Welcome to the OASW Insurance Program from PROLINK
Welcome to the Ontario Association of Social Workers program from PROLINK—Canada’s Insurance Connection.
PROLINK offers comprehensive and cost-effective insurance coverage to address the unique personal and professional insurance needs of Social Workers. Members of OASW can benefit from superior protection at unparalleled rates.
An added benefit? PROLINK and the OASW have made it easier than ever to apply for, or renew, your professional insurance! Our online application can be completed on your mobile phone, computer, or tablet. Pay by credit card and receive your documents within minutes!
At PROLINK, we can help you feel confident that you have the right protection.
We believe in personal relationships.
We value knowing you, and taking the time to understand your unique situations, so that we can provide you with genuine advice and follow-through. Our named, dedicated advisors will take a holistic view of your lives and explain all of your coverages and potential exposures, so that you can make educated decisions.
We have over 30 years of experience.
As a result, we’ve seen insurance from every perspective. Wherever you’re coming from, and whatever you need, we’re your one-stop-insurance-shop. You can depend on us for the protection you require.
We represent a network of insurers.
We know their strengths, their weaknesses, how they’ll assess you as a risk, and how they’ll treat you in the event of a claim. Plus, as one of Canada’s largest national brokerages, we have the buying power and influence required to advocate for you and your needs with the various insurers.
We work for you, not the insurer.
As an independent insurance brokerage, we are not obligated to sell you on a particular insurer. Instead, we’ll evaluate the available offerings and the discounts you are eligible for, to bring you solutions to best fit your life.
What OASW members are saying...
“I was paying $1629.72/year for house insurance and $4170.48/year for our two vehicles and three drivers—one being my 19-year-old kid. That came to a total of $5800.20 per year for home and auto insurance. With PROLINK, my home insurance is now $1212.84 and my car insurance is $2330, for a total of $3532.84. That’s a savings of $2267.36 annually!!!! My current agent even told me not to be a fool and take the group rate, as they could not match PROLINK’s rates. We still have 100% same coverage. So, YES, we are happy!! Plus, PROLINK waives the fee for social workers if you prefer to pay your insurance on a monthly basis. I urge all members to take the chance and check PROLINK out. The savings could be substantial even on one car”.
- Jake Farr, OASW Member
“I had been hesitant, even reluctant, to switch insurers from my current long-standing insurance company. However after reaching out to PROLINK, and connecting with Kelvin Santos who is the OASW representative, I felt both optimistic and reassured. Kelvin is an exceptional communicator, and he is able to explain the ‘in’s and out’s’ of the industry and simplify the process. In addition, moving our insurance to PROLINK, as our new broker, has resulted in a surprising amount of savings for our family’s insurance needs (home & auto combined). For me, making this simple and achievable was a great help, and I am always grateful to OASW for securing great resources for its membership”.
- Anna Gold, MSW, RSW
“PROLINK has been a valuable partner in providing risk management services to our members. Besides obtaining highly competitive insurance coverage and pricing, I have received great feedback on PROLINK’s prompt AND reliable professional services from explaining coverages to handling claims.”
"I like the "package of insurance services" that have been bundled together in the plan that I chose. I feel that the price is fair for the product that is provided. It is very easy to continue to renew every year following receipt of the Reminder E-Mail Message. I find the website very easy to navigate & can complete my renewal in a very time efficient fashion."
- Susan M., OASW Member
"I bought insurance from PROLINK because the minimal fee for protection against unknowns gives me peace of mind. They had a quick and easy renewal process with affordable protection that can't be beat! The minimal annual fee for peace of mind is priceless!"
- Katherine S., OASW Member
"I continue to buy insurance from PROLINK due to several years of excellent coverage, cost, and service. Thanks to Celina De Bruge for her recent support in completing my application!"
- James W., OASW Member
"PROLINK offered many other types of insurance for far less than other insurance that I had in the past. Plus, they are friendly and are willing to help you with providing insurance for you at a better price!"
- Rita F., OASW Member
"I chose to work with PROLINK because it was super convenient to register and renew. They have very helpful staff to answer any questions you may have. They also provide a simplified renewal option and excellent value for cost."
- Rachel A., OASW member
"This year's renewal on-line form was so easy!! Clear information about what choices were available. If I have had challenges with past renewal on-line forms, a telephone call was quickly answered and positive feedback cleared up the situation immediately."
