Understanding Named Insureds

Sarah Martinez thought she had done everything right. As the owner of Sunshine Valley Senior Living, she had carefully built her organization from a single assisted living facility to a network of three communities across the state. She had the best staff, top-notch care protocols, and what she believed was comprehensive insurance coverage.

Then came the lawsuit that almost brought it all crashing down.

"I remember sitting in my office, staring at the denial letter from our insurance carrier," Sarah recalls, her voice tight with emotion. "A resident's family was suing one of our newer facilities for $2.5 million, and our insurance company was saying we weren't covered. All because of how we had structured our subsidiary companies."

Sarah's story isn't unique. Across the senior living industry, facility operators are discovering dangerous gaps in their insurance coverage – gaps that often only become apparent when it's too late.

The Hidden Danger in Your Insurance Policy

Here's what many senior living operators don't realize: The way you structure your business entities matters enormously when it comes to insurance coverage. It's not just about having the right types of coverage – it's about ensuring every entity in your organization is properly named and covered.

Consider these startling statistics:

- 68% of senior living facilities have subsidiary entities that may not be properly covered

- 43% of coverage denials in the industry stem from incorrect entity naming or structure

- The average lawsuit in senior living exceeds $750,000

The Complex Web of Named Insureds

Understanding named insureds isn't just about paperwork – it's about protecting everything you've built. Here's what you need to know:

Named Insured vs. Additional Named Insured

A Named Insured owns the policy and has full rights and responsibilities. An Additional Named Insured is essentially a co-owner with the same level of protection. But here's where it gets tricky: Many operators assume their subsidiary companies are automatically covered. They're not.

The Subsidiary Trap

Your policy likely defines a subsidiary as an entity where you own or control more than 50% directly or indirectly. But what happens when:

- You create an investment company owned by individual partners?

- You structure facilities under separate LLCs?

- You operate under DBA names?

Each of these scenarios requires specific naming on your policy.

Real-World Impact: A Case Study

Let's return to Sarah's story. Her main facility was properly insured under Sunshine Valley Senior Living, Inc. But her newer facility was operating under a separate LLC, owned by an investment company she had created with two partners. When the lawsuit came, the insurance carrier pointed to the policy language:

"Subsidiary means any corporation in which and so long as the Named Entity owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding securities..."

Because the subsidiary was technically owned by the investment company, not Sunshine Valley Senior Living, the carrier denied coverage.

The Solution: Your Protection Checklist

Don't let this happen to you. Here's your essential checklist:

1. Entity Structure Review

  - List all your business entities

  - Map ownership relationships

  - Identify DBAs and trade names

2. Policy Alignment

  - Match entity names exactly

  - Include all subsidiary relationships

  - Properly endorse DBAs

3. Regular Audits

  - Review coverage quarterly

  - Update for new entities

  - Verify ownership structures

Taking Action: Next Steps

The complexity of modern senior living operations demands a specialized approach to insurance. At Echo Assurance, we understand the unique challenges you face because senior living is all we do.

Don't wait for a crisis to discover gaps in your coverage. Schedule a comprehensive policy review with our senior living insurance specialists. We'll help you:

- Map your organizational structure

- Identify potential coverage gaps

- Ensure proper naming of all entities

- Structure coverage that grows with your organization

The Final Word

Sarah's story has a happy ending. After a lengthy negotiation and significant legal fees, she was able to resolve the situation. But she'll never forget the lessons learned.

"Now I know that insurance isn't just about having a policy – it's about having the right structure and making sure every entity is properly protected," she says. "It's about working with people who understand our industry and can anticipate these issues before they become problems."

Don't let your senior living organization be the next cautionary tale. Contact Echo Assurance today for a free, comprehensive review of your insurance structure. Because when it comes to protecting your residents, your staff, and everything you've built, the details matter.

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About the Author: This article was written by the senior living insurance specialists at Echo Assurance, dedicated exclusively to protecting senior living and long-term care organizations across America.