Home care and home health agencies usually need workers’ compensation, general and professional liability, hired and non owned auto, an employee dishonesty bond and often abuse and employment practices coverage. In California, licensed home care organizations must keep a bond and workers’ compensation for their aides. Workers’ comp is often the largest cost, so SF Coverage offers a free audit review and checks referral and facility contracts against your policies.
Who sets your insurance requirements
- California Department of Social Services
- For licensed home care organizations, proof of workers’ compensation for aides and an employee dishonesty bond, plus liability coverage as part of licensing.
- Health plans and referral partners
- Professional and general liability at stated limits, abuse coverage and certificates naming the plan or partner.
- Assisted living and senior communities
- Certificates and additional insured status before your caregivers can work on site with residents.
- Area agencies on aging and government programs
- Contract insurance terms with specific limits, waivers and notice wording.
Coverage home health and senior care agencies usually carry
Exposures to get right
Caregiver injuries
Lifting, transfers and slips in clients’ homes make workers’ comp claims frequent and costly.
Care and supervision claims
Falls, missed medications and neglect allegations can lead to serious claims from families.
Theft and abuse allegations
Caregivers work alone with vulnerable adults, so dishonesty and abuse coverage matter as much as liability.
Driving for clients
Caregivers using their own cars for errands can bring auto claims back to the agency.
In California
- Non medical home care organizations in California must be licensed by the Department of Social Services Home Care Services Bureau under the Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act, and their home care aides must be registered and pass a background check.
- Licensed home care organizations must maintain workers’ compensation for their aides and an employee dishonesty bond with third party coverage of at least $10,000 under Health and Safety Code section 1796.42.
- Home health agencies that provide skilled medical services are licensed separately by the California Department of Public Health.
How SF Coverage works for home health and senior care agencies
Have these ready
- Your CDSS or CDPH license and license number
- Payroll by caregivers, nurses and office staff
- Number of clients and average visit hours per week
- Referral, facility and health plan contracts with their insurance sections
- Hiring, screening and training procedures
- Current policies and five years of loss runs
- Your last workers’ comp audit worksheet
Insurance for home health and senior care agencies, answered
What insurance does a California home care organization need to be licensed?
Licensed home care organizations must show workers’ compensation covering their aides and keep an employee dishonesty bond with third party coverage, and the application asks for liability coverage as well. Check the current CDSS Home Care Services Bureau application for exact requirements. SF Coverage compares your policies with what the license and your contracts ask for and lists any gap.
Why is our workers’ comp audit higher than expected?
Common causes include caregiver payroll growing during the year, office staff placed in the caregiver class, overtime counted incorrectly or contractors treated as employees. California generally expects home care aides to be employees. We review the audit worksheet against payroll records for free and help you prepare a dispute when classifications or amounts do not match the records.
Do we need abuse coverage if we already have professional liability?
Often yes. Many professional and general liability policies limit or exclude abuse and molestation claims, or provide a small sublimit. Referral partners and families increasingly ask about it. Specialist insurers are often needed for this coverage and will ask about background checks, training and supervision before offering terms. We show what your current forms actually say.
Are caregivers covered when they drive clients?
Usually the caregiver’s own auto policy responds first, and many personal policies limit business use. The agency can still be named in a claim. Hired and non owned auto coverage protects the agency in that situation. We review whether your policy includes it and whether your client agreements promise transportation you are not insured for.
How does SF Coverage handle referral partner certificates?
SF Coverage reads the partner’s requirement against your policies and checks each certificate request the same business day when it arrives by 3 pm Pacific. Compliant certificates go out that day when the policy supports them, and missing additional insured or waiver endorsements are requested the same day.
General information. Coverage depends on the policy an insurer issues.