Unlike office-based scenarios, where getting something slightly wrong on a quote might just be a minor inconvenience, getting it wrong on a quote for medical cover can land you in very hot water. Not only would it potentially open you up to legal problems if you didn’t have the right cover in place, but it could also put lives in danger. That might sound alarmist, but if you’re holding events with the public as attendees, you may need care on hand for anything from small graze to cardiac arrest.
That’s why it’s so essential to make sure you’re always getting like-for-like quotes from the companies you choose so that you can make the best decision and ensure you have the right cover in place for every event. So, here are a few tips to make sure you’re always getting like-for-like quotes on your medical event cover.
Write One Brief
Before you approach any companies, sit down and write out a brief of what you need. This might mean you need to do some research on your part, as different events will require different levels of medical event cover. For example, for all road races you need to provide a minimum of basic life support plus AED to a casualty at any point in the race within 8 minutes or less preferably. For any event, you will need a specific event medical plan written, and if guidance indicates that an Ambulance is required for your event, the CQC registered company can collaborate with Canopy Medical Services Ltd, the ambulance should be crewed with at least one registered Paramedic, along with an Emergency Care Assistant or ambulance technician.
Every event is different, so take your time to find out what your legal obligations are, and get them written down. Once you know this, you can add in any extra cover you would like to provide, or that your insurance states you have to have. This will leave you with a list of core needs to approach each company with, knowing they will all be receiving exactly the same information to base their quotes on.
Contact Companies Directly
This follows on from writing that one brief. When you are researching event medical cover companies, avoid filling in their online quote forms. This is the easiest way to ensure you get different levels of cover from each of your quotes, as each form will be slightly different and it’s all too easy to make a mistake. And as we mentioned earlier, even a small mistake in your event medical cover could be the difference between safety and serious injury.
Instead, look for direct contact information on their website, or look them up in local directories to find a direct phone number or email address. This will allow you to present that same brief to each company and remove the risk of misunderstanding the online forms, or each company having slightly different guidelines they follow. After all, not all event medical companies are born equal.
Compare Quotes Carefully
Ideally, you should gather between 3 and 5 quotes for your event medical cover to give you the best idea of the cost, as well as an insight into what each company can offer. But it also gives you the chance to check each line item to make sure that you’re getting exactly the same amount of coverage from each company. If one quote comes back significantly cheaper than the rest, the odds are it’s missing something important. Make sure each part of the quote is offering the same thing, and if something seems wrong make sure you ask the company for clarification. If you’ve given all of the companies the same brief, then their quotes should all be the same, though many will add their own upsell options to the quote!
At Canopy Medical we are always happy to provide detailed, line-by-line quotes so that you know exactly what you’re getting every time. We’re also happy to work with you to understand your requirements, even helping you write your own brief to make sure you’re getting like-for-like quotes for your event medical cover. If you’d like to know more about our cover options, or if you just have some questions about medical cover, just get in touch with the team today.