Find insurance quotes for caregivers
Save money by comparing insurance quotes from multiple carriers.
Choose from the nation's best insurance providers
Caregiver insurance that protects your business
Tension runs high when you're taking care of a family's loved one, and accidents can happen even when you're providing the best possible care. Home caregiver insurance helps cover costly risks, from injuries to negligence lawsuits and property damage.
Save money on insurance
Personal care aides, homemakers, and companions can save money by comparing free quotes from top-rated providers with Insureon.
Gain financial protection and peace of mind knowing you have the right coverage for home care services.
What types of business insurance and bonds do personal care providers need?
These insurance policies cover the most common risks of caregiving.
General liability insurance
A general liability policy covers basic third-party risks, such as a caregiver who accidentally drops a client's smartphone and breaks it. It's often required for a commercial lease.
BEST FOR
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Damaged client property
- Libel and other advertising injuries
Professional liability / medical malpractice
This policy can pay for legal costs related to work performance, such as an accusation of negligence from a client's family member. It's also called errors and omissions insurance (E&O).
BEST FOR
- Negligent care of a client
- Professional mistakes and oversights
- Failure to deliver promised services
Workers’ compensation insurance
Workers' comp covers medical costs if an employee is injured on the job. Most states require this coverage for W-2 employees, and 1099 contractors can often buy it for their own protection.
BEST FOR
- Medical expenses from job-related injuries
- Disability benefits
- Lawsuits from injured employees
Commercial auto insurance
Commercial auto insurance covers the cost of an accident involving your company vehicle. Most states require this coverage for vehicles owned by a home care business.
BEST FOR
- Damage caused by your vehicle
- Medical bills from an auto accident
- Vehicle theft and vandalism
Cyber insurance
Cyber liability insurance helps in-home care businesses recover financially from data breaches and cyberattacks. It can often be added to a business owner's policy or general liability policy.
BEST FOR
- Client notification expenses
- Data breach investigations
- Fraud monitoring services
Fidelity bonds
Fidelity bonds compensate clients if an employee at your business steals from them. Non-medical home health companies often need these bonds to obtain client contracts.
BEST FOR
- Employee theft from a client
- Unlawful access of client data by an employee
- Illegal transfer of client funds by an employee
Looking for different coverage? See more policies.
How much does business insurance cost for caregivers?
A caregiver who provides custodial care, such as dressing and bathing, can expect lower premiums than a home healthcare provider who manages their clients' medical care.
Average caregiver insurance costs include:
General liability: $30 per month
Professional liability: $12 per month
Workers' compensation: $211 per month
Business insurance prices depend on the services you provide, the coverage options you choose, and other factors.
What factors affect non-medical home care business insurance costs?
Here are some of the factors that determine insurance premiums for caregivers during the underwriting process:
- Services offered. A caregiver who provides companionship can expect lower rates than one who helps with the activities of daily living, such as meal preparation or laundry.
- Equipment and property. It costs more to insure expensive equipment or a large office than a simple setup.
- Number of employees. A larger workforce brings a higher risk of employee accidents and mistakes, which raises the cost of workers' compensation, general liability, and similar policies.
- Annual revenue. Increased business revenue is associated with higher risks and more frequent claims, which results in higher insurance costs.
- Business location. Regional factors such as crime rates, population density, and property values affect how much you pay for business insurance.
- Policy limits and deductibles. Policies with higher limits cost more but cover more expensive claims. Choosing a higher deductible can lower your premium, but your insurance won't activate until you pay the full amount.
- Claims history. A home care business that has filed an insurance claim in the past will pay more for insurance than one with a clean history of claims.
How do I get caregiver business insurance?
It’s easy to get insurance coverage for in-home care, including special needs and elder care, if you have your business information on hand. Our insurance application will ask for basic facts about your business, such as revenue and number of employees. You can buy a policy online and get a certificate of insurance with Insureon in three easy steps:
- Complete a free online application.
- Compare insurance quotes and choose policies.
- Pay for your policies and download a certificate.
Insureon's licensed agents work with top-rated U.S. providers to find the right coverage for your home care agency, whether you work independently or hire employees.
Verified business insurance reviews
Hear from customers like you who purchased small business insurance.
"Just being in a client's home exposes you to general liability claims, such as accidentally breaking an heirloom. Negligence claims, on the other hand, are covered under malpractice insurance. You'll need both types of coverage to ensure you're fully protected."
– Christian Mullins, Sales Producer, Insureon
FAQs about caregiver insurance
Review answers to frequently asked questions about non-medical home health aide insurance.
Do caregivers need to carry medical malpractice insurance?
Every home care agency should carry malpractice insurance, also called professional liability insurance, even when it's not required by law. If a patient or family member sues a caregiver for professional negligence, it can help pay for attorney's fees, court costs, a judgment or settlement, and similar expenses.
