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BCAK-British Columbia Association of Kinesiologists

Logo of British Columbia Association of Kinesiologists (BCAK)

Welcome to the BCAK Insurance Program from PROLINK

PROLINK offers comprehensive and cost-effective insurance coverage to address the unique personal and professional insurance needs of Kinesiologists. Members of BCAK can benefit from superior protection at unparalleled rates.

PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE FOR BCAK MEMBERS

Access comprehensive protection that we designed through our partnerships with both insurers and BCAK to address the risks faced by British Columbia’s Kinesiologists.

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE (E&O)

What is it?
Professional Liability Insurance protects you (and your business) from any allegations of errors, omissions, or negligence committed within the scope of your professional activities. It’ll cover your damages—legal expenses, administrative costs, and court settlements—EVEN if the claims made against you are groundless.

Why do we recommend it?
When you’re focused on rehabilitating an injury, administering medications, or designing a wellness plan, you could be susceptible to a lawsuit whether you’re at fault or not. Especially if a client thinks you’ve failed to treat or even aggravated their condition.

Professional Liability Insurance can take care of that. That’s why PROLINK has partnered with the CKA to address the specific risks you face as a Kinesiologist. Our comprehensive, custom-tailored program will protect you from any allegations of negligence, error, or misrepresentation, even if the claims made against you are groundless. We’ll take care of you so you can take care of your patients.

Policy highlights include:

  • FREE telephone legal advice;
  • $50,000 liability limit to use toward legal fees and damages associated with Privacy Breaches;
  • Duty to defend actual or alleged claims or lawsuits brought against you;
  • Pays legal defence costs and compensatory damages if you are found liable;
  • And more!

COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE (CGL)

What is it?
Commercial General Liability Insurance (CGL) protects your business from third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage, and reputational harm caused by your professional activities or company operations. That includes any products you sell or services you provide on your premises and anywhere else you and your staff conduct business, like a client’s office, worksite, or home (certain exclusions may apply depending on your policy).

Why do we recommend it?
Whether it’s a client, a vendor, or supplier, any business that comes into contact with a third-party needs Commercial General Liability Insurance, especially if you or your employees:

  • Own, rent, or lease a commercial space that’s open to the public;
  • Have a home-based business where clients visit you;
  • Visit your client’s workspace or home, or conduct business anywhere else offsite; and 
  • Advertise or create marketing materials for your business.

Policy features include:

  • Covers incidents that occur on your premises, at a client’s home, hospital, or alternative facility;
  • Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability;
  • Personal Injury and Advertising Injury Liability;
  • Medical Payments;
  • Tenants Legal Liability.

PROPERTY INSURANCE

What is it?
Property Contents Insurance protects your commercial property from damage or loss and will cover the costs of repairs or replacement for contents, equipment, and furnishings.

Why do we recommend it?
Property Insurance is critical if you have your own business, regardless of the location. Whether you work from home or out of a commercial office, your general liability or homeowner’s policies won’t reimburse you for any damage to your business assets following a break-in, fire, or other disaster.

 

DATA SECURITY & PRIVACY BREACH INSURANCE

What is it?
Data Security & Privacy Breach Insurance protects your business and offsets your losses in the event of a breach, such as when your company’s information is stolen or exposed by a hacker, or accidentally released by an employee.

Our valuable policy features include:

  • Legal coaching on how to handle the breach;
  • Legal fees in the case of a civil suit;
  • Funds for court-awarded damages;
  • PR services for managing reputational impact;
  • Provisions for credit monitoring and client notification fees.

Why do we recommend it?
As a Kineseiologist, you might even be more attractive to some cybercriminals for your third-party connections. Especially if you service high-profile clients. But make no mistake, with a lower budget for security provisions, smaller practices are just as susceptible to attack. 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.

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 & Privacy Breach Insurance with PROLINK can protect you against these losses, recover your assets, and get your business back online.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE

What does Professional Liability Insurance cover?

In general, Professional Liability Insurance covers you against allegations brought by a third party (i.e., a client) seeking damages resulting from a negligent or wrongful act, error, or omission arising from your profession and within your scope of practice.

Will the Professional Liability Insurance policy protect me if a complaint is filed against me with my regulatory body?

The chance of having someone file a formal complaint against you is greater than the chance of being sued. There are different regulatory bodies in each province; however, this policy will provide access to lawyers who specialize in defending professionals being investigated by a regulatory body or authority due to a complaint.

Will the Professional Liability Insurance policy protect me if I am charged with a criminal offence?

The policy will reimburse you for the legal defence costs incurred in a criminal action related to their services if the criminal charges are dropped or if you are found not guilty for the offence.

When do I need to notify PROLINK with a potential claim?

