Insurance Cover Details
Summary of Limits applicable for Registered members Insurance |
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| Interest: | 1) Medical Malpractice/Public/Products Liability Insurance/Libel and Slander |
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| Limit of Indemnity: |
2) Personal Accident |
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24 Hour Telephone Helplines The legal helpline is provided by Amicus Legal Ltd (tel. 01206 366500) and the counselling helpline is provided by DAS Group (tel. 0117 934 2121) |
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Summary of Limits applicable for Students Clinical Members |
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| Interest: | 1a) Medical Malpractice/Public/Products Liability Insurance/Libel and Slander |
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| Limit of Indemnity: |
b. All Events happening during any Period of Insurance in respect of products supplied and Libel or Slander c. All incidents considered to have occurred during any Period of Insurance in respect of pollution or contamination of buildings or other structures or of water or land or of the atmosphere |
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24 Hour Telephone Helplines The legal helpline is provided by Amicus Legal Ltd - Tel. 01206 366500 |
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From 1st April 2007 all members of The Society of Homeopaths Liability Insurance Scheme will now be covered for professional legal expenses on an ‘occurrence basis’, bringing consistency to all elements of the scheme and resulting in better protection.
The alternative offered by most of our competitors is known as a “claims made” insurance policy. This means that any claim made is only covered whilst the policy is in force. The problem here is that if you cease practice, temporarily or otherwise, you will not be protected against claims that may arise in the future for incidents that happened whilst you were practicing.
This is significant news for members – it brings the Professional Legal Protection element of the policy in line with all other liability products offered under the scheme under a ‘claims occurrence’ basis, and means that any incident that occurs whilst you are insured is covered perpetually; so members are better protected than ever, now and in the future. You can fight any claims brought against you arising from events now or in the past secure in the knowledge that you have access not only to expert legal and counselling helplines, but also to one of the most comprehensive liability insurance packages available.
Cover Summary Details
The Howden Insurance Scheme provides members with a broad package of cover underwritten by Royal & SunAlliance Insurance plc, including:
This package is designed to meet the needs of Homeopaths registered with The Society of Homeopaths to protect them in the event of
While the core of this cover is standard, our flexible approach and specialist knowledge of these markets and your needs allows us to negotiate with underwriters on your behalf to secure additional cover options, such as worldwide extensions or cover for loss of remedies.
Worldwide extensions
We are reasonably flexible in assisting with extensions for other parts of the world especially where you are responding to emergencies such as the tsunami disaster in 2004 or working with charities in Africa, India and such. We can also accommodate practitioners working with British Subjects at overseas British Forces bases. Other extensions are considered on their own merits but USA and Canada is usually difficult to accommodate.
Personal Accident
We include some basic personal accident insurance which caters for catastrophes which may prevent you from continuing to practice or involves a serious injury. It is fairly basic cover for major problems so it is not one for you to rely on for short term illness or incapacity.
Loss of Remedies
Loss of or damage to your Homeopathic Remedies is covered with a limit of £1000. We know this is insufficient for some of you but it suits many who have a small practice and do not need a more robust clinic policy. If you have a larger practice we work closely with another company, Three Counties Insurance Brokers, who are able to accommodate your needs.
Teaching: registered practitioners are also covered for teaching at schools and colleges providing they do not have ownership of the teaching establishment.
Research: initiatives are fully supported if they meet the protocols and requirements set by the profession, the NHS, and indeed the Society.
Adjuvant treatments: we realise that many Homeopaths have skills in adjuvant treatments and providing these do not expose you to a particularly high liability risk, and we know what your skills are, that you have competency and have undertaken accredited training, we are usually quite happy to arrange extensions of cover for a range of therapies.
Professional Legal Protection
This additional policy is underwritten by DAS Legal Expense Insurance Company Ltd and is administered by Amicus Legal Ltd.
The cover provided is in addition and supplementary to legal defence costs applying to Medical Liability, Public Liability and Products Liability claims which are provided for in the Royal & SunAlliance Policy above where the cover for such expenses is unlimited.
This supplementary cover provides for legal costs and expenses incurred in defending you against criminal charges brought by the Police, or the Health & Safety Executive or Local Authority Health and Safety Enforcement Officer. The policy will also defend you following an event that leads to you being prosecuted in a court of criminal jurisdiction. It will also defend you against a number of civil actions, including under Section 13 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (including compensation awards made under this Section of the Act), as well as defend you against claims of unlawful discrimination. In addition, it will provide representation in specified circumstances including disciplinary hearings called by the Society of Homeopaths.
Furthermore, the policy affords cover against tax problems. It will represent you in a full or aspect enquiry into your tax affairs by HMRC. The policy will also represent you in a dispute over compliance with PAYE or Social Security Regulations as well as represent you in appeals following an assessment in respect of VAT due by HMRC.
Please note the limit of indemnity in respect of HMRC aspect enquiries reduces to £2,000 per claim and is subject to a £200 policy excess. In respect of all other sections, the limit of indemnity is £100,000 per claim.
Members of the scheme can also benefit from access to a 24 hour, 7 day a week telephone helpline on any UK legal issue affecting you as a Homeopath. A 24 hour counselling helpline is also available.
If you have any questions concerning your professional insurance or insurance in general terms we are here to help so please do not hesitate to contact us.
Asgar Hassanali
Tel. 0207 623 3806
ahassanali@hmis.co.uk
The Society of Homeopaths is an Appointed Representative of Howden Insurance Brokers (trading as Howden Medical Insurance Services) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.