Here's why your home care agency might need malpractice insurance:
- State laws may require it. Though it's more often mandated for home health care businesses that offer medical care, you may need malpractice coverage in order to get licensed.
- Your employer or clients may require it. The agency you work for may require you to carry malpractice coverage, or you might need it to work for a specific client.
- Your employer's coverage may be limited. Your employer might provide coverage that is effective only in certain situations or for smaller claims, or you might prefer to have your own legal representation.
- It protects your business. Every time you care for a client in their home, you take on the risk of a malpractice lawsuit. For example, a caregiver might fail to report a change in a client's condition, or injure a client with an improper wheelchair transfer.
Malpractice insurance helps you comply with requirements set forth by laws and contracts. It also protects your business financially, giving you peace of mind to focus on your work. Insureon's easy online application lets you compare quotes to find the best insurance plan for your specific needs and budget.
Are caregivers required to be licensed and certified?
Depending on state regulations, you may be required to obtain a caregiver license or certification before you can start working.
For example, New York requires caregivers to complete a 40-hour training program approved by the Department of Health. On the other hand, some states like Arizona and Ohio do not have any training requirements for caregivers to work in private-pay agencies.
Licensing and certification requirements vary by state. Depending on where you work, you may need to:
- Complete a training program that is approved by your state
- Obtain a certain number of hours of practical experience
- Pass a licensing exam
- Undergo a background check
- Take continuing education courses
- Provide proof of professional liability, general liability, or workers' compensation
Even if your state doesn't require a caregiver certification or license, getting one is advantageous for many reasons. It can open the door to working at more agencies, and caregivers who are licensed or certified tend to earn more.
What is the difference between non-medical home care insurance and home health aide insurance?
There are important differences in the roles, responsibilities, and risks of non-medical caregivers vs. home health aides (HHAs)—along with their insurance needs.
The term non-medical care typically refers to custodial care, such as homemaking or companion care that can be provided by a non-licensed caregiver. On the other hand, home health aides (HHAs) are usually registered nurses or other licensed health professionals who give medical support to patients in their homes.
Because HHAs administer medications, monitor vital signs, and provide other medical care, they're often required to carry medical malpractice insurance to protect against claims of professional negligence.
In contrast, non-medical caregivers or personal care aides assist clients with daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, cooking, housekeeping, and companionship. While their work is critical for supporting seniors and individuals with disabilities, they don’t provide medical treatment.
Caregivers still face risks like accidental bodily injuries, property damage, and allegations of abuse or neglect, making general liability and malpractice insurance important safeguards.
Understanding the distinction between these roles is essential when selecting home care liability insurance, as the level of risk—and required protection—varies based on the services you provide.
Does homeowner's insurance cover caregiver work performed at a client's home?
Homeowner's insurance does not cover business property or liabilities related to a caregiver's work in a client's home. You'll need commercial insurance to cover accidental injuries, theft of business property, lawsuits from clients, and other work-related claims.
General liability insurance is the most important policy for caregivers. State licensing boards and clients often require this coverage for home care agencies, including those that provide non-medical care.
A general liability policy covers financial losses from incidents that occur in a client's home, such as damaged property or a slip-and-fall injury. For example, if a caregiver breaks a valuable object or a client suffers a fall, it can help pay for repairs, medical treatment, or legal costs if the client sues.
How do occurrence and claims-made insurance policies differ for caregivers?
Insurance policies come in two forms: occurrence-based and claims-made.
Professional liability insurance is usually sold as a claims-made policy, which means you'll need to keep your policy active in order to benefit from it. Most other types of business insurance, such as general liability, are occurrence-based policies. These provide coverage for incidents that happened during the policy period, even after your policy expires.
With a claims-made policy, it's crucial to have continuous coverage. You can secure coverage for incidents that happened in the past by setting a retroactive date with your insurance company. And for claims that happen after you retire or cancel your coverage, you can add tail coverage to extend the window in which you can file a claim.
What other coverage should home care service professionals carry?
Caregivers may need additional protection depending on the type of work they do and their risks. You can buy insurance coverage for a wide range of property and liability claims, including:
- Hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) insurance helps pay for accidents involving personal, leased, and rented vehicles used for business purposes, such as a personal car that a caregiver drives to clients' homes.
- A business owner's policy (BOP) bundles general liability with commercial property insurance at a lower cost than buying these policies separately. It covers the most common lawsuits and property damage claims faced by home care agencies, including damage from fires and storms.
- License defense coverage pays for legal fees and other costs if you face an investigation or malpractice lawsuit that could affect your status as a Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) or other certified professional. It's often available as an add-on to your professional liability policy.
- HIPAA defense coverage helps pay for claims that you violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Contact a licensed insurance agent to add other types of liability coverage to your policy or to learn about other recommended insurance products.
The average costs on this page were derived from our data on small business owners in the non-medical home care field who purchased policies through Insureon. Most of our customers have less than five employees, annual revenue ranging from around $50,000 to more than $200,000, and five years or less in business.