Practicing Member Insurance Requirements

Professional Liability (PL) and Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance Coverage are a requirement for Practicing Membership to be 'in-good-standing'. Practicing members have the option to either purchase insurance through the CKA/BCAK group provider (Prolink) at the time of membership purchase/renewal or they may request approval of 'Other' insurance coverage.

BCAK/CKA group provider insurance purchase is completed concurrently with payment of your membership dues. If you select the group provider for insurance coverage, you will be transferred to the Prolink website to complete the purchase and will then be returned after the purchase to complete your membership dues payment. The group provider coverage meets the BCAK's requirements but may not meet the requirements of all members, so please inquire with Prolink if you offer unique or non-standard services or provide services to client's outside of the Canada.

Other insurance must be of an approved form and a request for equivalency must be submitted and accepted, prior to being permitted to purchase or renew Practicing membership with the BCAK. Insurance coverage which meets the BCAK's minimum requirements listed below, can complete their membership payment. If you have insurance through another broker/company that meets the BCAK's standards, you may apply for equivalency. The requirements and process for consideration of 'Other' insurance are listed below.

Liability Insurance Requirements

Depending on your situation, you are required to have private sector insurance, public sector insurance, or both. If you are not currently employed, you are still required to have private sector professional liability and commercial general liability insurance coverage. The requirements are detailed below.

1) Private Practice (Sector)

Review the policy to confirm it meets the requirements listed below. Policies which do not meet all the requirements listed will be rejected. (You should discuss these requirements with your Broker.)

Private Practice Requirements

• You (the member) are shown as the "named insured", an "insured" or an "additional named insured" on the policy.
• The policy is written with an insurer licensed to conduct business in the province of BC and Canada.
• The insurer must have a minimum A.M. Best Rating of “A-“.
• Policy Coverage includes Professional Liability/Errors & Omissions (PL) and Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance for the acts of you (the BCAK member) in the delivery and performance of professional services in accordance with full scope of practice defined by the BCAK.
• Liability limits of not less than $2,000,000/occurrence (claim) and $2,000,000 per policy term for both PL and CGL.
• Additional PL Requirements
  • Policy wordings do not restrict coverage to work with healthy or uninjured persons whether in these specific terms or others synonymous with good health.
  • Policy wordings cover the entire scope of practice for kinesiology as defined by the BCAK.
  • Policy deductible is not greater than $2,500 per claim.
  • Policy wordings cover all claims made during the policy period.
  • Policy wording provides full retroactive coverage. (i.e. There must be no retroactive date limiting coverage for prior professional services rendered)
  • Policy includes or makes available, extended reporting/discovery period coverage of not less than 5 years.

2) Public Practice (Sector) - Government, Crown Corporation, BC Health Authority or Hospital

Submission Steps

Submit the following documents:

1. A confirmation letter from the government agency (your employer) confirming your regular employment.
2. A completed BCAK Insurance Declaration and Waiver form signed in pen. This form stipulates that if you are under an employers policy and employment is terminated for any reason, you will immediately obtain other insurance and provide proof to the BCAK.

3) Public & Private Practice (Sectors)

Submit both forms of insurance documentation, along with one BCAK Insurance Declaration and Waiver form signed in pen.

How to Apply for Approval of 'Other' Insurance Coverage

Submission Steps

Submit the following documents

1. A copy of your private insurance certificate(s). Full policy wordings may be required to validate your compliance with the private practice requirements listed above, if the necessary details are not indicated on the insurance certificate(s).
2. Submit a completed BCAK Insurance Declaration and Waiver Form signed in pen. This form stipulates that, "to the best of your ability" you have reviewed the coverage and verified that it meets the BCAK's requirements. If after reviewing the insurance requirements, you determine that you do not meet all the requirements, please do not apply for acceptance of your insurance, until such time as you meet the requirements. You can always change and purchase through the group provider if the coverage offered meets your needs.

Notes:

Canadian Athletic Therapy Association (CATA) Group Policy Insurance - BCAK accepts this coverage provided your policy has the kinesiology extension shown on the declaration page. See sample - extension is highlighted in yellow

Canadian Society of Exercise Physiologists (CSEP) - BCAK does not accept CSEP-CPT insurance as it only covers working with healthy persons, or CSEP-CEP insurance as the "kinesiology" extension is only valid for members of the College of Kinesiologists of Ontario (CKO).

Review Process

Once received, the submitted documentation will be reviewed by the BCAK (note: allow up to two weeks for review).

• If you are applying for Private Practice equivalency and the requirements are not indicated or can not be determined from the document(s) submitted, you may be asked to submit a full copy of the policy, including policy wordings.
• If you are applying for Public Practice equivalency, the documentation you submit must confirm you are a regular employee and not an independent contractor or sub-contractor.

After the review is completed, you will be advised whether the coverage meets the requirements outlined in the applicable Private/Public section.

