Despite advanced protective equipment and best practices, an estimated 5.6 million healthcare workers are at risk of occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens through needlesticks or exposure to blood or bodily fluids when treating patients. Nursing staff are the most frequently injured.1
Most nurses’ existing Workers’ Compensation and employer health insurance plans provide basic levels of coverage, but fall short when it comes to lost wages and coverage for HIV and Hepatitis treatment.
In fact, Workers’ Compensation typically only pays 50-60% of an average nurse’s salary. While state-of-the-art drugs to cure Hepatitis C do exist, the costly ($1,000 per pill) treatment cycle may not be accepted by most health insurance plans.4
Vigilance may help to fill the gap of lost income during a Workers’ Compensation claim period and provides a benefit that may also help to pay for expensive treatments.
Receive a lump sum benefit if you contract a covered Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV infection from a covered sharps-related, blood or bodily fluid exposure incident, as outlined in the policy.
Benefits may help to fill gaps and pay in addition to existing health insurance, disability insurance and/or Workers’ Compensation coverage.
Use the benefit in whatever way helps the most. Use it to supplement lost income, offset high limit deductibles, cover household bills or pay for other out-of-pocket expenses.
As an individual policy, coverage travels with you so you’re covered at work and while volunteering as a healthcare professional.
Infected Needlestick Benefit If you experience a needlestick exposure and the patient or source of the exposure is infected with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV at the time of the incident then the policy may pay the benefit shown below.
Occupational HIV, Hep B, Hep C Benefits If you test positive for a covered Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV infection within 180 days of a needlestick, blood or bodily fluid exposure incident, then you may qualify for the lump sum benefit.
Felonious Assault Benefit Studies show that 75% of nearly 25,000 workplace assaults occur annually in healthcare settings.* Some patients react differently to medications, anesthesia or after physical trauma, which may lead to violent outbursts. If you are a victim of a covered felonious assault and are admitted to a hospital on an inpatient basis, you may receive up to $300/day for up to 10 days. (Maximum number of Felonious Assault Hospital Confinement Benefits per Policy Year: 3)
*Source: https://www.ajmc.com/focus-of-the-week/violence-against-healthcare-workers-a-rising-epidemic
| BENEFIT | BASIC PLAN | STANDARD PLAN | ENHANCED PLAN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infected NeedleStick | $750 | $1,250 | $2,500 |
| Occupational HIV | $90,000 | $115,000 | $130,000 |
| Occupational Chronic Hepatitis B | $90,000 | $115,000 | $130,000 |
| Occupational Chronic Hepatitis C | $90,000 | $115,000 | $130,000 |
| Felonious Assault resulting in hospital confinement | $250 per overnight stay | $300 per overnight stay | $300 per overnight stay |
Occupational Accident Statistics
Occupational Accident Costs
Sources:
1 https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/hazards/sharps/sharps.html
2 https://www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety/pdf/workbookcomplete.pdf
3 https://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-c-treatment-cost
4 https://academic.oup.com/ofid/article/5/6/ofy076/4969901
This is an Accident Only Policy.
This is a brief description of coverage provided under policy form series BI-10000P, Rider Form Series BI-10005R, BI-10006R and BI-10008R, underwritten by Berkley Life and Health Insurance Company (domiciled in Iowa - California Certificate of Authority #08527) 2445 Kuser Road, Suite 201, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690 and is subject to the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. Please see the policy for complete details. Coverage terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions may vary or may not be available in all states. For complete details, please contact us at [email protected].
The insurance described in this document provides limited benefits. Limited benefit plans are insurance products with reduced benefits intended to supplement comprehensive health insurance plans. This insurance is not an alternative to comprehensive coverage. It does not provide major medical or comprehensive medical coverage and is not designed to replace major medical insurance. Further, this insurance is not minimum essential coverage as set forth under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
BAH SR 2020-26WEB