filing of form 1265-B and properly report this coverage to the Louisiana Dept. of Insurance. For your convenience, we have completed the first 2 pages of this form for you, and this is why we have only requested your signature on the last page.
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Q.
How much time do I have to return the form to you? What if I lose it?
A.
We are required to file these forms with the Department of Insurance on a quarterly basis (every 3 months), and we are charged a penalty fee for late submissions. For this reason, we would appreciate your efforts to return the form to us as soon as possible. You will not be penalized for late submissions, but as a courtesy to us, please try to return the form to us no later than 2 months from the date of your most recent policy effective date.
If you misplace the form, simply contact us for another copy.
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Q.
How can I send the form to you?
A.
You may return the form to us by mail or fax. If faxing the form, please call our office within 5 minutes after faxing to confirm receipt. Click here for our address and fax information.
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