Liability Insurance FAQ

Why is this program beneficial to me?

As you look into liability insurance, your local agent may be able to provide options for you. However, there is currently no coding or rating category for Personal Chefs in the insurance industry. Unfortunately, this means that most option coverage your local agent will offer will have you rated as a catering operation or general business liability. Because there isn't a specific rating for Personal Chefs, the insurance can sometimes be expensive (varying from $300 to $1,000 per year) or unavailable. USPCA has created a unique program with help from the insurance industry. The program allows all active USPCA members to participate in the policy and receive basic liability insurance coverage.

Who is eligible to participate in the program?

The USPCA Independent Personal Chef Insurance Program is a benefit available to all active USPCA members. There is no additional cost as the insurance benefit is included in your membership dues as a member benefit.

What kind of coverage will I have with this program?

The liability insurance policy issued to the USPCA authorizes the USPCA to extend coverage to members in good standing. This insurance is a General Liability policy that provides coverage with the following limitations:

  • $1,000,000 (one million dollars) General Liability coverage per occurrence. This includes property damage and bodily injury.
  • The policy includes a $10,000 sub-limit for objects in the chef's care, custody, and control. This policy has a $3,000,000 aggregate annual limit. A $500 deductible applies to each claim.
  • $1,000,000 (one million dollars) Professional Liability coverage per occurrence. This policy has a $3,000,000 aggregate annual limit. A $ 1,000 deductible applies to each claim.

This coverage applies to situations where the Personal Chef serves at the client's home. Accidental damage or injury to the client's property or person directly from the Personal Chef's actions are covered.

The policy only provides coverage in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

How does the USPCA insurance program work?

This policy is written for the Members of the USPCA as a whole. This means that the coverage applies to members as long as they are listed in the association roster as a "member in good standing." The coverage limits provided under this policy are for the association and not for each member. Because of the policy wording, individual members are covered under this policy rather than each chef's business. Due to this stipulation, the chef listed as a member in good standing is covered under this policy, as are their employees or business partners. Volunteers or sub-contractors of the chef's business will not be covered. The exception to this rule is that there will be coverage for events and services provided using multiple "member chefs" as long as they provide the same service and the event or service coincides with the covered operations listed below.

What kinds of services are covered by the USPCA insurance program?

Below is an explanation of the operations covered under this policy:

Policy Wording: Personal Chef Services in a Client's Home

Description: This policy wording applies to the "standard services." Standard services include preparing and freezing meals for the client's later consumption (example: five-by-four services). There are no limits on several prepared and frozen meals that can be cooked in one standard service. There is no food service allowed under this type of service.

This policy wording also applies to "meal services." Meal services involve preparing and serving meals in a client's home to, specifically, guests. The maximum number of guests allowed per meal service is 30. This number of guests stands regardless of the number of member chefs present. This policy is not intended to cover any "Come One, Come All" types of situations (i.e., a block party where the number of guests is unknown and the meal is not the primary reason for the event). Due to the General Conditions above, there will be no coverage for any hired help (i.e., servers, sous chefs, etc.) who are not USPCA members in good standing.

Policy Wording: Cooking Classes in a Client's Home

Description: This policy applies to providing instructional cooking classes conducted at a client residential location. The term chef or instructor will identify the USPCA member teaching the class. The term student or participant will refer to a person involved in the class and receiving instruction. The chef will conduct the instructional course and take all reasonable precautions to provide a safe instructional environment. The class size will be limited to ten (10) participants or less. Insurance coverage is for actions by the chef and provides property damage and bodily injury coverage like that provided during a Personal Chef Service. This policy does not cover participants. This policy will not provide coverage if a student is injured (by self or another student) or property damage occurs due to student actions.

Policy Wording: Store Demonstrations

Description: This policy applies to cooking demonstrations or handing out samples at a store location. This coverage is not intended to cover operations at a location that is not a store (i.e., a convention center or other commercial building). A demonstration refers to an event in which there is no spectator participation. The classic example of a store demonstration is handing out samples at a grocery store.

These descriptions are for illustration purposes only. All coverages are subject to the policy forms' actual terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions. If there is a discrepancy between the summary and the policy forms, the policy forms will supersede this description.

Exclusions   

This policy does not cover the following situations:

  • Catering
  • Use of a commercial kitchen
  • Demonstrations where a client, guest, or spectator participates in the event.
  • Cooking Classes conducted any place other than a client's residence
  • Theft
  • Injury or damages to the Personal Chef
  • Non-compliance with the USPCA Code of Ethics resulting in a claim will not be covered.
  • Purchase of, or serving of, alcoholic beverages for consumption (wine, sherry, etc. is allowable as a recipe ingredient)
I already have a Business Owners Insurance Policy. How does this program affect me?

The USPCA insurance program is a basic liability insurance program and will provide you with basic liability insurance coverage in addition to your existing policy.

Since I already have insurance coverage, can I maintain my membership without the insurance benefit?



Your USPCA membership encompasses many benefits that are included in your membership fee. Since we do not charge for individual membership benefits, we cannot exclude a membership benefit for a member. It's similar to an automobile purchase. The car comes with windshield wipers even if you don't want or need them.

I am a USPCA member currently operating my business outside the USA. Will I be able to take advantage of the insurance program benefit?

The USPCA insurance program only provides coverage in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. So, if you operate your business in another country, you will not be covered under the USPCA insurance program.

Report a Claim

HUB International Southeast
1560 Orange Ave Suite 750
Winter Park, FL 32789
407-644-868
www.hubinternational.com