News Details

• New Endorsements Provide Protection to Long Term Care Facilities and Their Patients for Unforeseen Adverse Events

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ACE Group today announced the introduction of four new medical liability coverage endorsements, specifically designed to provide more comprehensive protection to the expanding long term care healthcare sector. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, individuals who are 65 years of age today will have approximately a 70 percent chance of needing long term care services during the remainder of their lifetime.¹ By 2020, the overall number of people expected to need long term care will be an estimated 12 million.²

The new endorsements include: Media Event Expense; Disciplinary Proceeding Defense; Emergency Evacuation Expense; and Patient Property Damage coverages. These are available for skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, independent living units, and continuing care retirement communities. Designed to supplement ACE’s current Long Term Care Facilities Professional and General Liability product offerings, the endorsements offer reimbursement for unplanned expenses that long term care entities may face if a harmful event occurs.

“As long term care entities continue to expand capacity to support the aging American population, we are pleased to be able to offer unique specialty coverage endorsement options to help this sector mitigate future emerging risks,” said Caroline Clouser, Executive Vice President, ACE Medical Risk Group. “The new endorsements reflect our continued commitment to provide comprehensive medical malpractice coverage options, offering greater protection to the healthcare industry.”

The new long term care facility endorsements include the following coverages and benefits: (Limits up to $25,000; additional limits may be available based upon our underwriting guidelines and account characteristics.):

• Media Event Expense Coverage Endorsement:
  Provides reimbursement for expenses incurred by the insured as a result of a covered media event. The endorsement helps a facility mitigate the financial and reputational risk associated with negative media attention, or publicity resulting from an incident, claim, or investigation.

• Disciplinary Proceeding Defense Coverage Endorsement:
  Provides reimbursement for expenses incurred by an insured in the course of a disciplinary proceeding. The endorsement provides reimbursement for covered legal fees and expenses required to defend an insured provider if an investigation, proceeding, or other pending matter is instituted by a federal or state professional licensing board against the insured.

• Emergency Evacuation Expense Coverage Endorsement:
  Provides reimbursement for expenses incurred by the insured as a result of an emergency evacuation of the premises. The coverage endorsement helps to decrease the financial impact of an emergency situation that requires an evacuation of patients. Reimbursement is available for certain expenses incurred as a result of the evacuation, including the costs associated with the transportation and relocation of patients.

• Patient Property Damage Coverage Endorsement:
  Provides reimbursement for property damage to patient’s personal property while the patient is being treated at the facility. The endorsement helps defray the cost of claims by patients for certain lost, stolen, or damaged articles. The aggregate limit of insurance for the various endorsements is separate from, and does not erode, the professional liability or general liability limits of insurance. Further, the limits are not subject to any policy deductibles.

ACE Medical Risk Group offerings include primary and excess medical professional liability for hospitals, and miscellaneous healthcare facilities, and managed care errors and omissions coverage. In addition, ACE offers products liability for clinical trials, biotechnology, and specialty pharmaceutical companies, as well as a comprehensive package policy that includes property, auto and crime coverages through its Life Sciences unit. To learn more about ACE Medical Risk Group’s products and services, please visit our website.

Insurance is provided by insurance companies within ACE Group. All products may not be available in all jurisdictions. The product information above is a summary only. The insurance policy actually issued contains the terms and limits of the contract.

About ACE Group

ACE Group is one of the world’s largest multiline property and casualty insurers. With operations in 54 countries, ACE provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance, and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. ACE Limited, the parent company of ACE Group, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACE) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Additional information can be found at www.acegroup.com, or follow ACE on Twitter, https://twitter.com/ACEGroupNA.

¹ http://longtermcare.gov/the-basics/how-much-care-will-you-need/
² http://news.morningstar.com/articlenet/article.aspx?id=564139

Source: ACE Group