Please notify PROLINK once you are served with a statement of claim. Additionally, there are other circumstances where you should also contact PROLINK because it could constitute a claim under your Professional Liability Insurance policy.

The other circumstances include:

  • A client or their lawyer issues a verbal or written demand for damages (i.e., a letter or email is sent to you);
  • A client or their lawyer makes threatening comments verbally or in writing indicating that they are seeking damages and/or may sue you.
  • You made a mistake in how you rendered your professional services and may have caused harm to a client.

Professional Liability Insurance is a “claims-made” policy. What does "claims-made" mean?

“Claims-made” policies require you to have a policy in effect when a claim is reported (made) in order for coverage to apply. Any claims are covered under the policy that is in force at the time and NOT the policy in force when the occurrence took place.

What is a retroactive date?

Retroactive Date: Any claims that arise from incidents that occurred before this date are excluded from your policy.

Do I need any other type of insurance if I own or rent an office location?

Yes, you should purchase Commercial General Liability Insurance. Professional Liability Insurance won’t defend you against bodily injury or property damage claims that are related to your premises. You should also consider Property Insurance to protect your office contents.

What do I do if I receive a statement of claim?

Once you are aware of an actual or potential claim, report it to PROLINK immediately. Please refrain from making written or oral statements, and do not offer to compensate or admit liability. Taking such actions could interfere in the insurer’s ability to manage the claim.

Click here to see how you can file an insurance claim in 5 steps or less.

Does the BCAK Program have a common renewal date?

Yes, all members must renew by January 1st each year.

How can I determine the level of coverage I need?

Clinical Work:

If you are or plan to work onsite in a private or public clinic, you should confirm with the employer what level (coverage limit(s)) they require for Professional Liability (referred to as Errors and Omissions) Insurance and Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance (if any) to ensure you purchase the correct level(s) of coverage to meet your practice needs.

Community Work:

If you are or plan to work in a community (public recreation centres and/or a combination of private clinic and public spaces) setting, you will likely require a minimum of $5 million (per loss) coverage limit, along with matching coverage for CGL insurance. It is now a standard risk management policy for most cities, districts and municipalities to require all persons or entities utilizing their facilities or public spaces for business or professional purposes to carry high levels of insurance to reduce the local government’s exposure to loss, should something negative and unforeseen happens with, or to, a client while receiving your services in or on public facilities/property.

Additional things to consider:

  1. Review the contractual agreements you have with the organizations/businesses/cities or municipalities you do business with or in. Does one or more agreement specify coverage levels and the types of insurance you require? You will want to ensure you are meeting the specified requirements in any contracts, as there is often a requirement to maintain certain limits for E&O and CGL coverage. This is particularly true if you work in public (city/municipal) or private gym facilities as a contractor or sub-contractor.
  2. Consider your client/customer base. Do you work with clients who have high incomes, such as celebrities, doctors, lawyers or other professionals? Claims brought against you by clients who are high income earners can be substantially higher than the average person and may exceed the loss limit for coverage on many policies.
  3. Review the services you provide. Do you provide rehabilitation therapy, or other modalities? Providing rehabilitation therapy or other treatments such as Shockwave therapy (ESWT), Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT), Therapeutic Ultrasound, Interferential current therapy, yoga or therapeutic yoga (this list is not exhaustive) can have a higher risk exposure to client injury and lawsuits, which may require additional premium to cover the risk. Members should always consider purchasing more E&O and CGL coverage when providing higher risk professional services and ensure you have extended reporting period coverage when you eventually retire or change careers.
  4. Work outside of Canada (United States). Do you provide services to persons who are resident outside of Canada, either in person or via the Internet? If you do, you will need to estimate what percentage of revenue will come from US-based clientele. If you generate US-based revenue then contact the insurance broker to discuss your circumstances, as there are typically limits on how much US exposure Canadian based insurers will cover. If you have foreign revenue which is not US-based, you will need to contact the insurance broker to determine if the policy coverage meets your needs.

Why is Commercial General Liability Insurance important?

Unfortunately, you can be sued for any injuries or property damages that occur while working with clients—even if you’re not at fault. This situation is so common that most venues, government parties, and corporations require that you have this type of coverage in place before you engage in any contract.

Additionally, if you run your business from home, you could be at risk. For example, if a delivery man slips and falls delivering a work-related package, your typical home owner’s policy may not cover it. Commercial General Liability Insurance will.

What does Commercial General Liability Insurance cover?

Commercial General Liability Insurance covers you in the case of third party injuries and property damage that occurs through your professional activities. It also provides you with insurance for Tenant’s Legal Liability, Employer’s Liability, Voluntary Compensation, Non-Owned Automobile Coverage, and more.

