22 CAR § 5-1004. Insurance

(a)(1) Beginning November 1, 1989, vendors currently licensed and placed on location will qualify for fringe benefits coverage. (2)(A) A reimbursement of fifty dollars ($50.00) per month will be made for major medical or medical supplement insurance. (B) This includes Medicare supplements but not Medicare or Medicaid policies. (3) Monthly, quarterly, or annual proof of coverage must be submitted. (4) Quarterly payments will be issued, and insurance changes must be reported to the office immediately. (b) Licensees will not receive this insurance benefit until they are assigned a location. (c) Vendors are required to provide proof of coverage in one (1) of the following ways before the fifty-dollar payments will be issued: (1)(A) Have your insurance company send a letter to the Vending Facility Program office detailing your current coverage under a major medical or Medicare supplement insurance policy and that the Vending Facility Program office will be notified should this policy expire. (B) This option will allow continuous payment of the fringe reimbursement check; or (2)(A) Send a copy of the previous month's premium payment receipt or canceled check to the program office using the previous month's statement for the current month's reimbursement. (B) This option will provide payment for the time period shown on the receipt whether it be: (i) Monthly; (ii) Quarterly; or (iii) Annually. (d)(1) The program office will not make changes in any type of insurance coverage until they have received a written request to do so from the vendor. (2) The program office, after receiving a written request, shall acknowledge the requested change in writing. (e) Life insurance. (1) USAble Life Insurance coverage is available to vendors assigned to facilities within the program and their dependents. (2) The vendor is responsible for part of the premium. (3) The premium is payroll deductible from the vendor's draw checks. (f) Vendors in displaced status (22 CAR § 5-502). Effective July 1, 1986, those vendors in displaced status shall be eligible to have their health insurance premiums paid partially from the set-aside fund the same as assigned vendors for a period not to exceed one (1) year from the date of displacement. (g) Cancer insurance. (1)(A) Cancer insurance is available to vendors and their families through the program from an insurance provider if they qualify. (B) Due to the many changes that take place in insurance from year to year, dependents are defined in the policy handbook. (C) For further information on dependents, contact the program office. (2) This premium is also deductible from the vendor's draw check. (3)(A) A claim form is provided with the policy. (B) If additional claim forms are needed, the vendor should contact the program office. (h) Liability insurance. (1) Vendors are required to carry liability insurance to protect the vendor, the facility, and the program against property damage and claims filed by injured parties resulting from the operation of the vending facility. (2) This policy is obtained by the program and covers all legal costs, medical expenses, and personal and property damage subject to the following features: (A) One million dollars ($1,000,000) "all risk" and extends to products liability as well as premises; (B) This coverage includes liability, equipment, and inventory and is on a "replacement cost" basis; (C) Full loss of earnings; and (D)(i) Money and securities, ten thousand dollars ($10,000). (ii) Inside and outside, two thousand dollars ($2,000). (iii) Deductible, two hundred fifty dollars ($250). (3) The cost of the insurance for each facility is based on the: (A) Type of operation; (B) Location of facility; and (C) Annual sales of facility. (4) The annual cost for each facility will be: (A) Prorated over the thirteen (13) periods per year; and (B) Deducted from the facility's profits as an operating expense each period. (5) At the end of each year, adjustments will be made based on any changes in the type of operation of the facility. (6) The vendor shall notify their specialist at once should any claims or losses arise that are covered by the liability insurance. (i) Workers' compensation insurance. (1) All vendors are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. (2) This insurance covers all full-time, part-time, occasional, or nonessential extra help employees. (3) The cost of this insurance will be: (A) Prorated over the thirteen (13) periods per year; and (B) Deducted from the facility profits as an operating expense. (4) Workers' compensation claims. (A) When the extra help person is injured on the job or entering or leaving the work premises, the licensed blind vendor shall immediately contact the Vending Facility Specialist to report the accident and begin appropriate filing of workers’ compensation claims. (B) Under no circumstances should a vendor delay the filing or reporting of a job-related accident. (C) If a vendor is unable to contact the vendor's respective specialist, the program office should be contacted and either the program accountant or the Vending Facility Program Administrator made aware of the accident. (D) Failure to report a job-related accident within a twenty-four-hour period of time will be grounds for disciplinary action.