- Heather M., OASW Member
"Renewing my insurance was convenient, I appreciate the follow-up and I appreciated how easy and quick it is to renew on line, thank you. I would recommend PROLINK because they gave me peace of mind and the protection that I need for the work I do."
- Nathalie B., OASW Member
Excellent coverage for a good price. I've always appreciated the customer service, professional representatives that are knowledgeable, respond in a timely manner to inquiries, and who are professional and helpful...I've always had a positive and productive experience with PROLINK, but this year you made the process easier...I was pleased with coverage options and the price. Great insurance product, good price and excellent insurance reps."
- Carol H., OASW Member
"I would recommend PROLINK to OASW members because Andrew was extremely helpful, the cost was very reasonable, services are excellent, and it was easy to sign up!"
- Iris S., OASW member
"Just wanted to let you know that we have been working with Tomi as our insurance agent for some time now and really appreciate her responses and excellent service.
She is very timely and fulsome with her responses and delivering the product.
We appreciate her friendly demeanour and attitude. We have never met her but consider her a friend for how well she treats us.
We would heartily recommend Tomi and PROLINK to all who would wish to look at your insurance offerings.
Thanks so much for making us feel valued. "
- Richard and Margaret V.
Protection for My Business and Professional Life
Important note for members seeking Professional Insurance Solutions:
- Online services are covered under the OASW plan, as long as it is with clients who are residents of Canada. For example, if you or your client are on vacation and the services are offered via Skype, it is still covered under your policy—as long as any claim made against you is brought forward in Canada.
- Psychotherapy services provided within the context of social work services are covered by our OASW member policy.
- You must have an active OASW membership in-force at all times in order to obtain coverage through the PROLINK Professional Insurance program.
- For any mid-term policy requests such as: updates, address changes, limit increases, additional insured certificates, and more, please contact OASW@prolink.insure.
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OASW Plan: Professional & Commercial General Liability
As a Social Worker, you help people and families solve complex problems in their everyday lives. It’s a rewarding career—but it’s also unpredictable. Social work is all about communication and sometimes what you communicate isn’t always what’s understood. In the heat of the moment when clients are at their most vulnerable, you may be just as vulnerable to risk. Despite your best intentions, your advice or actions might be misinterpreted and you could face a lawsuit.
Like Social Workers, PROLINK—Canada’s Insurance Connection believes in building strong, positive relationships with all our clients to resolve any and all conflict. That’s why we’ve partnered with the OASW to address the specific risks you face as a Social Worker with our bundled Professional Insurance coverage. We’ll take care of you so you can take care of your clients.
Our Professional Liability program will protect you from any allegations of negligence, error, or misrepresentation, even if the claims made against you are groundless, while our Commercial General Liability policy will take care of any third-party claims of bodily injury or property damage.
Highlights of our program include:
- $1,000,000 limit for Abuse Coverage;
- $200,000 limit for Disciplinary Defense Costs;
- $100,000 limit for Criminal Proceedings;
- FREE legal advice with unlimited calls to the Trisura Legal Assistance Hotline at 1-866-945-5207 (8AM to midnight, 7 days a week)
- FREE annual listing on FindASocialWorker.ca , sponsored by PROLINK ($100 value);
- FREE 6-month subscription with and listing on the Psychology Today directory ($180 value);
- Coverage for false advertising, slander, and defamation;
- And more!
Contact PROLINK to learn more today!
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Property Insurance
If you have your own Social Work practice, chances are you also own, rent, or lease office space. Whether it’s a major corporation, an up-and-coming firm with a few staff, or a home-based office, every business has valuable assets. And whether it’s a natural disaster, a power outage, or a break-in, every business is vulnerable to damage.
The cost of repairs and replacements can affect your business for years to come—for smaller firms, that impact might be financially devastating. Even if you can cover the expenses out-of-pocket, there’s the added blow of losing any income you would’ve earned before having to relocate or close down temporarily to fix the damages. Plus if your new location is out of the way, it might inconvenience your existing clients and keep any new ones away.
And if your office is home-based? Keep in mind that your business and contents might not be covered under your Home & Auto policy, especially for any equipment taken on the road.
That’s where we come in. With over 35 years of experience, PROLINK has seen it all. We’ll take the time to carefully audit your office contents and ensure that your business property, equipment, and furnishings are protected for their full value. We’ll also make adjustments to your coverage as your business continues to grow so you’re secure no matter what.
Contact PROLINK to apply online today!
