Understanding Liability Insurance: HOA Specialist vs. Home Health Care Insurance Agent

When shopping for liability insurance, you may come across agents who advertise themselves as "specialists" in a particular industry—such as Homeowners Associations (HOAs) or Home Health Care services. While specialization can suggest familiarity with industry-specific needs, it’s important to understand what that really means when it comes to the insurance forms and coverages being offered.

In reality, many general liability policies are built around standard forms created by ISO (Insurance Services Office). One of the most common forms used across a wide range of industries is the ISO CG 00 01, also known as the Commercial General Liability (CGL) Occurrence Form. This form provides liability coverage for bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury—on an occurrence basis.

So whether your insurance agent claims to specialize in HOA insurance or Home Health Care liability, chances are they are both using the exact same CG 00 01 form as the backbone of your coverage.

The main distinction comes when agents working with industries like Home Health Care introduce a different form: the ISO CG 00 02, or the Claims-Made CGL Form. This form provides coverage based on when a claim is made, not when the incident occurred—an important difference that can impact your coverage if not managed properly.

Key Takeaway:

• CG 00 01 (Occurrence Form): Commonly used across industries, including HOAs and Home Health Care.
• CG 00 02 (Claims-Made Form): Often added in Home Health Care settings due to the nature of long-tail liabilities.

In short, while an agent's claimed “specialization” may sound impressive, always look at the actual policy forms being used. True specialization should go beyond marketing and reflect a deep understanding of your risk profile, contractual obligations, and long-term coverage needs.