When You Need Excess Accident Insurance for Your PTO

PTOs, or parent-teacher organizations, are a great way for parents and children to learn, grow and have fun. Organizing different activities can be a lot of fun, but it’s also a lot of responsibility. The safety of everyone involved is of the utmost importance. When someone is injured, it’s important to know that they can receive the medical help they need immediately without worrying about the cost or the affect it may have on the PTO as a whole.

PTO insurance is designed to protect the property, participants and the organization. It includes:

• Liability Insurance: Liability insurance provides compensation for bodily injury and property damage that a participant or third party may suffer through the PTO’s activities.
• D&O Insurance: D&O insurance, also known as Directors and Officers insurance, steps in if a board member is sued for decisions made while acting on the board.
• Crime Insurance: Crime insurance for PTOs helps replace stolen money in the unfortunate case that a volunteer or other member decides to steal from the PTO.
• Property Insurance: Property insurance provides compensation if the property itself (the school, venue, etc.) is damaged due to fire, smoke, lightning, theft, vandalism and other covered incidents.
• Excess Accident Insurance: This insurance is often overlooked because people don’t think that it will be necessary. This insurance provides medical compensation above any primary medical insurance you may have in case a participant or other party is injured.

Most injuries aren’t bad enough to reach the maximum limit of excess accident coverage, but it’s important to be prepared for any situation. Even simple activities can turn dangerous if people aren’t paying attention. Head injuries and brain injuries account for the leading cost of death for sports-related injuries in children. Nearly half of these injuries are occur while the child is doing something as simply as riding bicycles, skateboarding and skating.

These aren’t the only activities that cause injuries, of course. Basketball, baseball, softball and football are all sports that send thousands of children to the hospital every year. Hospital visits are not cheap. On top of an ambulance and the medical treatment itself, the costs can pile up quickly and overwhelm the parents of the injured child. Give them—and the PTO—peace of mind by carrying excess accident insurance.

Does Excess Accident Insurance Cover All Injuries?

In general, yes. Excess accident insurance will step in after the primary accident insurance of the PTO reaches its limits. The amount of excess insurance that will be paid out depends on the situation, however. If the family’s insurance covers the medical bills, then the family will not receive benefits from the PTO’s excess accident insurance. However, if the family’s insurance won’t cover the entire bill or the family doesn’t have insurance, excess accident insurance will step in to pay whatever is left. This amount, of course, depends on the deductible and the policy limits. It’s usually recommended to carry $25,000 in excess accident insurance, which means this policy will pay a maximum of $25,000 a year.

When an accident does happen, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately for the injured participant. Only after the participant has received medical attention should the PTO file a claim with the insurance company that carries their PTO insurance policy.

Parents and teachers want to create an environment where children can feel safe and have fun, but it’s also important that the adults are at ease knowing each participant will be able to receive the medical treatment they need if something happens.