Description | Eligibility | Application Process | Claims Administration | Loss Control Services | Membership Listing
Additional Information | Insurance Programs Home PageDescription Pelican Insurance, A Reciprocal Risk Retention Group (RRG), was organized in February 2003 under the direction of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) and the Pennsylvania Association of County Affiliated Homes (PACAH). PELICAN is a reciprocal insurance exchange organized under the laws of the State of Vermont that operates as a risk retention group pursuant to the federal Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 (LRRA). PELICAN insurance provides Nursing Home General Liability and Professional Liability insurance coverage to nursing homes in Pennsylvania that meet the RRG's underwriting standards. PELICAN Insurance is filed in and has received the approval of the Vermont and Pennsylvania Insurance Departments. PELICAN Insurance began writing business effective March 1, 2003.
As a reciprocal insurer, PELICAN's members are called "Subscribers" and its governing body is known as the "Subscribers Advisory Committee". Management functions are performed primarily by PELICAN's "Attorney-in-Fact", which is a Vermont limited liability company, wholly owned by CCAP. The Attorney-in-Fact, called PELICAN Insurance Management, LLC, contracts with other service providers to provide services to PELICAN. PELICAN is owned exclusively by its Subscribers. Under the terms of Vermont law and PELICAN's Rules and Regulations, every Subscriber of PELICAN must also be an insured. Federal Law prohibits PELICAN and its insureds from participating in any state guaranty fund.
PELICAN's operations are overseen by the Subscribers Advisory Committee. At least two-thirds (2/3) of the Subscribers Advisory Committee must consist of Subscribers other than the Attorney-in-Fact or any person employed by, representing, or having a financial interest therein. The members of the Subscribers Advisory Committee, and information as to their current affiliations are as follows:
Keith Wentz, York County Risk Manager
Joseph Giles, Erie County Commissioner
Marvin Granda, Administrator, Gracedale Nursing Home
Diane Cleary, Director of Program Services, Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust
Michael Wilt, Executive Director, PA Association of County Affiliated Homes
Ronald King, Administrator, Jefferson Manor Health Center
Molly Hess, Administrator, Philadelphia Nursing Home
James Aurand, Administrator, Susque-View Home
Lynne Dillon, Administrator, Saxony Health Center
EligibilityPELICAN is open for membership to all non-profit PACAH members. Potential members also need to meet the underwriting standards of PELICAN to be eligible to become insureds. There is no assurance that a particular entity will be eligible to become an Insured, or that an insured will remain eligible to be insured pursuant to the RRG's underwriting standards.
Finally, to be eligible for membership a home must be government-owned or non-profit. For-profit homes cannot join PELICAN.
PELICAN Subscribers must contractually commit to an initial three-year membership in PELICAN.
Application Process
The process for joining PELICAN is as follows:
- The nursing home will be required to complete an application for insurance, and to forward the completed application to CCAP via their local producer. PELICAN can not work directly with the nursing home. The application is available in electronic format (via email or disk) and MUST be submitted in electronic format.
- PELICAN's underwriters will review the application to evaluate the degree of risk associated with it and, for applications meeting PELICAN's underwriting standards, will prepare and forward to the applicant a premium quotation indicating coverage terms and conditions.
- Subject to payment of the premium, and submission of a signed Subscribers' Agreement, along with any other required supporting documents, a policy will be issued to the nursing home. PELICAN Insurance Program has a common effective date of 3/1. A nursing home may enter the program at any time during the policy period. If the nursing home enters the program mid-term, the premium will be pro-rated.
- PELICAN's premium is due in one payment (no installment payments are available).
- The Subscribers' Agreement binds the insured to a three-year commitment to PELICAN.
Claims PhilosophyThe PELICAN philosophy on liability claims can be summed up very simply:
If we owe it, we will settle it for a reasonable amount.
If we don't owe it, we will resist the claim vigorously.
