Business Insurances Associations and other Affinity Groups

Balens' core area of expertise lies in designing custom facilities for Affinities of all types involved especially in Health. Very many groups use us not only to provide Insurance and Financial Services to their members or students, but also to guide, bringing them up to date on medico legal issues, insurance issues and to lecture, provide articles and to support them at various events.

Associations need the same Insurance considerations as other businesses, so please see the pages dealing with Business Protection.  Insurances Arrangements for this type of business need to consider the facts stated below;

Handling Insurance for the Members of a Group In-House- Complying with the Law

Balens have a training and compliance programme for Associations who want to handle Insurance In-House. In order to comply with the Financial Services Authority Rules regarding Insurance Provision you will be required to become Appointed Representatives.

Having taken legal advice, we have found that Most Professional Associations relying on the Insurance to retain and attract members, who may have any involvement in the insurance provision process, whether taking the money, giving advice or providing certificates may well need to be authorised or regulated by the FSA.

This system works well and we give regular training for Association Staff, and take on responsibility for ensuring that the Association follows the Rules. Our Own Professional Indemnity Insurance covers the insurance activities of the Association. For those Associations not wishing to be this involved, or whose Insurance Scheme does not fulfil the FSA test of "by way of business" can be registered as Introducer Appointed Representatives (IARs) of Balens and the amount of work is greatly reduced as a result.

Activities of an Association or Group that need Insuring

As well as Professional Associations, or other groupings, Training Schools and their Students or graduates can form an Affinity Scheme, and we have many schemes for such situations. Self Interest Groups tend to form around individuals, types of therapy or technique, and usually end up forming themselves into an association. By collective strength and peer support they will usually end up arranging insurance, Continuing Professional Development, Conferences, have a database and listings of therapists for the public, ensure standards, sometimes they have a disciplinary function, give advice to practitioners and public, may have a journal, arrange/supervise the insurance, make decisions about handling members money, make and change rules, ensure standards.

Activities may be performed by low paid or voluntary people, who can be held personally liable for their actions, particularly the elected officers, trustees, council or employees by disgruntled members or the public

How Balens Policies can help

  • Our Associations cover can pick up most of the risks associated with the above activities and functions
    • Our Scheme includes Professional Indemnity for the advice
    • Directors and Officers cover to protect the officers, directors or employees (or trustees)
    • Medical Malpractice contingent cover if they make a mistake or omit to insure someone they should have, resulting in a claim against the Association etc
  • They may want a block scheme for members to do case studies, and/or to cover them once qualified (need 20-30 members in year one for this). Please see relevant pages on our website for more information
  • "Balens" Office Contents package including Public Liability,Employers Liability for clerical employees (not self employed)
  • Separate Liability Insurance may be required for renting rooms or halls
  • Loss of Deposits Insurance for members losing irrecoverable booking fees for conferences, courses etc
  • Personal Accident cover for Employees, volunteers etc who may get injured although no fault of the association (if it was Employers liability would cover this)
  • Employee Benefit schemes through H & L Balen will cover Medical Insurance, Pensions, Life and Critical Illness Covers, Income protection etc 

 

If your Group or Association is new to Balens and you want us to advise you on setting up a Block Scheme, please go to our Associations Malpractice (Medical &Professional page)  section.

If you are already with Balens and wish to access your Private section of our website, please click here
Please note that this facility is actively being developed but is not currently available.

If you are an Affinity Group or Association and want Commercial Insurances for your Organisation please click here

If you are an individual seeking an Association that we serve to join please click here

Please see Also Medical & Professional Page- Professional Associations for more related information usiness Insurances - Associations