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Data Security and Privacy Breach Insurance
In this day and age, all companies are data companies. When you rely on computer networks for the bulk of your work, hackers, malware, and ransomware pose a real threat. Whether it’s a stolen laptop, a breach in your cloud provider, or a snooping employee, being on a network exposes you to cyber risk. And you may not realize the value of your digital assets—and the implications of a breach—until it’s too late.
As a Social Worker, you might even be more attractive to some cybercriminals for your third-party connections. Given the value of private health information, it’s no coincidence that healthcare providers are among the most targeted professionals when it comes to security breaches. And size doesn’t matter; smaller practices with fewer security provisions are just as likely to be hacked as any major organization.
You might think that your property or liability insurance policy will restore your files for a small add-on fee. But there's no fast fix for a cyber attack. Data Security and Privacy Breach Insurance with PROLINK can protect you against these losses, help you get your electronic assets back in order, and your business back online.
Highlights of our policy include:
- Breach Counseling - Help determine whether a breach has occurred and assess the severity of the incident;
- Crisis Management - Time-saving professional service in handling a breach;
- Media Relations Consulting - Public relations assistance to help restore your business’ reputation;
- Legal Support - Documentation of steps taken and remediation services provided.
Contact PROLINK today for more information about purchasing these optional enhanced coverages:
- Regulatory Research and Compliance Expense - Coverage for lawyers’ fees incurred in providing advice and guidance on applicable legislative requirements;
- Forensic Investigation Expense - Covers the costs for forensic experts to determine how the intruder got into the device/system and what data has been compromised;
- Notification Expense Reimbursement - Covers the costs for a breach expert to assist in drafting a notification message along with all printing, mailing, postage, or address verification costs for sending this notification message;
- Notification Recipient Services - Covers the cost in providing fraud remediation services to individuals that have been affected by the breach.
New Clients
If you are interested in privacy breach insurance and are a new client, or someone who has already renewed their 2020 professional insurance, please complete the form below and provide an email address. We will send you a link to apply or amend your application as-needed. Please note that it may take a little longer to contact you than usual, as we try to complete the 2020 renewal for over 5000 OASW members.
Existing Clients
If you have not yet renewed, the option to purchase Privacy Breach Insurance is included in your online renewal application. Please click on the link you already received in your email to purchase Privacy Breach Insurance.
Contact PROLINK to apply online today!
Protection for Me and My Personal Life
Your life is complicated. But selecting your insurance doesn’t have to be. Read on to see how PROLINK can help make the road to your insurance solutions simple.
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Home & Auto Insurance
As a Social Worker, your job often requires you to be mobile, so you probably spend a lot of time in your car. If you’re an independent practitioner, chances are, you work from home. That means your car and your home aren’t just your most valuable assets or your prized possessions; they’re also key to your livelihood.
Accidents can happen for any number of reasons—theft, loss, natural disasters. No matter the cause, one thing’s certain: you’ll be out thousands of dollars in damages. A financial setback no doubt, but it’ll sting even more if you’ve added a major renovation to your home or bought a brand-new car.
At PROLINK, it’s our job to worry about your coverage and your risks so that you don’t have to.
With over 30 years of experience and access to a network of insurers, we’ve seen it all. With PROLINK, you’ll have your pick of insurance solutions and added benefits at just the right price point for you. Plus, as a member of OASW, you can receive up to 20% off your Home & Auto Insurance!
Contact PROLINK for your no-obligation quote today!
GET A HOME & AUTO QUOTE -
Health & Dental Insurance
If you’re an independent Social Worker, you probably don’t have access to traditional employee benefits like Health, Dental, and Drug coverage.
But expensive treatments, prescriptions, and dental work always seem to pop up when you’re least expecting them. And if you end up with a serious illness, injury, or chronic condition that requires ongoing care, the costs can add up pretty quickly.
We can help. PROLINK’s comprehensive program covers Health, Vision, Dental, and Drugs, and can get you access to Paramedical services such as Massage, Chiropractic Adjustment, Physiotherapy, and more. Taking advantage of your plan and being proactive about your health now will help you prevent long-term conditions in the future.
Plus, by purchasing your insurance through PROLINK, you become part of a member pool across all of the associations that we represent in addition to OASW. And that means access to lower rates.
To learn more, contact PROLINK today!
GET A HEALTH & DENTAL QUOTE -
Life Insurance
Life insurance is the coverage you avoid thinking about—until there’s a major emergency or health scare that forces you to reconsider.
