The impact of COVID-19 has been far-reaching in our society, especially for our children. The school systems are making decisions based on what is best for the health and well-being of our communities. Many families have decided to search for alternative means of education for their children. As Americans we are problem solvers, and there is no shortage of solutions when it comes to ways to educate our children during the pandemic.
The options are wide-ranging, from traditional homeschooling, Co-Op Homeschooling, Micro-Pods, Pods, and probably more! This blog is about how the option you select increases your liability exposures in your home and what you can or cannot do to mitigate the exposure with changes to your homeowners insurance.
Your homeowners insurance policy provides Liability protection should someone be hurt in your home. If a parent decides to host a pod in their home for schooling, there is a higher risk that an injury could occur at your premises. If you are not properly covered, you could face a financial loss if your insurance limits are not adequate to cover an injury. One example of a loss could be during “recess” kids are playing baseball. If a child gets hit with a bat or a ball to the face and requires surgeries, it could be hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical bills. You homeowners insurance policy could help with these medical bills, but you need to consult with your agent about what limits are appropriate for you.
Another risk is sexual abuse and molestation claims being brought against the teaching parent(s). Even if proven innocent in courts, legal fees can be financially devastating to a family. Homeowners insurance would not provide coverage for this, so beware and institute procedures to minimize this possibility.
If you are planning to have more than six children in your home, you should check with your local government on any licensing and inspection requirements.
I mention these risks to not scare families away from pursuing these options, but to educate you on the added risk to your financial assets. If you know about the additional risk, you can take precautions (e.g., cameras) to protect yourself from lawsuits. You should also discuss your decision with your local insurance agent to understand what coverage is available on your homeowners insurance or other insurance products to help mitigate these risks.
At Northpoint Insurance Advisors, we focus on educating our clients about their unique risk exposures and providing insurance solutions to mitigate and protect their financial assets. If you would like to speak with us about an insurance solution for your family or business, please call us at (540) 953-2383.