Submit the following documents to the adjuster at bcfpa@coastclaims.com. When the adjuster receives the full set of your documentation, they will ensure that everything is in order. Copy all documents to your MCFD/Agency worker for their records.

1. Copy of your Insurance Policy Wording. It is important to note that you do not need to open a claim through your own insurer. The purpose of this policy is to protect you from having to place claims for damages done by the child in your care.
2. Statement of Circumstances. A detailed statement describing the incident including specific dates, times and who was involved. Please keep in mind that in order to protect the privacy of the child/youth, their name should not be used in this statement. Use initials and age instead of their full name.
3. Declaration page from the insurance company (sometimes called the “face page”) corresponding with the date of the incident.
4. Copy of your Foster Home Agreement or Contract corresponding with the date of the incident (only the signature pages).
5. For theft claims, please include your police file number.
6. Estimates or receipts of repair for all damaged items.
7. Pictures of the damage.

A local insurance adjuster will be in contact with you to ask specific questions toward the settlement of your claim. Insurance adjusters work as quickly as possible but there are occasions when the claims process is slowed down by unavoidable circumstances, such as incomplete paperwork, difficulty contacting claimants, or acquiring estimates. In order to expedite the settlement of your claim, please be sure to follow all instructions and send all paperwork promptly.

Your adjuster will contact you regarding the settlement of your claim and payment. Every claim is different, and although the claims process can vary slightly according to the situation, your adjuster will devote the time and attention it takes to resolve your particular case. Please contact your Resource Worker for payment or reimbursement of your deductible.

A claim may be refused if the damage is not caused by a child/youth placed in the home. In this case, the foster parent is directed to make a claim through their primary insurance provider. Claims might also be refused if coverage is excluded under your primary homeowner or tenant policy or if you have no homeowner or tenant insurance.

No insurance is available to cover ongoing damage either through a primary policy or through the Rider, which mirrors your primary policy. You should seek restitution through the social worker.

Due to the damage being ongoing (cumulative), with each incident being less than your primary policy deductible, the Rider would not cover the damages. The youth’s social worker should be made aware of these damages in order for the Ministry to cover the damages.

Though ongoing damage is not covered under the Rider, cases such as this require individual assessment. You should submit a claim and the adjustors will discuss the situation directly with you.

Each incident must be treated as an individual claim which may or may not exceed the deductible amount on your policy. In addition, you have only 2 years from the date of an incident to file a claim. Make individual claims for each incident over the deductible amount. Speak with the social worker about the damages that are under the deductible amount.

Damages are covered by the Rider program when done by children/youth placed in your care only if any one incident is more than the deductible on the caregiver’s policy. Damages caused by guests to your home would be covered by your primary policy. The Rider only addresses damages caused by children/youth residing in your home.

If the respite caregiver is an approved foster parent with a valid respite contract in place, the Rider will cover damages done by children in respite care.

If you are providing relief directly for another foster parent and they are paying you, the Rider will not cover you unless you also have a Care Home Agreement. If you do not have a contract you would have to sue the other foster parent unless your primary carrier was willing to cover the damage. Our agent has suggested that it may be advisable for caregivers to purchase their own business insurance.

The Rider covers the caregiver to the extent that they have covered their property through their primary coverage. The Rider mirrors your own primary policy. In instances of theft, your foster child must be charged with the theft by the police or alternative proof or an admission that he or she committed the theft.

Submit a claim through the Rider and the insurance adjuster will review the circumstances of the claim.

The Rider will provide coverage for these types of circumstances. There is no exclusion under the Rider for children with a previous history.

The Rider does not cover damage to motorized vehicles. You would either have to charge the youth for purposes of putting in a claim with ICBC or discuss restitution with your social worker.

The individual who sustained the damage would make a claim through ICBC, and the Ministry may cover the cost of their deductible.

Motor vehicles fall under ICBC, and they should be contacted. If you have ATVs, trailers or fifth wheels, they may be covered under your house insurance, in which case the Rider would cover the damage.

The damage to a rental property would be covered under the landlord’s insurance. The landlord’s insurer may wish to subrogate against your liability insurer in order to recoup any losses.

The owners of the home where the foster child causes the damage could either discuss the situation with you and the child’s social worker or launch a lawsuit through your liability coverage. All foster parents with signed contracts have this liability coverage through the Master Insurance Program automatically. Society or agency homes should contact their organization for the appropriate answer in this situation.