Insured Membership – Frequently Asked Questions
When does my insurance start?
When you become an insured member of the Society, your insurance cover starts from the date your payment is received. Your cover remains continuous as long as you are a paid up member. The year is split into monthly payments for insurance notification purposes. The fee we pay the insurance company on your behalf is that required from the beginning of the month in which your application is accepted and for the remainder of the policy year.
What if I want to become an insured member part way through the year?
If you are eligible for insured membership, you can take it up at any time during the year. Your fee is calculated individually, depending on which month you become insured and whether you have credit for student membership already paid. For example if you are a student and wish to become insured during April, you would pay nine months of the membership fee for the year, less credit for the remainder of the student year.
What if I want to move on to Registered membership?
Information about registering is available on this site. To find out information regarding fees for registering contact Linda Austin, Registration Administrator on 01604 817890 or to email Linda click here
Why is my insurance certificate (Evidence of Insurance) only valid until 31st March?
The Society’s insured membership fees are renewed on 1st January each year, but the block insurance policy is renewed with the insurers on 1st April each year. You are automatically issued with a new insurance certificate (evidence of insurance) from 1st April each year, no matter when you join. Your insurance cover is continuous as long as you are a fully paid up member.
Can I be covered for practising other therapies?
Homeopathy is a low-risk therapy. This is an important factor in keeping the insurance premiums low. If your qualifications in another therapy are acceptable to the Society and to our insurers, your policy can be extended to cover an additional low-risk therapy. Please note we can only offer additional therapy cover to Registered Members. Download the application form SOH LR1 click here and return it to Maria Apps at the Northampton office.
What if the therapy I practise carries a higher risk than homeopathy?
In some circumstances we are able to offer an exemption for Registered Members, when they can show they have adequate training in the higher risk therapy, are registered with an appropriate body and have insurance cover acceptable to us. If all these conditions are met, the insurance portion of the membership fee will be waived. Download the application form SOH HR1 click here
Does my insurance cover me from wherever I practise?
Yes, the policy covers you if you practise at home or in a clinic.
What about Home visits?
Yes anywhere in the UK.
Am I covered for Tax investigation?
Full Enquiry – A historical review and investigation of all your tax issues – you have cover with a limit of £100,000 and insurers will fund experts to assist you through the process.
Aspect Enquiry – Where HMRC investigate an element of your tax affairs. The limit of the cover under the policy is £100,000 and you are responsible for the first £1,000 of any costs incurred in relation to Business Self-Assessment Aspect Enquiries.
If I have to do Jury Service is my loss of income covered?
Most courts understand that in the homeopathic profession, and the fact that patients are relying on your availability, you should not be attached to a court case that may exceed a two-week duration. It is becoming increasingly difficult to be excused altogether.
Whilst the courts will pay some expenses, it may not be sufficient to offset your actual loss of income.
The Society Insurance scheme provides for compensation in respect of your net loss of income as a result of attending Court.
The level of compensation you receive is not a fixed benefit. It is essentially based on loss of actual income depending upon your own status. As most Homeopaths are self-employed, the policy will pay for the equivalent of salary or wages for the time you are off work that is otherwise not recoverable from the court or tribunal. The maximum amount payable is £100 a day with a maximum amount of £1,000 Any One Claim.
I am undertaking Charity work in the UK and Overseas, will my insurance cover me?
Cover is only available in respect of Claims where the dispute, legal proceedings or HMRC investigation are or would be within The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
What sort of queries can I take to the Legal helpline?
You can obtain telephone based legal advice on UK business related law. Advice can be sought on a wide range of areas of law, including employment, health and safety and tax. The advice is provided by barristers, solicitors and tax consultants and is confidential and impartial. In the interests of monitoring the quality of legal advice given, conversations may be recorded.
Tell me more about the Stress Counselling helpline?
This telephone advice service is available to all Society of Homeopaths insured members, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
What should I do if there is a complaint or claim against me?
The Society supports insured members involved in a claim or serious complaint. It can be a devastating experience, even if there proves to be no, or little case to answer. As soon as you are aware of circumstances which may result in a claim or complaint, please inform the Professional Conduct Officer immediately. Do not correspond or discuss the matter with the claimant or their representatives pending advice. To do so could jeopardise your insurance cover.
How do I apply for insured membership?
Students who are taking cases under supervision may wish to take out independent insurance cover (in addition to that of their supervisor) through Student Clinical Membership. Please contact your college initially for advice or Anne Mitchell, Resources Administrator on 01604 817890 or to email Anne click here
Those who have recently successfully completed a course at a recognised college (list available from the office) are eligible to become Registered Members. Registration information is available on this site or contact Linda Austin on 01604 817890 or to email Linda click here
If you completed your course some time ago and consider you may be eligible to become a Registered Member, contact Linda Austin at The Society office for more details.
If you have studied overseas, at a UK course that is not recognised by The Society or through a self-directed route you are eligible to apply for the Individual Route to registering. Contact the Society office for more information on 01604 817890 or email info@homeopathy-soh.org
How much are the membership fees?
New members qualify for a heavily discounted membership fee of £219 during 2012 plus a one-off registration fee of £140 (£65 application fee and £75 portfolio review fee payable after one year).
For information regarding our registration procedure, contact Linda Austin on 01604 817890 or to email Linda click here
Existing members – Annual membership fee: £420 for 2012.
How do I pay?
You can pay your fees:
* Annually by cheque, credit card or direct debit
* Quarterly or monthly by direct debit
My subscription is paid by direct debit and I am changing my bank account. What should I do?
Contact the office on 01604 817890 to request a new direct debit form.
Why do we have a ‘Claims Occurrence’ Policy?
Claims Occurrence means that the policy will provide indemnity in respect of any claim that arises as a result of an incident that occurs during the validity of the policy.Therefore, if you cease practice, temporarily or permanently, you do not need to continue coverage because any incident which occurred whilst you were practising is covered irrespective of when the claim is brought to your attention – eg even if it is after expiry of cover. This is the main advantage of ‘Claims Occurrence’.
What is the difference between a ‘Claims Occurrence’ and ‘Claims Made’ Policy?
The alternative to ‘claims occurrence’ is ‘claims made’. ‘Claims made’ means the claim must be made during the life of the policy and therefore if you cease to practise you need to continue purchasing insurance for a number of years until you are satisfied reasonable time has elapsed for a claim to have surfaced.
My home insurers will not cover me for practising at home, what should I do?
If you are experiencing problems in arranging suitable insurance cover where your practice operates from home, contact Gareth Millard or Stuart Humphrey of Three Counties Insurance Brokers Ltd. They can also provide motor insurance cover. Contact 0800 731 7829 or by email info@3co.co.uk for advice. Or visit www.3co.co.uk
Am I covered for Loss of Remedies?
Loss of or damage to your Homeopathic Remedies is covered with a limit of £2000. 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 and wish to increase this limit (up to £5000 available) please contact Lockton directly on 020 7933 2206.
Individual members can contact Tom Hester or Asgar Hassanali directly at any time with regard to specific issues of concern to them.
Lockton Companies
The St Botolph Building, 138 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7AG.
Tom Hester
Direct Line: 020 7933 2206
To email Tom Hester click here
Asgar Hassanali
Direct Line: 020 7933 2516
To email Asgar Hassanali click here