Disability & Developmental Services Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a disability & developmental services business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for organizations serving people with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual services and settings.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Liability (Care Services) | Covers claims that care, supervision, or medication errors harmed a client — general liability excludes it. | Core | |
| Abuse & Molestation | Required by most funders — confirm limits are not a small sublimit. | Core | |
| Commercial General Liability | Covers injuries to visitors and clients at homes and program sites. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required by law; direct support staff have high lifting and client-related injuries. | Core | |
| Commercial Auto / Hired & Non-Owned Auto | Covers agency vans and staff driving clients in their own cars. | Core | |
| Directors & Officers | Covers board decisions, funding disputes, and regulatory actions. | Prevalent | |
| Employment Practices Liability | High turnover brings wage, discrimination, and termination claims. | Prevalent | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits for wrongful death and serious abuse claims. | Prevalent | |
| Property (Group Homes & Program Sites) | Covers owned or leased homes, furnishings, and adaptive equipment. | Prevalent | |
| Crime / Client Funds | Covers theft of residents' money by staff — often required for representative payees. | Situational | |
| Cyber / Privacy Liability | Covers health and Medicaid records. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by disability services providers is relying on general liability for care. Most claims allege a failure of care — a missed medical follow-up, choking, a fall left unattended, or abuse — and general liability excludes professional services and often limits abuse claims. State sanctions can also follow a single death. Confirm professional liability and abuse coverage at full limits, and that both cover staff from agencies and the homes you operate.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your disability & developmental services coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Disability & Developmental Services Insurance · Disability & Developmental Services Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a disability & developmental services business need?
The core coverages for a disability & developmental services business are Professional Liability (Care Services), Abuse & Molestation, Commercial General Liability, Workers' Compensation, Commercial Auto / Hired & Non-Owned Auto. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my disability & developmental services coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.