ISRM is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Balens Limited, Nimrod House, Sandy's Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 1JJ who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

COMPREHENSIVE BLOCK INSURANCE SCHEME

Who are Balens?

• Balens are a well established, fourth generation family-run business which has been built on solid roots going back to 1950, and we have grown during that time to its’ present size mainly through recommendation, not acquisition!
• We are Pioneers in the development of top quality cover for all types of Health Professional with special rates and industry leading cover and have been developing and improving our range for over 17 years in this speciality – often copied, never bettered! We also specialise in Charities and not for profit organisations.
• When you deal with Balens you will receive expert advice and claims service from the largest independent health professional specialist Brokers in the UK and Ireland, backed up by state of the art admin technology.
• Our unique quality wordings are designed by us and not available elsewhere.
• We offer consultancy and a Personal Approach in these days of growing impersonality and aim to offer a friendly, listening approach to our clients’ needs. Our slogan “we care for the Carers” describes this intention, and is a good reflection of how we operate.
• We are flexible and design our procedures around the client and not the other way round! We are an ethical company dedicated to customer care and are not solely motivated by profit.

What can we offer you?

• We are Market Leaders in development and improvement of wordings for Health Professionals. Our policy wordings are, in our opinion, the widest available on the market and include important features that other cheaper insurance packages on the market may not include. Premiums are extremely competitive.
• All types of Comprehensive Insurance solutions for Conventional Medicine Environments and individual private practitioners, Complementary Therapists, Medical Auxiliary Professionals, Health-related Businesses, Organisations, Beauty Therapy Professionals and many other Health Professionals on an individual basis or as part of a customised block scheme arrangement.
• All types of Insurance packages designed especially for charities and not for profit organisations.
• We offer a “One–stop” solution for your other Insurance requirements (see the request for further information sheet).
• We offer Sympathetic and expert help in event of an incident occurring from specialist intermediaries. Our experience in helping lift the burden and giving skilled advice to avoid problems when we are advised of a possible claim circumstance is second to none, and we would place this feature above all others. At the time when you need it most, and when you feel vulnerable, we are there to support you. Our approach is different in that we will help you deal with these initially without resort to solicitors, and our Insurers will not just pay a claim quickly to reduce their costs, as can easily happen. Practitioners want their version of a case to be considered. Their reputation, and of course the reputation of the Therapy, could be affected as a result of claims paid for as a matter of expediency.
• Many well-known and respected organisations use our services. David Balen is an advisor to Professional Bodies on Insurance and Practice Management Issues, and lectures and writes articles for journals regularly.
• Complementary / Alternative Medicine: - We can cover over 700 therapies from lower risk therapies such as Healing to higher risk therapies such as Acupuncture / Osteopathy / Chiropractic / Colonic Hydrotherapy etc.
• Private Conventional Medicine based clinics and other business environments, plus various categories of private practitioner working in the field of Medicine.

