Chapter 8.11 Contents:

Chapter 8.11. - OCCUPATIONAL INSURANCE

1. Occupational Insurance

[REVISED: 1/13/14]

  1. Definition.
    Occupational insurance means insurance directly related to employment, such as inventory insurance, professional liability insurance, bonded employee, malpractice insurance, etc.

  2. Not a stand alone service.
    The counselor may authorize occupational insurance premium only under an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) and only when insurance is needed for an immediate job placement or vocational training. 

  3. DRS staff shall not authorize or request payment for any fees required to maintain client current employment (such as annual insurance renewal) because this is the financial responsibility of the client or is an ongoing operational expense of self-employment.

  4. Maximum allowance.
    The maximum allowance is the actual cost.

  5. Comparable benefits.
    This service shall (per 2001 Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.53)  be subject to comparable benefits policy (see Chapter 14.2, COMPARABLE, Policy 1). The counselor shall not authorize or request payment for any coverage that the employer or training vendor pays for all employees (or trainees) in the same position. 
         
     
  6. Fee-based.
    This service shall (per 2001 Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.54) be subject to consumer financial participation (see Chapter 14.3, FINANCIAL, Policy 1).  

  7. Bonding Program.
    For VR clients with a felony or misdemeanor conviction, a bonding program is administered by the Department of Corrections.

  8. Encumbering funds.
    Services shall be subject to DRS established purchasing policies and procedures (see Chapter 14.1, PURCHASING, Policy 1).  The counselor shall code occupational insurance for a self employment enterprise (SEE) as “SEE Other.”  When not authorized for a SEE, the counselor shall code the service under category “Miscellaneous Non-Medical Services and Items” using the Service/Item (S/I) code "Other non-medical services and items not listed elsewhere.” See DARS Services Reference Manual.

Links to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) are currently unavailable while we await federal changes to the vocational rehabilitation program. Upon promulgation of the final regulations the links will be updated and activated.