If something were to happen to you, who would provide for your family? Who would take on your debts? Who would cover your funeral expenses and the estate taxes from getting your affairs in order?
Your loved ones might never truly heal from the pain of losing you, but you can help them recover from the financial strain of an untimely death. Plus if you insure early on, you can avoid paying a higher premium as you get older.
Don’t wait. Pass the pain over to us. At PROLINK, we’ll take the time to understand you, your needs, and your family. We’ll provide you with affordable, long-term protection so you can provide for your loved ones if the unexpected happens to you.
Contact PROLINK to evaluate your options today!
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Critical Illness Insurance
Living with a critical illness isn’t just physically and mentally exhausting—it’s also financially draining. Most medications and treatments aren’t covered by a traditional drug plan. The latest healthcare breakthroughs are rarely available outside the U.S. On top of that, there are also travel expenses, childcare, and all the added indirect costs that come with a major health condition.
Even if you’re financially stable, medical bills will take a toll on your hard-earned savings. Especially if your family relies on your income.
Critical Illness Insurance can help with that by providing you with a lump sum that can be leveraged in whatever way best suits your needs. Once it’s been paid, how you spend it is completely up to you, whether that’s hiring a nurse, making your home accessible, or even paying off part of your mortgage.
You can’t predict when you’ll get sick, but you can plan for it. With PROLINK, you can access top-quality care through a customized and cost-effective Critical Illness policy for the long-term financial flexibility you need.
Contact PROLINK to learn more today.
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Travel Medical Insurance
You work hard and you deserve a worry-free vacation. Even so, no matter how much you plan, accidents can happen. Getting injured or sick overseas be anything from a minor inconvenience to a massive financial blow.
Think of travel insurance as a small investment with high value. It seems like an unnecessary expense and it’s definitely not the most exciting part of trip planning. But your peace of mind is priceless. Taking the time to set up protection in advance can save you the nightmare of unexpectedly forking out thousands of dollars abroad.
With access to over 30 insurers, PROLINK can offer you a comprehensive insurance plan that suits your travel needs. Beyond emergency medical costs, we can also help you with lost baggage and trip cancellations fees with a few enhancements to your policy, even if it’s just for a weekend trip across the border.
With PROLINK you’ll be prepared for whatever happens, wherever it happens. We want you to travel with ease, comfort, and the confidence of knowing we’ve got you covered.
Contact PROLINK to learn more today!
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Pet Insurance
If you’re like most pet owners, your pet is your constant companion. So when your beloved companion inevitably falls ill, it can be stressful. It’s hard to see your once-lively pet refuse to eat or struggle up the stairs.
While the veterinarian might be able to remedy whatever’s ailing your pet, that cure usually comes at a high cost, especially when you want your pet to receive the best care possible. Depending on the treatment, you might have to save up first—during which time your pet could get sicker—or put yourself in debt to afford all those unexpected fees.
Purchasing PetSecure insurance through PROLINK can help take away the financial burden of getting your pet the care they need. For a small monthly rate, you can receive up to thousands of dollars in coverage for your pet’s accidents, illnesses, and dental care.
Contact PROLINK to learn more today!
Caring Claims
Sometimes, stuff happens. In the event that you need to make a claim and the situation is urgent or an emergency, help is a phone call away!
Monday to Friday (8AM to 5PM)
Contact PROLINK directly at 1 800 663 6828. We will take your claim, confirm your policy and report it to your insurer.
After Hours
Access our after-hours claims service, Kernaghan Insurance Adjusters at 1 800 387 5677, or call your insurer directly and they will loop us in.
Please reach out to PROLINK if you ever feel unsure. We’re here for you.
Speak to a Representative Today
To speak to a professional who can guide you to the right coverage from the right insurer at the right price contact us below.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT ONLINE SERVICES:
Your OASW Professional Liability insurance policy covers online services (video, text,phone, etc.) you provide to clients who are residents of Canada. Offering services to a client who is temporarily outside of Canada is still covered under your policy, as long as any lawsuits or allegations are brought against you in Canada only. The policy does not define how long is considered to be "temporary", it only states that the client must be a resident of Canada.
If the person you are considering providing telephone or online counselling to lives outside of Ontario, place a call to the relevant College of Social Workers in that jurisdiction. The policy covers you AUTOMATICALLY. That is, you DO NOT have to notify us to amend your policy if you are now providing online services. For even more information, please click here.