Key Points- Policy Cover

• Balens have specialised in Health Professionals for over 17 years, and understand what they do and how to protect them. Our experience and marketing power has enabled us to partner with a major Insurer and provide you with unrivalled protection for your therapeutic or consulting work. This is an exclusive newly designed wording and is only available through Balens.
• Suitability Statement and Statement of Demands and Needs - As a Health Professional you can be held legally liable for loss or damage to other people’s property, injury or other harm, financial loss alleged to have been caused to your clients or patients, or other parties. This policy will meet that need and provide defence and payment of damages for the above, as well as covering other risks and offering various services as well.
• The Insurer for this Policy is the Zurich - We have chosen this insurer as Balens have designed an exclusive specially improved policy wording with them, which includes greater security in the event of you discontinuing cover as well as other advantages. They are a diversified global insurer and financially very secure, which gives long term security of cover. Please refer to the full policy wording which is available on request from Balens or on our website, www.balen.co.uk.
• The policy is on a Claims Occurring Basis - Balens have managed to include all the benefits of a Claims Made policy and combined it with a Claims Occurring policy thus removing the disadvantages that both usually have!
• What does the Zurich policy cover?
  • All premiums include full retroactive cover for previous work performed.
  • The Cover is £3,000,000 or £5,000,000 per section, any one claim, with unlimited number of claims in the year, plus unlimited defence costs are covered in addition. There is no excess
  • Wide definition of cover is clear and is not restricted to treatment only. Cover includes Medical Malpractice, Professional Indemnity, Public / Products Liability (claims in this section do not reduce the amount covered for other sections of the policy as is normally the case in other policies) and Products Liability (provided for unlimited sales to clients and for up to £15,000 sale to non-clients).
  • Teaching and Student Work cover (running a school can be covered separately).
  • Includes Libel and Slander cover.
  • Loss of Reputation expenses to help repair damage to your business in event of a claim against you
  • Breach of Intellectual Property, Client Confidentiality Protection cover.
  • Temporary Trips abroad are covered without a time limit (ex USA and Canada). Ex-UK Domiciles may be covered upon request
  • Loss of Documents cover included £50,000
  • First Aid cover as well as Good Samaritan Acts.
  • Run off on cessation of cover or practice is included whether your scheme stays with this insurer or not at no charge whatsoever! There are no restrictions or conditions. This is a Major improvement on what is usually available through other insurers.
  • We include an upgrade of cover feature that protects you against the effects of inflation and rising court awards - this cover is a pioneering hybrid offering the advantages of a claims occurrence policy with features normally only found on a claims made policy, but with none of the disadvantages, particularly around the issue of discontinuing cover and possibly being uninsured later on if a claim is discovered. Many wordings give conditional “unlimited” or time restricted run off cover if you cease the policy at any time.
  • Includes Disciplinary Hearings cover, plus Pre disciplinary hearing legal advice up to £1000.
  • Students can be covered for all work prior to qualification, subject to adequate supervision and safeguards
  • Wide range of activities can be insured from the non-invasive to the more invasive types, as well as non treatment related work and advice - our definition of a “Health Professional “ or “Health Business” and the various types of situation covered is extremely wide.
  • Flexible underwriting to accommodate changes in your practice
  • No additional charges for routine changes to cover or duplicate certificates
  • There are many more features too numerous to mention here!

Also Included is a Legal and Taxation Package through DAS and covers Criminal Defence and other costs up to £100,000!

• Regretfully, the climate of litigation is still deteriorating, claims incidents criminal allegations including allegations of sexual impropriety or assault are, in our experience, on the increase. We have responded to this situation for individuals, and include our Legal Expenses Package. The cover is generous and the exclusions few. Wide range of free 24 hour Advicelines, including Legal and Tax Advice, Counselling and other business support services are included. Corporates should take out a wider separate cover.
• Jury or Witness Service Compensation – for lost income as a result of having to attend.
• Defence of your legal rights involving Criminal Proceedings as well as Data Protection and other legislation cover, wrongful arrest, actions against you for unlawful discrimination etc.
• Negotiation and representation (including accountants fees) in event of Inland Revenue partial or full enquiry. Some accountants have been known to charge over £90 for this!
• Business Assistance Helpline for emergencies involving your premises.
• Disciplinary Hearings Defence and Legal Expenses if you lose your Statutory Licence to practise.

  We have always regarded advice, quality cover and personal service as our main strengths, which in themselves can save time and money in the long term.
  Our collective buying power ensures that you get the best value for money and a unique cover opportunity in this very specialised and limited marketplace.

W. R. BERKLEY INSURANCE (EUROPE), LIMITED
Balens BLOCK Individual Personal Accident Insurance

NB This sheet applies to the Optional Personal Accident scheme shown on the form at £10. This is a lump sum pay out policy up to a maximum of £25,000 for Permanent disability i.e accidental death, loss of limbs, loss of sight, loss of hearing and is not a weekly benefit Accident and Illness policy. The policy will run in line with the Medical Malpractice policy and does not reduce in price depending on when you join the main scheme. If you are over the age of 71, we will not be able to offer you this policy.

This document provides you with a summary of the significant features, benefits, limitations and exclusions of the cover provided under the Balens BLOCK Individual Personal Accident Insurance policy. As such it does not contain the full terms and conditions, which can be found in the Policy Wording. This summary is not part of the Policy Wording.

Insurers
W. R. Berkley Insurance (Europe), Limited

Type of Insurance
This insurance provides financial protection against the consequence of sustaining accidental Bodily Injury. The level of cover applicable is shown in the Schedule. An Insured must be under 71 years of age at the commencement date of the Period of Insurance.

Significant Features & Benefits and Significant Exclusions or Limitations
The following table shows the main policy features and benefits and any significant exclusions and limitations.

