(originally printed in ScoutTalk, November, 2007)

For many years, the Capitol Area Council has provided our packs, troops, teams, crews and posts the opportunity to enroll in unit accident insurance. However, low participation resulted in the council having to purchase additional accident and sickness insurance for District and council events like summer camp, resident camp and day camp – along with District events and training courses – to insure that all of our youth and adults are properly covered in case of injury while participating in a Scout event.

In an effort to provide all of our youth and adult leaders with access to medical benefits in case of an accident or illness while participating in a Scouting activity, the Accident and Sickness Insurance Committee chaired by Frank Scofield received unanimous approval from the council’s Executive Board to enroll the council in an Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan in 2006.

The plan will renew in 2008, meaning that once again all registered youth, volunteers and guests will be covered while attending or traveling to and from official Scouting activities. Units do not have to enroll individually and will be continue to be covered under the councilwide plan at the next Recharter.

In order to fund councilwide coverage, it will once again be necessary for units to pay $1.00 per registered youth and adult member at Recharter time. The $1.00 payments collected at Recharter are used to purchase the coverage and partially offset administrative costs to provide insurance to all youth and adult members in the Capitol Area Council.

The fee is based upon the number of youth and adult members a unit has at the time of Recharter. Youth and adults who join after Rechartering do not have to pay until the next Recharter. Units that are chartered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints already purchase insurance as a group and will not have to pay the fee.  

The Capitol Area Council will provide, through Health Special Risk, Inc., an accident and sickness insurance plan, renewing January 1, 2008. 

The plan is underwritten by ACE American Insurance Company (rated A+) and administered through Health Special Risk, Inc. (HSR) of Carrolton, Texas. The plan provides year-round coverage for injuries and illnesses occurring anywhere in the world under these conditions: 

1. Participating in an official Scouting or Learning for Life activity

2. Traveling to and from official Scouting or Learning for Life activities

3. Coverage for sickness begins while the insured member is in attendance at an official overnight Scouting or Learning for Life activity; or traveling to and from such an overnight or other covered event.

4.The plan does provide coverage for non-member youth and adults who are being encouraged to join Scouting or Learning for Life as registered members. Other guests are not covered.

5. New youth and adult members are automatically covered. The insurance plan previously available as an option to units provided accidental injury coverage only.  

At Recharter time, your unit needs to collect the $1.00 per registered adult and youth for the coverage and submit it with your Recharter.