If your request for approval is accepted, you will be informed by email that you may purchase your membership or renewal. If your request for approval is declined, you will be informed of which requirements are not met or cannot be verified based on the documentation submitted.

If your request is declined, you must either, repeat the entire process and present proof of coverage which meets all the requirements, or email the office and advise us you wish to purchase coverage through the group provider and you will be given directions on how to proceed.

Note: You will not be able to complete your membership purchase/renewal until the BCAK confirms with you in writing that the 'Other" coverage provided meets the requirements or you have purchased insurance through the group provider. For additional details please Email the BCAK office.

The CKA/BCAK member group policy offers coverage limits between two million ($2,000,000) and ten million ($10,000,000) per loss for both Professional Liability (PL) and Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance. Practicing members can mix and match the coverage limits to meet their professional needs.

The minimum coverage limit(s) required by the BCAK for PL and CGL are two million ($2,000,000).

If you require coverage limits above five million ($5,000,000) please contact the broker (ProLink) directly at cka@prolink.insure to apply, as additional underwriting requirements apply.

2024 Insurance premiums can be found at this LINK. (Prorated premiums apply for mid-term purchases after July 1st)

Professional Services Covered under the policy means; those services coming "within the competency and scope of the Insured’s Professional Capacity (subjective scope of practice) specified in Item 7 of the Declarations and within the services defined in the BCAK's Scope of Practice (including guidelines).

Please refer to: Prolink's BCAK Member Group Insurance Page for additional policy details.

Policy Amendment Fee

Changes requested and made by you to your policy coverage during the term of the policy, are referred to as "mid term change(s)". Changes to your policy other than a change of mailing address, are subject to a $15 policy amendment fee, each time you request a change. Please take this into consideration when initially choosing your coverage, limits and additional insured's during the purchase process. The fee will apply when you make one or more changes, such as increasing coverage limits (applies to E&O and/or CGL), adding additional coverage(s) such as "Extended Privacy Breach" or adding additional insured's. Note: There is no additional charge to add additional insured's at the time of policy purchase, however the $15 policy amendment fee will apply to midterm changes.

ICBC or other Insurance Company Work

ICBC requires Kinesiologists who are employed or working as independent contractors to carry a minimum of $2M in coverage but may require $5M in coverage for corporations or limited companies. You should inquire with ICBC if this situation applies to you. Other insurers may also have their own requirements and these should be confirmed with the payer prior to initiating service delivery.

Clinical Work

If you are, or plan to work onsite in a private or public clinic, you should confirm with the employer the amount of coverage (coverage limit(s)) the employer requires for Professional Liability (PL) and Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance to ensure you purchase the correct level(s) of coverage to meet your practice needs.

Community Work (ICBC or other)

If you are, or plan to work in a community setting (public recreation centre(s) and/or a combination of private clinic and public spaces), you may require a minimum of $5M (per loss/per year) coverage limit, for both PL and CGL insurance. Most cities, districts and municipalities require all persons or entities utilizing their facilities or public spaces for business or professional purposes to carry and provide proof of insurance to minimize risk and reduce loss exposure to them, should something negative and unforeseen happens with, or to, a client while receiving your services in or on public facilities/property.

Community Work & Requirements for Adding Additional Insureds to Your CGL Policy

If you work in the community and utilize public spaces or facilities (school/parks/police/community centre(s) referred to here as "facilities") the municipality/city may require you name them as an additional insured on your CGL insurance policy prior to permitting access or use by you and your client(s). Adding additional insured's which are not already included on your policy requires assessment by the insurer to determine risk, so you should ensure this is completed well in advance of your required facility/space access date or insurance renewal. Again, this delay can impact your ability to earn income should you be denied entry to a recreation facility, public park, or school property and are unable to work with clients until such time as you provide written proof the municipal entity has been added as an additional insured.

Additional Insured's Automatically Included on your BCAK Member CGL Policy

• Cities List (Includes related government entities)
• Private Organizations List

If you are requested to add additional insureds to your policy, please review the master list(s) of additional insureds to verify your requirements are met. If you require an additional insured(s) which are not included on the above lists, please contact Prolink directly.

Work Outside of Canada or With Persons Residing Outside of Canada

If you travel for work to locations outside of Canada, you will need to ensure the policy coverage you carry is valid in those jurisdictions. The CKA/BCAK group policy provides a temporary extension for work in the USA (with restrictions), however does not extend to other areas of the world. The same applies for work delivered remotely through online means, such as Telehealth or Personal Training. Regardless of whether you physically travel outside of Canada for work or provide services virtually to clients in other parts of the world from with BC or Canada, you should contact your insurance broker to verify your coverage restrictions and seek to obtain coverage which is valid in all jurisdictions in which you carry out business.

