Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need insurance to start a home care agency in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio home care and home health providers generally need general and professional liability coverage in place to operate, and many referral sources, contracts, and licensing or certification programs ask for proof of insurance before you take clients. Workers' compensation through Ohio BWC is also required once you hire caregivers, and many agencies carry an employee dishonesty bond. Text us at 814-718-0060 or start at noahia.com/quote.
What insurance does a home care agency need?
Most agencies start with general liability and professional liability, which respond to injuries, property damage, and claims about the care your team provides. From there, many add workers' compensation for caregivers, an employee dishonesty bond, and hired and non-owned auto coverage if staff drive their own cars to clients. What you need depends on your state, services, and contracts. Text us at 814-718-0060 or start at noahia.com/quote.
What's the difference between general liability and professional liability for a home care agency?
General liability covers third-party bodily injury and property damage — for example, a visitor slips in your office or a caregiver accidentally damages a client's property. Professional liability covers claims tied to your services themselves, like an allegation that care was missed, delayed, or performed incorrectly. Most home care agencies carry both, because the two policies respond to different kinds of claims. Text us at 814-718-0060 or start at noahia.com/quote.
Why do home care agencies need an employee dishonesty bond?
Home care caregivers work inside clients' homes, often around money, medication, and valuables. An employee dishonesty bond protects your agency if an employee steals from a client, and many contracts, referral partners, and state programs expect agencies to carry one. Some states also require a surety bond as part of agency licensing. The required bond type and amount depend on your state and contracts. Text us at 814-718-0060 or start at noahia.com/quote.
What insurance do I need to start a non-emergency medical transportation company?
NEMT providers typically need commercial auto liability for every vehicle, plus general liability for the business itself. Contracts with brokers, facilities, and Medicaid transportation programs usually set the coverage they expect and require a certificate of insurance before you can take trips. Many providers also add hired and non-owned auto, workers' compensation for drivers, and physical damage coverage for their vehicles. Text us at 814-718-0060 or start at noahia.com/quote.
Does my NEMT company need hired and non-owned auto insurance?
If your drivers ever use personal or rented vehicles for company business — covering a trip when a fleet vehicle is down, for example — hired and non-owned auto coverage protects your company if there's an accident. The driver's personal policy may not respond to commercial use. Many NEMT brokers and contracts also ask for this coverage before assigning trips. Text us at 814-718-0060 or start at noahia.com/quote.
What insurance do I need before my motor carrier authority goes active?
Your federal operating authority won't go active until an insurer files proof of liability insurance with the FMCSA for you. For-hire carriers generally need bodily injury and property damage liability filed on a BMC-91 or BMC-91X form, and freight brokers need a BMC-84 bond or trust. Filings are made electronically by your insurer or bond provider once your policy or bond is in place. Text us at 814-718-0060 or start at noahia.com/quote.
What insurance does a box truck owner-operator need?
Most box truck owner-operators need primary auto liability, physical damage coverage for the truck itself, and cargo coverage for what they're hauling. If you lease on to a carrier, that carrier's contract spells out what you must carry and what they provide. Factors like your operating radius, commodities, driving record, and time in business all affect how your policy is rated. Text us at 814-718-0060 or start at noahia.com/quote.
What affects the cost of commercial truck insurance?
Insurers rate truck insurance on general factors: the type of truck and what you haul, how far you run, your garaging location, driver experience and motor vehicle records, prior claims, and how long you've been in business. New ventures usually have fewer options than established carriers. Keeping clean records, accurate filings, and consistent coverage history generally helps your standing with insurers over time. Text us at 814-718-0060 or start at noahia.com/quote.
What is a surety bond, and how is it different from insurance?
A surety bond is a three-party guarantee: your business promises to follow the rules of your license or contract, a surety company backs that promise, and the agency or party requiring the bond can claim if you don't. Unlike insurance, which protects you, a bond protects the public and the party that required it — and you repay the surety for paid claims. Text us at 814-718-0060 or start at noahia.com/quote.
How do I get a surety bond for my business license?
Start by finding the exact bond form and amount your state, city, or licensing board requires — the bond must be issued on the correct form to count. Many standard license bonds are issued through an online application with basic business information, and once approved, you receive bond documents to file with the agency that requires them. Keep the bond active and renew it before it expires. Text us at 814-718-0060 or start at noahia.com/quote.
What information do I need to get a personal auto insurance quote?
To quote your car insurance, an agent typically needs your name and garaging ZIP, each vehicle's VIN or year, make, and model, and a list of drivers in your household. It also helps to know your current coverage, any tickets or accidents in the last few years, and whether you need an SR-22 filing. You don't need to share sensitive ID numbers just to start. Text us at 814-718-0060 or start at noahia.com/quote.