Section A – Personal Accident Provides financial protection following accidental Bodily Injury that within 24 months of the date of such accident will result in the death or disablement of an Insured.
Significant Features & Benefits	Significant or Unusual Exclusions or Limitations	Policy Reference
The following specific benefits may apply: A.1 Accidental Death A.2 Loss of Limbs A.3 Loss of Sight A.4 Loss of Hearing in both ears A.5 Loss of Hearing in one ear A.6 Permanent Total Disablement A.7 Continental Scale	Committing a criminal act Taking part in civil commotion or riot Suicide, attempted suicide or intentional self injury Taking drugs, solvent abuse or alcoholism Military services (other than UK volunteer reserve force) Air travel other than as a passenger in a licensed passenger aircraft operated by a licensed commercial air carrier Riding or driving in any kind of race Mountaineering or rock climbing normally requiring the use of ropes or guides War Sickness or disease (not resulting from Bodily Injury) Pre-existing conditions Any gradually operating cause Upper age limit of 71 years of age	1. Insuring Clause 2. General Definitions 5.(a) Cover 5.(b) Definitions 5.(c) Extensions 5.(d) Conditions 5 (e) Exclusions

.

General
Significant or Unusual Exclusions or Limitations	Policy Reference
It is a Condition of the Policy that the Insured shall observe travel advice provided by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). No cover shall apply in respect of any destination to which the FCO advise against all travel unless agreed in writing. Travel to destinations to which the FCO advise against all but essential business shall be deemed a material fact and should be advised to Insurers. Exclusions Discharge or explosion employing nuclear fission or fusion, chemical, biological, radioactive or similar agents Radioactive contamination	3. General Conditions 4. General Exclusions 5.(e) Exclusions

Duration of Policy
The policy is an annual contract that may be renewed at expiry of a Period of Insurance subject to an Insured's need and our terms and conditions.
Cancellation Rights
You may cancel this insurance and receive a full refund if you return all documentation to Balens Specialist Insurance Brokers within 14 days of receiving them provided that you have not made or intend to make a claim.
Law and Jurisdiction
The Policy shall be governed by the law of England and Wales whose courts alone shall have jurisdiction in any dispute unless otherwise agreed.
Claim Notification
Notice of any claim or circumstance is to be given to: Balens Specialist Insurance Brokers
2 Nimrod House, Sandys Road
Malvern
WR14 1JJClaims will be handled by: W. R. Berkley Insurance (Europe), Limited
2nd Floor, 40 Lime Street
London
EC3M 7AW
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7280 9000

Complaints Procedure
It is always our intention to provide a first class standard of service. However, if you have any cause for complaint or you wish to make any enquiry regarding this insurance you should, in the first instance, contact Balens Specialist Insurance Brokers, 2 Nimrod House, Sandys Road, Malvern WR14 1JJ.

Alternatively you may contact us at the following address: Compliance Officer
W. R. Berkley Insurance (Europe), Limited
2nd Floor, 40 Lime Street
London
EC3M 7AW
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7280 9000

If you are not satisfied with the way a complaint has been dealt with you have the right to request that the Financial Ombudsman Service (“FOS”) review your case.
Their address is:
Financial Ombudsmen Service
South Quay Plaza
183 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SR
Telephone: 0845 080 1800 www.financial-ombusdmen.org.uk

Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
We are covered by the FSCS. You may be entitled to compensation should we be unable to meet our financial obligations.
You may contact the FSCS on 020 7892 7300 or for further information visit their website at www.fscs.org.uk

Data Protection Notice
We hold data in accordance with the Data Protection Act of 1998. Data may be passed to other organisations who supply products and services associated with this contract of insurance. We may share information you give us with other organisations and public bodies, including the Police in order to verify information or to prevent and detect fraud.

W. R. Berkley Insurance (Europe), Limited
Registered Office: 400 Capability Green, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 3LU
Registered in England & Wales 4681277
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Download the Insurance application form as a WORD document

Download the covering letter as a word document

If you wish to join the scheme, please complete the application form at the bottom of the page, and return to the following address with your cheque made payable to Balens:-

BALENS

Balens are Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority
Reference number-305787
Balens Ltd trading as Balens registered in England & Wales Reg.No. 493105
Specialist Insurance Brokers to Complementary Health Practitioners & Organisations
2 Nimrod House, Sandy’s Road, Malvern, Worcs, WR14 1JJ
Tel : 01684 - 893006 Telefax: 01684 – 893416
www.balen.co.uk info@balen.co.uk