Retirement

For information on insurance coverage (and its importance) after retirement see - Business Resources - Retirement, Career Change & Insurance

Kinesiologists should complete an annual risk assessment of their working environment, including any enhancements/changes planned or anticipated for the calendar year. This helps provide a better understanding of what insurance coverage(s), extension(s), and coverage limit(s) are most appropriate or required for your specific working situation.

Below are some key items you will need to know when buying insurance for the first time or renewing your insurance with the CKA/BCAK Group Member Program.

A) Determining PL and CGL Coverage Limits

1. Review the contractual agreements you have with the organizations/businesses/cities or municipalities you do business with or in. Does one or more agreement specify coverage levels and the types of insurance you require? You will want to ensure you are meeting the specified requirements in any contracts, as there is often a requirement to maintain limits of $5M for PL and $5M for CGL coverage. This is particularly true if you work in public (city/municipal) or private gym facilities as a contractor or sub-contractor.
2. Consider your client/customer base. Do you work with clients who have high incomes, such as celebrities, doctors, lawyers, or other professionals? Claims by clients who are high income earners can be substantially higher than the average person and may exceed the loss limit for coverage on many policies.
3. Review the services you provide. Do you provide services other than exercise therapy? Providing other treatments such as Shockwave therapy (ESWT), Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT), Therapeutic Ultrasound, Interferential current therapy (IFC), yoga or therapeutic yoga (this list is not exhaustive), can have a higher risk exposure for client injury and lawsuits. The insurer may require proof of sufficient formal training and/or additional premium to cover these risks. 
4. Work outside of Canada (United States or international). Do you provide services to persons who reside outside of Canada, either in person or by e-commerce? If you do, you will need to estimate what percentage of revenue will come from US based or international clientele. If you generate US based revenue be sure to contact the insurance broker to discuss your circumstances, as there are typically limits on how much US exposure Canadian based insurers will cover. If you work with clients situated in countries other than the United States of America, you will need to contact the broker to determine if the policy coverage meets your needs, if a coverage extension is available, and if not, what to do to obtain coverage.

B) Annual Gross Revenue/Income

Insurance application/renewal forms require you to provide an estimate of your annual gross business revenue/income from kinesiology services as a means of determining the volume of work you perform and the associated risk of a claim. This is a standard practice in the insurance industry. If this is your first year purchasing insurance or you new to the kinesiology profession, your gross revenue/income will typically be somewhere between $40,000 and $100,000 per year. However members who run their own business and/or have employees or use contractors/sub-contractors will typically have higher gross revenues and this becomes relevant to your insurance rate/premium. If your personal gross revenue exceeds the $100,000 level and/or you insure your company business operations as part of your personal PL and CGL coverage on the same policy, your rates may be higher.  An initial low estimate should not impact your premium or eligibility for the liability insurance and/or claims coverage unless it is an intentional attempt to defraud the insurer of the appropriate risk premium. If you become aware during the policy term that your income will greatly exceed what you initially indicated to the broker/insurer on your application, you must contact them to provide updated information at your earliest opportunity.

C) Business Contents

Do you own business equipment, machinery or tools which you use for work (including at any space/facility you lease or sub-lease from another person or organization) which you want to insure and are not insured elsewhere? If you do, you will need to know the replacement value ("current new value including taxes", not what you paid) for the contents and equipment before starting the online insurance application for the group insurance.  You do not need to know the exact replacement value of all the contents and equipment that you own, but you should estimate the value to within 10% of what the actual replacement cost will be.

D) Covering Staff and other Service Providers (who are not kinesiologists or licensed healthcare practitioners) under business insurance

Do you provide professional kinesiology services through an incorporated entity and want to insure administrative staff and/or kinesiology service providers under the Group Coverage?

1. Please contact the group provider (Prolink) or a broker of your choice for details on this process.

• Prolink/Trisura can cover the employees on a separate policy outside of the CKA/BCAK Group program premium. The cost to insure other employees will depend upon the overall revenues earned from the other services providers.
• Businesses which employ or contract other health professional “service providers” as part of the business operation are not eligible to purchase coverage under the CKA/BCAK group plan and must contact either Prolink or another broker directly for an insurance quote.
• All kinesiologists retained as independent contractors (not employed by the insured) must purchase and carry their own PL (E&O) insurance coverage for the services they provide.

Additional resources

To assist you in assessing your risk exposure a variety of online resources are available and include the following:

1. The Insurance Bureau of Canada on their website: Professional Liability - Risk Management.
2. Steps in the Process of Risk Management in Healthcare - Journal of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (Open Access Review Article). The principles and techniques explained here can be adapted to any type or size of healthcare operation.

Prolink/Trisura also has optional disability insurance and extended health benefits coverage members can subscribe to. Basic details are provided for the two plans at the links below (Coverage and premium information are available through Prolink directly - contact details are listed on the plan sheets below)

Premiere Plan

Gold Plan