America’s workers who put their lives on the line to protect others now have access to more protection themselves with an enhanced gunshot wound insurance policy from Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company.
Police officers have a higher exposure to the risk of nonfatal gunshot wounds than most employees. In fact, the rate of missed work days related to violence is nearly 20 times higher for public safety employees than for private sector workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Among local government employees, police and sheriff’s patrol officers lead the way in missed work days because of injury or illness.
Colonial Life’s gunshot wound policy provides a lump-sum benefit for a covered injury due to a non-fatal gunshot wound. The enhanced coverage includes an increased benefit amount, up to $5,000. Customers can use the money to pay medical bills, expenses not covered by health insurance such as copayments and deductibles, or even household bills.
"Our public sector customers have been asking for this enhancement to meet a need for their employees who need a higher level of financial protection," said Steven Johnson, vice president, Products & Market Development at Colonial Life. "The coverage is ideal for police, fire, emergency medical technicians and even private security guards or any employee who values this benefit."
The policy covers gunshot wounds on or off the job and pays benefits regardless of any other insurance the employee may have. The plan is portable, so employees can keep the coverage with no increase in premiums, even if they change jobs or retire.
Coverage is available to new or existing Colonial Life customers, including to employees who already have this coverage and want to transfer to a higher benefit. It’s offered on a guaranteed issue basis, so any employee can be covered without answering health questions.
Colonial Life is an industry leader in protecting public sector employees. Not including educational organizations, the company insures more than 730,000 public sector employees in nearly 9,400 entities across the country.