The following is a list of frequently asked questions regarding various council insurance plans and how they protect volunteers.

Question – How does the council’s insurance become engaged if a leader is involved in an automobile accident using her personal auto, while she is transporting her girls to or from a Girl Scout event? Girl Scout event means a planned activity involving the troop?

Answer - The council has what is called "non-owned" automobile coverage. It is a third-party liability insurance coverage. What this means is, if a leader is involved in an automobile accident, whereby the other driver sues, the liability insurance coverage that the leader has under her personal auto insurance policy will be affected first. If the limits of her personal auto liability coverage are exceeded, the council’s "non-owned" automobile liability insurance will then provide additional coverage to the leader up to the council’s policy limits.

Question – What is the minimum amount of automobile liability insurance a volunteer must carry, in order to use her vehicle to transport Girl Scouts?

Answer – The State of California required minimum of $100,000/$300,000.

Question – Does the council provide "physical damage or collision" coverage for a volunteer’s automobile?

Answer – No. The cost of providing this coverage would be prohibitive.

Question – Is it better to purchase insurance coverage for rented vehicles through the council, or through the rental agency?

Answer – The cost of purchasing insurance through the council’s insurance company is generally less expensive than purchasing the insurance through the rental agency, and it automatically provides the right amount of liability protection.

If the insurance is purchased through the rental company, the volunteer must purchase a minimum of $1,000,000 of liability coverage. A certificate of insurance must be issued to the council by the rental agency as proof of the minimum $1,000,000 of coverage. When the insurance is purchased through the council, this $1,000,000 of coverage is automatically issued.

Question – What do I have to do when I rent a vehicle and I purchase the insurance through the council?

Answer – First, call the office about what you want to do. We will provide you with insurance rates for

various types of vehicles you want to rent. After this has been established, the volunteer will need to issue a check to the council for the amount of the insurance. The check is to be made payable to GSGVC.

Secondly, tell the rental agency that you are purchasing the insurance through the council. They will tell you what if anything they need us to do in terms of sending them proof of insurance.

Thirdly, fax or have the rental agency fax a copy of the rental agreement to the council. We will need a copy of the agreement to send to our insurance company, so they have a record of the transaction, and a basis for billing the council. Without this form, the insurance company does not have a basis for insuring the vehicle. Please make sure the copy is dark enough so we can read the information on the form.

Question – Do I need a special drivers license to drive a 10-seat or higher passenger van?

Answer – Yes. Driving a 10-seat or higher passenger van requires obtaining a "Class B" drivers license with a "Passenger Endorsement".

Question – Does the council provide liability insurance coverage protection if an accident or injury occurs in a leader’s home, that she provides for troop meetings?

Answer – The insurance company discourages leaders from using their homes for troop meetings, unless the home is in a rural setting and it is the only place the meeting can be held. This being said, the council’s insurance extends coverage to a person acting as a volunteer for the council. As a property owner, the leader also has homeowner’s insurance coverage.

For example, a dog bites a girl at the home of a leader where a meeting is being held. In this case, the leader is acting as both a volunteer and a property owner, whereby a homeowner’s policy may provide some coverage along with the council’s liability insurance policy.

Question – What is Mutual of Omaha insurance, and what does it cover?

Answer – Mutual of Omaha insurance is for coverage of accidents and illness (illness only if the individual plan provides for it) at approved Girl Scout events. There are five different plans. Girl Scout members are automatically covered under the Basic Plan, when they pay their membership dues. The Basic Plan covers accidents only, not illness. The other plans cover various types of situations, and may include coverage for illness. They are optional plans, meaning it is not required they be purchased.

Question – How does the Basic Plan work?

Answer - The Basic Plan covers accidents for Girl Scout members who are injured at approved Girl Scout events. It pays for the first $125 of a claim, if the person has private health insurance coverage. If the person does not have private health insurance, Mutual of Omaha will pay the entire claim up to scheduled amounts and maximums. The Mutual of Omaha insurance pays first, then the individual’s private insurance pays next. Mutual of Omaha will also pay for any medical or dental expenses not covered by the family’s private health insurance. This includes the deductible of the private insurance plan.

Question – Is it required of leaders and service unit managers to purchase insurance when holding an event where non-members will be participating?

Answer – No. All Mutual of Omaha insurance plans are optional (not required to be purchased).

Question – If the insurance is purchased, how much will Mutual of Omaha pay if there is an accident resulting in injury?

Answer – It depends on the plan and the type of coverage it provides. Plan 2, the most common optional insurance plan purchased is very inexpensive. Leaders generally purchase it to provide coverage for non-members participating in a short-term event. This insurance pays for the first $125 of a claim, if the injured party has personal health insurance coverage, subject to the same conditions described above under the Basic Plan. If they do not have personal health insurance coverage, then the Plan 2 insurance will pay the entire claim up to scheduled amounts and maximums.

For more information on Mutual of Omaha insurance plans, call the council office at 559-291-5078. You may also find this information on Mutual of Omaha’s website at http://www.mutualofomaha.com/gsusa

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