The Diocese of Scranton Self-Insurance Program is a self-insurance program which provides uniform all-risk coverage under one comprehensive plan for all parishes and agencies of the Diocese of Scranton. The program is managed by the Diocese’s Property & Risk Management Department.  We define Risk Management as finding cost-effective ways to prevent or pay for accidental losses.

WHAT SELF-INSURANCE MEANS
Under Self-Insurance, the Diocese assumes responsibility for all claims. In effect, this means that every parish or agency is sharing in the payment of claims through its premiums. It means also that the amount of premium paid will have a direct relationship to the amount of claims paid. Such a program demands an increased awareness and responsibility for safety conditions, and the correction of improper, hazardous or unsafe situations.  The benefits of such awareness will be a reduction in total claims, and continued savings in the cost of insurance to all parishes and agencies.  We maintain very high levels of Self-Insurance Retention. Above these levels, we have purchased various levels of Excess Insurance to cover against large catastrophes. Our program must, therefore, be managed in accordance with the recognized principles and practices of underwriting and claims adjustment that is required under the terms of our excess policies.

ADVANTAGES TO EACH PARISH
⦁ All Risk Coverage
⦁ No co-insurance requirement
⦁ All Properties fully protected
⦁ Newly acquired properties automatically insured
⦁ Liability exposures fully protected
⦁ All parishes organizations and activities protected
⦁ Automatic coverage for Parish and Diocesan events
⦁ Favorable costs

The management of our Program is closely monitored by our excess carriers, the State of Pennsylvania Insurance Department, the Motor Vehicle Bureau, and the Workers’ Compensation Board. It is a great privilege to be allowed to self-insure in the State of Pennsylvania, but it is a privilege we can lose if we do not continually comply with the strict requirements.

Teamwork is clearly a vital ingredient to a successful Risk Management Program.  This Risk Management team is all of us working together to make the Diocese of Scranton, a safe place in which to carry out our Christian mission.

SERVICES:

The Diocese of Scranton’s Property & Risk Management Office will provide each parish and diocesan institution the following services:
⦁ All loss adjustments – Claims Investigation – Claim Settlements
⦁ A complete Safety Program – including Safety Inspections of all locations
⦁ Calculation of all Parish charges
⦁ Collection of claims against others
⦁ Consultation on all insurance matters
⦁ Safe Environment Program
⦁ Facilities Management; In-House Water/Fire Mitigation Program
⦁ Building Appraisals

WHAT IS COVERED

⦁ All buildings; Parish and Diocesan-owned
⦁ All contents; Parish and Diocesan-owned
⦁ Worker’s compensation and employer’s liability
⦁ General Liability
⦁ Directors and Officers Liability
⦁ Errors and Omissions Liability
⦁ Employer Practices Liability
⦁ School Board Legal Liability
⦁ Sexual Misconduct Liability
⦁ Auto Liability and No-Fault Diocesan owned vehicles
⦁ Auto Physical Damage Diocesan owned vehicles (including glass)
⦁ Theft of Money and Securities
⦁ Cyber Insurance
⦁ Fiduciary Liability
⦁ Fine Arts
⦁ Glass (Stained and Plate)
⦁ Sacred Vessels
⦁ Priest and Sisters Personnel Belongings ($25,000)
⦁ Priests Personal Liability ($300,000)
⦁ New Construction – Builders Risk (if applicable)
⦁ Special Events
⦁ All Parish Organizations
⦁ Fidelity and Surety
⦁ Flood and Earthquakes
⦁ Boiler and Machinery
⦁ Student Accident Insurance
⦁ CYO Sports Accident Insurance
⦁ Terrorism Insurance
⦁ Foreign casualty insurance

WHAT IS EXCLUDED

⦁ All personally-owned vehicles
⦁ Property loss of a degenerative nature (wear and tear, deterioration, rust, corrosion)
⦁ War Risk and Nuclear Damage
⦁ The first $2500 of each Property loss
⦁ The first $1000 of each Auto Physical Damage loss
⦁ The first $2500 each Boiler and Machinery loss
⦁ Pollution
⦁ Asbestos
⦁ Trampolines, Inflatables/Bounce Houses
⦁ Fungi (Mold)
⦁ Seepage
⦁ Wet or Dry Rot
⦁ Contraction/Expansion/Settling/Cracking of Pavement, Foundations, Walls, Floors, etc.
⦁ Underground piping, cables, etc.
⦁ Animals, Termites, or other insects
⦁ Mechanical breakdown
⦁ Loss due to faulty design or workmanship
⦁ Use of Drones