» Canadian Forum
Read Your Insurance Policy Lately?
Be sure that you’re adequately covered as your club, business and programming evolves.
BY GARY W. PITTS
professionals has created a prolifera- tion of new commercial liability insur- ance products. As a result, insurance agents and
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brokers are scrambling to accommo- date the increased demands for fit- ness insurance. Fitness club owners, personal trainers and group exercise instructors require appropriate cover- age whether their workplaces are con- ventional fitness facilities or in-home studios. Just as one fitness program doesn’t
fit all clients, one insurance policy doesn’t fit all fitness professionals. It is the task of the insurance broker to help clients obtain coverage that is ap- propriate for their specific facilities, activities and personnel. While it is possible to obtain insur-
ance coverage online in many instanc- es, it is ideal to work with a qualified and trustworthy insurance broker you can trust and deal with directly.
Here are five advantages of working one-on-one with a broker: 1. A broker knows and understands
your insurance requirements and 2. can provide the best options with
the best company for the lowest pos- sible premium. 3. Increasingly changing docu-
ments and detailed information can be more easily provided as insurance companies modify their documentary requirements on a regular basis. 4. Fitness insurance is a relatively
new area for many insurance agents as well as for the fitness industry so it is a
46 Fitness Business Canada July/August 2012
mutual learning experience both will benefit from. 5. Working with a broker lets you
have a reliable insurance consultant as your business and/or legal require- ments change over the long-term.
A few essential points to discuss with your broker: 1. territorial coverage 2. activities covered 3. documentation required (e.g.,
waivers, consent forms, etc.) 4. notice of claim required (e.g.,
what steps to take in the event of an accident)
Despite the most stringent safety
precautions, accidents happen. If or when you make a claim and/or ask to be defended under your insurance
Gary W. Pitts is an Ottawa-based sports and risk management lawyer. Contact him at gary.
pitts@rogers.com.
policy, you don’t want any unpleasant surprises regarding the kinds of activi- ties or personnel who are covered or excluded. (All insurance policies con- sist largely of exclusion clauses.) To avoid future surprises, pull out your current fitness insurance policy and read it carefully. Top insurance agents and brokers
have a good and current understand- ing of the fitness industry that helps them obtain the best quality fitness insurance for their clients. Retaining a knowledgeable broker now may save you a lot of heartache and even a few dollars in the future. FBC
he ever-expanding number of fitness activities available to the general public and cer- tifications available to fitness
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