The County Commissioners of Pennsylvania Insurance Program employs claims professionals who are experts in PA tort law, Municipal Tort immunity and civil rights law and who handle claims aggressively and manage the litigated files. Furthermore, the claims department works closely with Corporate Counsel and a selected group of outstanding defense attorneys who provide the PELICAN program with dependable legal opinions and vigorous representation.
PELICAN recognizes that members have to take a stand on principles and that nuisance settlements often encourage additional litigation. As a result, PELICAN continues to defend cases that many insurance carriers would settle for economic reasons for a few hundred or a few thousand dollars. PELICAN is willing to take cases to trial, but we do this with our eyes open, recognizing the potential exposure. As a rule, PELICAN only takes cases to trial if the claims are defensible or if an important principle is involved. Historically, our track record at trial is very strong.
There are, however, situations in which our ability to defend the case is weakened because of unclear legal issues, poor witnesses, inadequate documentation, inflammatory facts and other similar problems. In such cases, we will attempt to settle the claim for a reasonable amount.
Additionally, we attempt to identify cases with a large potential exposure early on, and investigate those cases thoroughly along with defense counsel, so that the decision to defend or settle can be made before we incur substantial attorney fees.
Loss Control Services
Because many exposures of a member may be difficult to detect, it is important for risk managers to obtain expert advice for controlling losses and minimizing costs. PELICAN's loss control and risk management services offer members the expertise of a qualified loss control specialist. The specialist may identify potential hazards or loss causing conditions and make recommendations to help the member control these exposures.
PELICAN's loss control and risk management services are offered as part of a full range of programs and services designed to meet the needs of members.
PELICAN's loss control and risk management services may be the members' most critical element in bottom line cost control.
PELICAN's loss control services are provided by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP). Gary Nicholson and Bob Lauzonis are the PELICAN Loss Control Specialists.
Gary is a Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP), has earned his Advanced Safety Certificate (ASC) from the National Safety Council, is a Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers' Compensation Accident and Illness Prevention Service Provider through the Department of Labor and Industry, and is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers.
Bob is an Accident and Illness Prevention Service Provider through the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers' Compensation and the Department of Labor and Industry. Bob is also an OSHA 501 Trainer and is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).
PELICAN may undertake a survey of your premises, equipment, or operations solely for the purpose of supporting the function of risk underwriting. Recommendations are not intended as substitutes for advice from safety experts or legal counsel which you may retain for your own purposes. Further, compliance with recommendations in no way guarantees the fulfillment of your obligations as may be required by any local, state or federal laws and regulations.
Membership Listing
| Armstrong County Health Center |
Laurel Crest Rehabilitation & Special Care Center |
| Berks County Home - Berks Heim |
Neshaminy Manor Nursing Home |
| Bradford County Manor |
Parkhouse Providence Pointe |
| Centre Crest Nursing Home |
Philadelphia Nursing Home |
| DuBois Nursing Home |
Pleasant Acres Nursing & Rehabilitation Center |
| Elk Haven Nursing Home |
Pleasant Ridge Manor Nursing Home |
| Falling Springs Nursing & Rehabilitation Center |
Pleasant Valley Manor |
| Gracedale Nursing Home |
Pocopson Home |
| Green Acres Adams County Nursing & Rehab Ctr |
QCF Saxony Health Center |
| Jefferson Manor Health Center |
Schuylkill County Home - Rest Haven |
| John J. Kane Regional Center, Glen Hazel |
Sunnyview Home |
| John J. Kane Regional Center, McKeesport |
Susqueview Home, Inc. |
| John J. Kane Regional Center, Ross Twp. |
Washington County Health Center |
| John J. Kane Regional Center, Scott Twp. |
Weatherwood Carbon County Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center |
| Lackawanna County Health Care Center |
Woodland Place |
Additional Information
Questions concerning our PELICAN Insurance program, including requests for an application, should be directed to:
Christie Ward, Captive Programs Manager
County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania
PO Box 60769
Harrisburg, PA 17106-0769
(800) 895-9039
fax: (717) 526-1020
cward@pacounties.org