Will My Homeowners Insurance Cover Household Helpers?

​Many families choose to live close to their nanny or housekeeper. Often, a nanny will become a lifelong member of your family, growing up with your family and attending family occasions. How do insurance companies see nannies, au pairs, housekeepers, and property managers?

Insurance companies share your admiration for your household help but do not consider them family members. Insurance relies on legal or accepted criteria and is less flexible with terminology such as "family." Consider your nannies or housekeeper to be a "Domestic Employee," someone hired by a single person or a couple to offer household services within their own home. 

Let's look at some common coverages on your homeowner's insurance policy to determine where your nanny, housekeeper, and other household personnel may be covered. We'll also examine situations where you may need to consider additional policies for adequate coverage.

Homeowners Insurance Coverages

• Your residence
• Additional buildings on your property
• Personal property
• Liability for injury or property damage to others

Other Policies Are The Following:
Many homeowner's insurance plans include a Workers' Compensation endorsement that provides workers' compensation claims benefits.

1. Workers' Compensation Protections
   Your Workers' Compensation coverage protects you and your workers by covering medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost income due to work-related injuries. A worker protected by Workers' Compensation can't sue you further. Most employees can't sue for more damages. Spouses of colleagues can sue, leading to the following coverage.
   
   
2. Employers' Liability 
   An employer's liability policy overcomes the limitations of Workers' Compensation by providing more significant coverage limits for hazards such as lawsuits made by a domestic worker's spouse for loss of consortium.
   
   
3. Umbrella Policy
   An umbrella policy can increase employers' liability coverage limits, as well as homeowners' and vehicle insurance plans', and cover some types of liabilities not covered by homeowners' insurance.
   
   
4. Auto Insurance
   Suppose your nanny is carrying your children in a vehicle. Homeowner's insurance does not cover auto liability. Using their automobile, you must ensure that they have enough liability insurance and not just the minimum limits mandated by the state. If your nanny uses your vehicle, you'll need to add them as occasional drivers to your policy and be mindful of your auto liability coverage limits.

Conclusion
Remember that each home's insurance policy coverage is subject to a limit, representing the maximum amount your insurance company will pay for a covered loss. It may have the option to modify coverage limits to meet your needs, considering the worth of your home and valuables and how much it could take to replace anything if an insured danger damages them.

Hiring through a referral service or agency might help with insurance coverage for nannies, housekeepers, and other domestic employees. These firms can work differently, with service employees or your staff, but with a large bank of resources, such as professional liability insurance.

At Auto Express Insurance, we aim to provide comprehensive insurance policies that make your life easier. We want to help you get insurance that fits your needs. You can get more information about our products and services by calling our agency at (832) 232-4655. Get your free quote today by CLICKING HERE. Topics and coverage discussed in this article are not guaranteed, consult with your agents to determine what your policy does and does not cover. We are more than happy to help!