Most families hear the word insurance once during an intake call and never see the document itself. That is worth fixing before the first visit. A certificate of insurance is the page that shows who would pay if a helper were hurt in your home or caused damage there.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
What the certificate should show
Ask the agency for an up-to-date certificate in writing. Start by reading the name of the insured company. It should match the agency you are signing with, not a parent company, a staffing partner, or an individual's name.
Next, look at the types of coverage listed. General liability covers injury claims and property damage. Workers' compensation covers a helper who is hurt while on the job. Check that both appear, and that any limits are written out plainly rather than described in vague terms.
Then find the certificate holder line. Many agencies name the family here. If your name is missing, ask why, and ask whether a corrected certificate can be sent.
Questions to ask the office
Ask whether the policy covers helpers working in private homes. Some policies are written only for offices or clinics, and you want to know which kind you have.
Ask whether a substitute or relief worker who comes to your home is covered under the same policy. Coverage should follow the person who walks into your house, not only the regular helper.
Ask who to call if a claim comes up and how quickly the office says it will respond. A good answer names a person and a direct phone line, not only a general mailbox.
Have someone who reads contracts look at it
A certificate tells you what is written. It does not tell you how a hard case would be handled. If you have a family advisor or an attorney you trust, send them a copy and ask for a short plain explanation. This is general information to help you ask better questions, and your own advisor should make the final call.
Keep the paper together
Put the certificate in the same folder as the signed agreement. When a renewed certificate arrives, file it there too and check the name line again. A simple paper trail is much easier to follow in the middle of the night than memory.