How do I estimate my Annual Revenue for the application?

The insurance application requires you to input this information. It is only an estimate for the last 12 months and for most Kinesiologists the gross revenue/income is somewhere between $20,000 and $60,000 per year; however, members who run their own business and have employees or use contractors/sub-contractor will typically have higher gross revenues and this may impact the insurance premium. A low estimate will not impact your premium or eligibility for the liability insurance.

If you are just beginning your career, and are unsure or haven’t generated any revenue yet, please provide your best guess of what your Gross Revenue/Income will be once you have worked for a full year.

When do I need to add an Additional Insured to my policy?

If you work in the community, the various cities, districts, municipalities, school/parks/police/community centres (the “facilities”) in which you work may require that you name them as an additional insured on your Commercial General Liability Unsurance policy prior to accessing a facility.

Adding additional insureds to a CGL policy requires time for the insurer to assess the risk, so you should ensure this is completed well in advance of your required access date, preferably at the time the initial coverage is purchased, or may result in a delay (it can require 2 weeks or more) before the addition is approved and you receive a certificate of insurance.

Again, this delay may impact your ability to earn income should you be denied entry to a recreation facility, public park or school property and are unable to work with clients until such time as you provide written proof (i.e., the certificate of insurance) the entity has been added as an additional insured.

What if someone makes a claim after my claims-made policy expires?

That’s where the Extended Reporting Period (ERP) kicks in. An ERP keeps your policy in force for a specified period of time following cancellation or expiration; that means you’ll be covered for claims made against you for the duration of the 6-year ERP policy term.

For Kins insured through the CKA Plan, a 6 Year ERP is AUTOMATICALLY included within the Professional Liability Insurance Policy. It will apply in the event that a Kin:

  • Retires from practice;
  • Passes away;
  • Ceases practicing as a Kin or continues practicing and does not renew CKA/AKA or OKA membership.

This ERP offered by Trisura is the broadest form of coverage available on the market, and meets all of the requirements of the different regulatory bodies such as the College of Kinesiologists of Ontario.

Does my policy cover virtual services?

Your CKA Professional Liability Insurance policy provides coverage for any advice, services, and training that you provide in a digital format (i.e. online or virtual care)— as long as you ensure that you are operating within your scope as a Kinesiologist as defined by the CKA.

However, please be advised that this policy will only respond if a lawsuit or allegation is brought against you in Canada.

If you are providing online services to clients and patients based outside of Canada (such as within the US), please contact PROLINK at CKA@prolink.insure. We will help you secure separate coverage for lawsuits and allegations brought against you outside of Canada.

What do libel and slander refer to?

Libel and slander (also known as “personal injury”) can be encompassed under the umbrella term “defamation.” These are statements that damage a person or organization’s reputation resulting in emotional injury. Slander means any verbal defamatory statements. Libel refers to written defamatory statements. However, you are only covered if you unknowingly committed something that is considered libel or slander.

What is a non-owned automobile?

This refers to vehicles that are not owned by your company, but are being used for business purposes. For example, this coverage provides protection if an employee must drive their own personal vehicle for business use. It covers bodily injury and property damage that is caused by such vehicles, otherwise the employer can be held liable for employee-perpetrated accidents.

What does Employer's Liability cover?

This coverage protects you (the employer) from losses arising from job-related injuries of employees.

What does Tenant's Legal Liability cover?

If you rent or lease a commercial property for your clinic and accidentally cause property damage, you could be held liable. Tenant’s Legal Liability Coverage will help defend you against legal actions and will provide you with funds to cover the damages.

Is my home office covered under my home insurance policy?

Not necessarily. You need to check your policy or request PROLINK‘s assistance to determine if adequate coverage is available.

Why is Cyber/Privacy Liability Insurance important?

Every business runs the risk of experiencing a cyber/privacy breach at least once in their lifetime. Recently, sophisticated fraudsters have proven that even the most secure organizations are at risk, too. The prevalence of cyber-attacks is only expected to increase and businesses report massive financial losses as a result of managing the fall-out. While a good defence strategy can certainly help, it’s not a question of IF your company will experience a breach but when.

In Canada, privacy laws are ever-changing. And the process of navigating a breach is confusing and expensive. Damages are being awarded for not only sensitive information exposed, but for the resulting emotional injury as well. Finally, is every single one of your employees tech-savvy? Can they recognize a phish and stop scammers at the gate? The reality is that many breaches are caused by employee errors or mal-intent. And you need to be protected. Cyber/Privacy Liability Insurance can help with that.

What does PROLINK’s Cyber/Privacy Liability offer?

