THE ONLY NATIONAL DANCER'S ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED BY DANCERS
FOR DANCERS AND OPERATED BY DANCERS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
During the year, I get all sorts of questions regarding our insurance coverage. I thought it might be interesting to you (the insurance chairmen and dancers) to share some of these questions with answers. I will include more questions/answers as I get them.
1) Why should a club and it members participate in the
USDA Insurance program.
This insurance program, especially designed for USDA dance groups, provides
Accident Medical insurance, which helps protect club members from financial loss
due to a covered accidental bodily injury, and Liability insurance, which
protects the club and its members and association officials from financial loss
due to unforeseen incidents which may develop into litigation against members
and dance organizations.
2) What forms are required for
initial enrollment?
Yearly federation dues must be
paid to USDA, a completed enrollment form and a roster with 100% of club members
listed, a check made payable to USDA for present enrollment fee times number of
members.
3) What forms are required to
cover 'Lessons'?
Class roster of name of students
enrolled in the class with a beginning and ending date for the class.
4) What forms are required to
cover Group Travel?
Notification of event form has
bottom section to be completed and submitted to USDA Insurance Coordinator
before travel date begin - a list of names of travelers would be wise although
the form does not request this.
5) What forms are required to
cover 'Exhibitions'?
That depends on what the
facility requires; if the facility doesn't want a certificate of insurance then
the club can submit a notification of event form indicating where the exhibition
is taking place; however, the club needs to remember that there is no liability
coverage for the club if a certificate of insurance is not issued.
6) What forms are required for
incidents?
The club must complete the club
accident report and submit it ASAP to their insurance chairman; the insurance
chairman will submit to USDA Insurance Coordinator who will send a claim form to
insurance chairman with instructions for the injured dancer.
7) What else is really
important to know to stay in compliance and correctly submit for valid claims?
It is important that the club
always have 100% of their members enrolled in the insurance program; clubs are
very lax about this procedure. Any time a dancer joins the club after the
initial enrollment has been completed a fee must be paid for that member. If
the club does not keep 100% of its members enrolled the club is considered as in
non-compliance and could lose their insurance coverage. If a member of a club
is injured and has not paid an enrollment fee then that dancer will not be
covered in case of an accident. All clubs should have a supply of "club
accident forms" at their dances and should always complete this form when an
incident happens regardless of how small or insignificant the injury or incident
may be at that time. The details are fresh in everyone's mind at that point and
might not be several days or even weeks later when what may have seemed nothing
important results in a major claim.
8) Why should a club be incorporated?
If someone should sue your non-incorporated Club
for liability in excess of your insurance coverage, for breach of
contract or for civil damages, you and each member of your club could be held
separately and jointly responsible. What that means is, if the court finds
against your club and there isn't enough money in the Club Treasury, then the
balance comes out of your pocket. If you are incorporated as a nonprofit entity, in
a judgment against your club, only the club's treasury and the assets of the
club may be attached.
9) Does a club need Liability Insurance if we are incorporated?
It is important for your club to be incorporated,
but it even more important to have liability insurance coverage for the
Protection of your club treasury and it assets.
USDA INSURANCE COORDINATOR
PAT INGLIS
P.O. BOX 22
TUCKER, GA 30085-0022
(404) 298-6148 FAX: (404) 298-6149
or by e-mail at:
usda.insurance@usda.org
