Insurance Program
The California Council of Square Dancers, Inc. ("Council") and the dancers of its Affiliates (associations, federations) are members of the United Square
Dancers of America, Inc. ("USDA"). USDA provides two insurance policies, one is Liability Insurance and the other is Accident Medical Insurance, for the Affiliates, clubs, and dancers. Each policy is group coverage and is provided to all dancers and clubs who belong to an Affiliate of USDA.
Note: There have been a number of changes in procedure over the past few years, and many of the documents posted here were intended to apply for 2020, posted just before the start of the pandemic. While the same general principles apply, details may be different - please follow instructions that you receive by e-mail if they are different from what is described here. Documents describing these policies:
Any questions concerning insurance should be directed to the Insurance Director <nancy.shelton4@comcast.net> Nancy Shelton. If she cannot answer the questions, she will contact the USDA Insurance Coordinator. But check the Frequently Asked Questions section below - the answer to your question may already be there! The insurance company establishes the cost per dancer for insurance. Council and each Affiliate may increase the fee to cover administrative costs. Monies collected for insurance MUST be designated for that use only. Affiliates and clubs need to be covered by insurance to provide protection for their dancers. Almost all of the facility contracts entered into require some type of liability insurance coverage. This information must be submitted to your Affiliate's Insurance Chairman each year. Downloadable forms are listed in the "Forms" section below. Affiliate Insurance Chairmen should send all California insurance transactions to:
Key Changes for 20201. Club rosters must now be submitted complete and paid in full before insurance certificates can be issued.
General policy questions
Why do we need insurance?
Insurance protects us against loss, injuries, accidents and liability. As dancers we are exposed to a multitude of situations over and above normal everyday activities that could result in any of the above situations.
What does our insurance do for us?
Our accidental insurance plan is a supplemental plan covering dancers while participating in any regularly scheduled and sponsored dancing activity worldwide.
Does Markel offer supplemental insurance for Board meetings, Club meetings, or social activities where there is no dancing?
No.
When does club/dancer insurance coverage begin?
Insurance coverage for a club and its members begins when their enrollment form and payment is received by USDA National Insurance
Coordinator.
What are the effective dates of our insurance policy?
Our insurance policy runs from January 1st through December 31st each year. When you obtain a certificate of insurance for a facility, the certificate is good for the entire year for that particular facility for any event held in that facility on any date.
What does our dance insurance cover?
Our coverage is two parts: accident medical and liability.
Our accident policy is a secondary insurance. It covers unpaid medical bills on
injuries incurred at a dance activity not covered by the insured's other insurance
policies.
The liability insurance protects the club and its members and association
officials from financial loss due to unforeseen incidents which may develop into
litigation against members and dance organizations.
Can we get increased coverage/liability limits for one of our facilities?
No. Our coverage limits are already maximized for the enrollment fee we pay.
We are starting a new club and want to call it the "Jane and John Doe Stars." Is that OK?
No. A club name cannot contain individuals' names.
Who is/isn't insured?
Can a dancer get USDA insurance and not be a member of an insured club?
No, to obtain insurance a dancer must belong to an insured club and 100% of the
membership has to participate in the program.
Can a club belong to a State Council Association and not purchase the USDA insurance?
No.
Are non-dancers or dancers from other areas covered under our insurance?
Our accident policy covers only members of clubs who have paid an enrollment
fee per dancer to USDA. Since USDA is a national insurance program, it is likely
your visitors are covered through their own clubs. There is coverage under our
liability policy for non-dancers if injured.
What if an independent dancer gets hurt at our dance?
The independent dancer would be responsible for his/her own coverage. If the
dancer feels the club is negligent, thus causing the accident, then the
independent dancer would have to sue the club for compensation. If this
happens, Markel will handle all legal matters for the club. There is no extra cost
for this service.
What if a person who only belongs to a caller or cuer group gets hurt at our dance?
Unless the caller or cuer group has submitted a club roster and paid the per
dancer enrollment fee, there is no USDA insurance coverage for this dancer or
the club. The caller and/or cuer may have coverage through their professional
organizations but it does not cover the dancers.
