Pre-Existing Conditions Can Leave You Without Coverage - Learn the Facts About Pre-Existing Conditions

May 3rd, 2023

In most states, Owner Operator Truckers are not required to be covered by Workers Compensation.  However, this fact does not preclude them from going after the Motor Carrier as a “statutory employer” to gain access to Workers Compensation benefits in the event of an on-the-job accident.  The chances of this happening go up dramatically if the Owner Operator does not have personal insurance to fall back on.  For this reason, many Motor Carriers require their Owner Operator to have Truckers Occupational Accident Insurance.   

Some Motor Carriers take it a step further and sponsor an Occupational Accident Insurance program for their Owner Operators.  This is done to ensure uniformity of coverage, to make it easier for their Owner Operators to enroll in the program, and to pay the required premium (usually through settlement deduction). 

The Risk Management objective behind Truckers Occupational Accident Insurance is simple: it is to provide meaningful insurance coverage (and sufficient limits) in the event of an on-the-job accident.  This can help to significantly reduce or eliminate the need for an Owner Operator to pursue their Motor Carrier (or other deep pockets) legally to cover their mounting and unpaid bills. 

The problem for the Motor Carrier (and their Insurance Agent) is that no two Occupational Accident Insurance policies are the same.  Each insurance company’s offering is unique and requires careful examination of what is and isn’t covered.   

Take Pre-Existing Conditions, as an example. 

Almost all Truckers Occupational Accident Insurance policies exclude claims involving Pre-Existing Conditions - which may include any condition an Owner Operator has sought medical treatment or advice for during the past 12 months.  A few insurance providers take this exclusion one step further and exclude Pre-Existing Conditions entirely from their coverage offering. 

Examples of common Pre-Existing Conditions include:* 

• Neck and Back Injuries 
• Sprains and Strains 
• Orthopedic Problems 
• Old Sports Injuries 
• Previous Auto and Home Accidents 

With most Owner Operators being older and not necessarily having an ideal physical condition, anxiety grows over potential exclusion from Pre-Existing Conditions coverage. 

According to a 2020 survey by OOIDA, the average Owner Operator is a 58-year-old male, stands 5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighs 225 pounds.*   

When combined with the demanding realities of life behind the wheel – getting in and out of the cab, loading cargo, raising and lowering landing gear – it can quickly create an environment ripe for Pre-Existing Conditions. 

To learn more about Workforce Insurance Underwriters, our new Truckers Occupational Accident Insurance program, and how Pre-Existing Conditions are handled, click here.

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