DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS INSURANCE IN MASSACHUSETTS

Anyone who’s not sure whether their leadership role warrants purchasing D&O insurance can get guidance from an insurance agent who specializes in these policies. A specialized agent will be able to review a professional’s risk exposure and explain how coverage would help (assuming it would).

Do Volunteer Leaders Need to Carry D&O Insurance?

Although many leaders of nonprofit organizations are volunteers, overseeing an organization without pay doesn’t exclude leaders from being held financially responsible. Many volunteer board members, presidents and vice precedents should have insurance that protects them.

What Sorts of Incidents Do Directors and Officers Policies Cover?

The exact protections that a directors and officers policy covers are determined by the specific terms and conditions of that policy. Depending on terms, a policy might cover incidents such as:

• Poor investment decisions
• Conflicts of interest
• Inappropriate personnel decisions
• Improper releases of confidential data
• Unlawful actions
• Acts of gross negligence
• Certain other errors

Coverage for these types of incidents isn’t licensed to commit these actions intentionally, but accidental incidents like these may be shielded from civil penalties and lawsuits by a policy.

Notably, general business decisions normally don’t fall within the scope of a policy. While policies cover many incidents, they generally don’t cover failures to foresee market shifts and/or adapt to changes in the marketplace. Leaders are still usually personally responsible for making informed and good business decisions.

How Much Do Directors and Officers Policies Cost?

Premiums for directors and officers policies vary depending on multiple factors. The best way to assess cost in a given situation is to compare policies with an independent insurance agent. Independent agents have the freedom to request and show quotes from multiple insurers, and agents can easily customize these quotes for an organization.

Who Pays the Premiums for Directors and Officers Policies?

Even though directors and officers policies primarily protect the leaders of an organization and not the organization itself, organizations normally pay the premiums for these policies. This is normally because leaders wouldn’t face these risks if they didn’t have their positions within an organization.

How Can Leaders of Organizations in Massachusetts Get Directors and Officers Insurance?

For help insuring leaders of your organization, contact the independent insurance agents of Garrity Insurance. Our agents have worked with many organizations in Massachusetts, and we’ll help make sure your organization’s leaders are well protected. We can recommend the best directors and officers insurance policies regardless of what the insurance company offers it since we’re independent.