NEMT, or Non-Emergency Medical Transport, companies have several different services models to choose from. The most popular are curb-to-curb and door-to-door. Despite the similar sounding names, these services are quite different both in what the customer receives and how they’re insured. After all, with great care and additional assistance come more potential liability issues, and if your NEMT business isn’t properly insured, you could end up paying a lot out of pocket.
Here’s what you need to know.
Understanding the Difference Between Service Models
First, you need to understand how each service model works. In curb-to-curb service, the driver picks up the patient or passenger from the curb outside of their home and drops them off at the curb of the building where their medical appointment will take place. The passengers are more mobile and able to navigate curbs and stairs on their own. The driver doesn’t need to provide much assistance at all.
The other option, a door-to-door model, is different. With these services, the driver stops and turns off their vehicle, gets out, and greets the passenger at the door to their home. The driver then helps them navigate their way to and into the vehicle. When they arrive at their appointment location, the driver does the same thing, seeing them into the building where they can then get additional help from staff there. With this service, the patient needs extra help, which requires more training for the driver and an increase in liability concerns.
How Liability Exposure Changes
Due to the amount of liability involved in assisting a patient get from their door to the door of their medical appointment, your insurance needs change. Since there’s a higher possibility of slip and fall accidents with this business model, as well the potential for allegations of incorrect assistance, injuries occurring during lifting, and other problems, you need to make sure that you have enough liability insurance if you want to continue doing business in a door-to-door manner.
On the other hand, curb-to-curb service has fewer liabilities, since the patient is able to get to the door on their own without serious issues. Their independence, although it may be limited, leaves them the reliable party when it comes to slipping and falling on their way to NEMT vehicle or otherwise injuring themselves walking to the door of their medical office. Your drivers and other employees are more hands-off, therefore, less liable for any injuries that occur outside of the vehicle.
Changing Your Service Model
Before you change your overall NEMT service model to door-to-door service, you should check with your insurance agent to make sure that you have enough liability coverage. Otherwise, you might learn a very expensive lesson.
Have Questions? Contact Charlotte Insurance
Want to learn more about the importance of having the right insurance coverage for your NEMT company? Contact Charlotte Insurance. Our agents can explore and explain all available options and put together the insurance coverage plan your business needs.