What if our caller/cuer gets hurt at the dance?
They are covered by their own professional organizations's insurance.
If a dancer has 100% primary insurance coverage, can they opt out of the USDA insurance program?
No. USDA requires all club members be insured through USDA in order for the
club to obtain their liability insurance.
Can we insure our Association and/ or Officers for Special Events?
Yes. Once the State Insurance Director has paid the fee for the State Council to be enrolled, Associations, their facilities, and their Officers (if requested] can be insured at no charge.
Why would we want to insure our Association Board Members? Aren't they already covered under their own clubs?
For a medical incident, Yes - they are covered. However, if a dancer were to get hurt at a dance, they could decide to sue the state, association, or district board. Insuring your Association board members protects them against a liability lawsuit. There is no fee for this coverage.
Are we covered if we go to a dance sponsored by a private individual or private group?
No. You are not covered if Dan D. Dancer rents out the local park and has a dance for their wedding/birthday, etc.
Dance Class Insurance
Are students covered by insurance?
Beginning students are covered at no charge for nine months while taking
lessons. After nine months, students are expected to be ready to join a club and
pay the enrollment fee to be covered. A class roster must be submitted to have
the students covered.
Is there a minimum age for children to be insured as a class member?
Not by USDA. Individual clubs may have an age limit for joining the club.
How many times can a student dancer be insured at no cost?
Once. If they continue on to a subsequent class, or repeat a class, they must pay
the insurance fee.
Is there a limit to the length of our class?
Yes. Classes may last a maximum of 9 months.
We have a Mainstream Class for 4 months followed by a [separate] Plus class for 4 months. If someone joins the group when the Plus class begins, can they be covered with student insurance?
No. They are not a Beginning student if they are joining you at the Plus level. The students who began with you at Mainstream can continue on for the 9 months of student coverage.
Is our A1/A2 class covered at the student rate?
No. Only Beginning Square Dance classes are covered. Advanced class students
need to be insured as club members.
Is a student dancer covered for the calendar year?
No. They are only covered for the duration of the class. After that, they need to be insured as a club member.
At the dance
When are dancers covered?
Coverage begins when a dancer leaves their mode of transportation for an
activity and ends when the dancer returns to their mode of transportation at the
end of the activity (i.e., getting in and out of the car is not covered, but walking
through the parking lot is covered).
What is the process for reporting an accident?
The club completes the Club Accident Report then sends it to their Association
Insurance Chairmen who sends to State Insurance Director.
A claim form is sent back to the State Director to get to the person who had the
accident. The injured dancer will complete and send back to National Director
along with bills he/she might have.
The State Director will sign claim form and send to USDA National Insurance
Coordinator who will send to insurance company for processing.
The claimant will then be contacted by the Insurance company and given a claim
number and instructions for submitting additional bills.
What happens if someone drinks alcohol at a dance?
A club officer should be notified and the dancer will be asked to leave the dance.
Do we need special insurance for our New Year's Eve dance?
No, but you do need the insurance certificates for the current year and the
upcoming year (e.g., 2018 and 2019). Current year certificates expire one
minute after midnight on New Year's Eve.
Special events and travel
If our special event venue requires an insurance certificate, do we also need to submit an Event Notification?
No, but do be sure to submit the Certificate Request 14 days before the
event.
Does a Special Event Form give us liability coverage for the place where we are dancing?
No, it only provides secondary medical coverage in case a dancer is injured. If you want/need liability coverage for your venue, submit a Certificate Request.
Are we covered on square dance cruises and tours?
Only for the dance activities.
On group travel, can the group make stops along the way, i.e. picking up other dancers, stopping for a break, taking a tour?
The travel information states that travel must be a continuous between point of
origin and point of destination. You can stop and pick up dancers, or stop for a
break, but no sight-seeing or other ancillary stops where incidents could occur
not directly related to dancing.
Are we covered if our club does a demo at/before a baseball game or other social event?
Yes, but only for the actual dancing. Special Event Form should be submitted.
Are impromptu "tailgate tips" covered? (e.g. impromptu dancing at a social
event)
No. Coverage is only provided for scheduled and sponsored dances in a public
venue. If your club is going on a social outing and there's even a remote chance
you'll be dancing, submit a Special Event form. Better to have the coverage and
not need it, than need it and not have it.