  • Our Cyber/Privacy Liability policy will provide you with funding for Public Relations services to manage the reputational impact of the breach, as well as, provisions for credit monitoring and client notification fees if sensitive client information is exposed.
  • Additionally, you will be able to cover the legal defence fees in the case of a civil suit made against you, along with funds for court-awarded damages.
  • Finally, you will have access to a breach coach who will guide you through the entire process.

What is a breach coach?

A breach coach is a lawyer who specializes in guiding firms through a Cyber/Privacy breach. They are there to provide you with the advice you’ll need to make the process as simple as possible.

Get Your Free Insurance Quote:

LIFE & HEALTH

PROLINK will take the time to listen, understand your lifestyle, and guide you to the best protection possible.

Health & Dental Insurance

Supplement your primary healthcare and access the care you need, when you need it with coverage for: extended health, dental, vision, medication, massage, chiropractic, physiotherapy, travel insurance, and more.

Disability Insurance

Protect your income if you’re unable to work because of a physical injury or ailment. It doesn’t matter if it’s a temporary or permanent disability; insurance will replace anywhere from 60-85% of your monthly earnings up to a specified time.

Critical Illness Insurance

Prepare for an unexpected illness or injury with a one-time, tax-free, lump sum. Once it’s paid, how you spend it is completely up to you, whether that’s on medicine, home accessibility, or even paying off part of your mortgage.

Life Insurance

Secure a simple, straightforward solution that will help you plan ahead while still guaranteeing protection for your loved ones. If there’s anyone relying on you for income—your children, spouse, ageing parents, or even a business partner—life insurance is worth it.

LIFE & HEALTH

PROLINK will take the time to listen, understand your lifestyle, and guide you to the best protection possible.

Health & Dental Insurance

Supplement your primary healthcare and access the care you need, when you need it with coverage for: extended health, dental, vision, medication, massage, chiropractic, physiotherapy, travel insurance, and more.

Disability Insurance

Protect your income if you’re unable to work because of a physical injury or ailment. It doesn’t matter if it’s a temporary or permanent disability; insurance will replace anywhere from 60-85% of your monthly earnings up to a specified time.

Critical Illness Insurance

Prepare for an unexpected illness or injury with a one-time, tax-free, lump sum. Once it’s paid, how you spend it is completely up to you, whether that’s on medicine, home accessibility, or even paying off part of your mortgage.

Life Insurance

Secure a simple, straightforward solution that will help you plan ahead while still guaranteeing protection for your loved ones. If there’s anyone relying on you for income—your children, spouse, ageing parents, or even a business partner—life insurance is worth it.

CARING CLAIMS

If you’re lucky, you might never have to make a claim against your insurance. But in the event that you do, PROLINK will respond with urgency, empathy, and compassion. Hover over the images below to see contact options.

MON-FRI, 8AM to 5PM

Monday to Friday, 8AM to 5PM

If you have a potential claim, and would like to speak to PROLINK, please contact us directly at 1 800 663 6828. No matter the time of day, be sure to have your policy number and key details of the incident on-hand, including dates, events, and all persons and entities involved.

AFTER HOURS, WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS

After Hours, Weekends, Holidays

Connect with our after-hours claims service, Kernaghan Insurance Adjusters at 1 800 387 5677, or contact your insurer directly and they’ll loop us in. To find your insurer’s claims department, simply open your policy wording.

If your claim is related to Professional Insurance, we strongly recommend that you wait to notify your PROLINK Account Manager during regular office hours.

MON-FRI, 8AM to 5PM

Monday to Friday, 8AM to 5PM

If you have a potential claim, and would like to speak to PROLINK, please contact us directly at 1 800 663 6828. No matter the time of day, be sure to have your policy number and key details of the incident on-hand, including dates, events, and all persons and entities involved.

AFTER HOURS, WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS

After Hours, Weekends, Holidays

Connect with our after-hours claims service, Kernaghan Insurance Adjusters at 1 800 387 5677, or contact your insurer directly and they’ll loop us in. To find your insurer’s claims department, simply open your policy wording.

If your claim is related to Professional Insurance, we strongly recommend that you wait to notify your PROLINK Account Manager during regular office hours.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING

WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING

RISK MANAGEMENT ADVICE

For more information, check out our blog where we share our insights on insurance trends, current events, and practical tips and tricks to make the best of your coverage.

RISK MANAGEMENT ADVICE

For more information, check out our blog where we share our insights on insurance trends, current events, and practical tips and tricks to make the best of your coverage.

GET IN TOUCH

To speak to a professional who can guide you to the right coverage from the right insurer at the right price call us at:

1-800-663-6828

or send us an email below:

GET IN TOUCH

To speak to a professional who can guide you to the right coverage from the right insurer at the right price call us at:

1-800-663-6828

or send us an email below:


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