Are we covered if we dance out of town?
Yes, as long as it is a scheduled, sponsored square/round dance in a public
venue.
Are we covered if we dance at someone's home?
No.
Are we covered if we dance in a parade?
Riders on a float are covered. The float is not covered, nor the vehicle pulling
the float. Markel would prefer that riders not dance on the float but on the
ground if they dance.
Are we covered for club/board meetings or social events/outings?
No. Only for dancing activities.
Are daily sign in sheets required at state conventions?
No, not required by USDA.
Are sign in sheets required at demos, exhibitions, parades?
USDA does not require a sign in sheet, but it is prudent to have one in case of emergency.
What if someone gets hurt at a demo, but a Special Event Form was never submitted?
The dancer would still be covered. The Special Event Form is a courtesy.
Office Management
How soon can I get a certificate for next year?
Once the annual enrollment fee is announced and your Association has paid
their State Council dues, and the electronic enrollment system has opened (usually Nov. 1.).
Can a certificate for a special dance at the beginning of the year be requested
before the roster is sent in to be registered?
No certificates are issued for any dance until the roster, enrollment form, and
enrollment fees have been submitted for the new year.
How many members need to be on the roster in order to enroll for insurance
coverage?
Eight (8) dancers are needed on the roster for a club to enroll for insurance
coverage. Some of those 8 may be "insured through another club," but the $48
California minimum must still be paid.
If some of our members are "Insured Through Another Club," do we have to
submit a copy of the other clubs' rosters with our paperwork?
It is expedient and helpful to submit the other club rosters with yours, but it is
not necessary. The state insurance director will hold your paperwork until the
"Insured Through Another Club" enrollments can be verified.
Which insurance forms must be submitted each Fall?
Certificate Request (California) and Club Roster
What are the other forms we might need throughout the year?
Additional Club Members, Enrollment Through Another Club, Class Roster,
Additional Class Members, Event Notification, Accident Report
Do I need to put my club's USDA number on every transaction?
Yes, this helps with identification of a club.
Where can I find my club's USDA number?
In the file name of the electronic copy of your insurance certificate (e.g.
USDA410 Cowtown Singles)
The top left line of your hard copy insurance certificate from
Markel.
Does our club's USDA number stay the same from year to year?
No. A new number is assigned for each year. Think of it like a high school locker
number. Once you have been assigned a [USDA] number for the current year, it
needs to be on every transaction for that year. It can be handwritten or typed
onto any form. You will get a new USDA number when you enroll again next
year.
What if my facility requires special wording?
Markel is able to satisfy most requirements of a facility. Try to obtain all
requirements before submitting your request for a certificate. Special requests
may take longer than 60 days to process.
What is a blanket endorsement form? Why would I need one?
It is a document required by some facilities in addition to the certificate of
insurance. You would only need this if it is requested by the facility.
What is a CG 20 26?
Any time your facility requires any type of special wording, additional insured, or
endorsement, a CG20 26 will have to be generated. It is a separate 5 page
document that will follow several weeks after your regular certificate.
What is the turn-around time for receiving our new certificate?
Approximately 60 days from the time your request reaches the national
insurance coordinator. Certificates with special wording may take longer.
Adding/Deleting Members Mid-Year
Is there a pro-rated insurance rate if a student or new member joins mid-year?
No.
Is there a refund if a club folds mid-year?
No, but dancers have 30 days to transfer their paid insurance to a new insured
club. (The new club would list them on "Insured Through Another Club" form.)
If a dancer resigns or dies within a club, can another dancer's name be put on
the roster in his/her place?
No. If a dancer resigns from an insured club, the dancer has 30 days to join
another insured club before his/her insurance coverage lapses.
Downloadable FormsForms normally submitted each Fall:
Additional forms to be used as the need arises:
Information Sessions
Phone consultations are always available! Presentations at ConventionsA session about insurance is typically included as part of the Education Program at the annual state convention. Larger events like the National Square Dance Convention and USA West also often have a session on this topic. |