Frequently Asked Questions

Who can purchase the AAAIP professional insurance?

Current AAAIP members who are also registered with Pet Partners or Alliance of Therapy Dogs, until AAAIP's evaluation for professional therapy animal teams is available.
Certified Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialists (C-AAIS) in good standing, who are also registered with Pet Partners or Alliance of Therapy Dogs, until AAAIP's evaluation for professional therapy animal teams is available.

Are there any species or breed exclusions under the AAAIP professional insurance policy?

Any therapy animal registered by Pet Partners or the Alliance of Therapy Dogs is eligible. Please consult the therapy animal programs directly to understand their requirements for animal eligibility.

Why do I need to be registered with Pet Partners or Alliance of Therapy Dogs?

This is a requirement of our insurer, Century Surety, and the two national therapy animal programs they currently recognize. Eventually, an evaluation designed specifically for professional therapy animal handlers will be available to meet this requirement.

How do I provide proof of registration with Pet Partners or Alliance of Therapy Dogs for my application?

By sending a copy of your registration letter that includes your name, your therapy animal's name, and your registration expiration date.

How do I provide proof of my AAAIP membership or my Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist Certification?

By providing your full name and mailing address on the application. The insurance company will be able to confirm your membership or C-AAIS status independently.

How is the AAAIP insurance for professionals different from insurance from Pet Partners or another therapy animal program?

The AAAIP insurance provides liability protection for professionals such as mental health counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, occupational therapists, educators, speech language pathologists, physical therapists, substance abuse counselors, and other animal-assisted intervention practitioners who incorporate their own therapy animals in their practice. It also provides coverage for therapy animal handlers who opt to work with their therapy animal at facilities or settings while not acting as a volunteer. This policy is specifically for the individual for the above activities, and will not apply if performing volunteer work as part of a national organization.

Is this policy meant to be in addition to the professional liability insurance I currently have, or would it replace it?

The AAAIP policy is a general liability policy specifically designed to cover bodily injury or property damage to a third party caused by negligent acts by you or your therapy animal while engaging in animal-assisted interventions. It also includes coverage for your therapy animal(s) that are listed on the policy for any injuries they may sustain while they are participating in therapy work with you as their handler. In addition, the policy offers an optional professional liability endorsement sublimit of $25,000 to cover errors or omissions/professional liability arising out of your work as an animal-assisted intervention practitioner.

Based on the above, and the exposures of each individual applicant, this policy may be in addition to any current general or professional liability policy you currently carry or could potentially replace it; this will vary depending on each applicant's individual exposures as an animal-assisted intervention professional.

Why can't I just use my homeowners or renters insurance to cover my therapy animal activities?

Unfortunately, most homeowners or renters insurance policies exclude coverage for any bodily injury or property damage arising out of or in connection with a business. In addition, most homeowners or renters policies will also exclude coverage for bodily injury or property damage arising out of the rendering of or failure to render professional services.

What does the AAAIP professional insurance cover?

The AAAIP policy is a general liability policy specifically designed to cover against bodily injury or property damage to a third party (including clients/patients) caused by negligent acts by you or your therapy animal while engaging in animal-assisted interventions. It also includes coverage for your therapy animal(s) that are listed on the policy for any injuries they may sustain while they are participating in therapy work with you as their handler. In addition, the policy offers an optional professional liability endorsement sublimit of $25,000 to cover errors or omissions/professional liability arising out of your work as an animal-assisted intervention practitioner. The policy also includes an option to cover domestic animal training, and any additional insureds required by lease or contract.

Is my animal covered by this policy?

Your therapy animal is covered under the AAAIP policy while they are "on the job" engaging in therapy while in the care, custody, or control of you as their registered/certified handler. If your therapy animal is in someone else's care, including your spouse, domestic partner, employee(s), or independent contractor(s), they would not be covered. In addition, your therapy animal would not be covered while off duty, on personal time, while not participating in therapy work. It is recommended you consider pet health insurance to cover injuries to your animal while not engaging in therapy work.

I am a professional who partners with a handler/animal team to provide AAI using the Diamond Model. Would this insurance cover them as well?

Professionals partnering with a therapy animal team registered with a national therapy animal organization typically hold insurance when the team is volunteering their time. However, if you plan to pay/employ them, that will likely invalidate their volunteer insurance. Therefore, paid handlers should obtain their own insurance coverage as a paraprofessional. This AAAIP policy is available to therapy animal handlers who opt to perform paid work with their therapy animal at facilities or settings while not acting as a volunteer.

I am a paraprofessional therapy animal handler and my animal and I are paid to work in AAI settings under the direction of a professional practitioner. Would this policy cover me?

Yes. This policy provides coverage for those therapy animal handlers that opt to perform paid work with their therapy animal at facilities or settings while not acting as a volunteer.

What are the levels of coverage? Can I choose my level of coverage?

All policies automatically include $1M per occurrence/$2M aggregate for general liability (bodily injury or property damage to a third party caused by your negligence). This is the only general liability limit available as this is a group policy.

In addition, all policies include $10,000 per occurrence/$25,000 aggregate to cover your therapy animals if they are injured and require vet care while engaging in therapy work, regardless of fault. Referred to as Care, Custody or Control, this coverage applies at any location where therapy work takes place, and includes injuries sustained in auto accidents while en route to perform therapy work.

In addition, there are several optional coverages, as follows:

In some cases, due to increased veterinary medical expenses for surgeries and ongoing rehabilitation, or if you have more than one therapy animal covered on your policy, $10,000 of Care, Custody or Control may not be sufficient limit to cover all veterinary medical injuries sustained, such as if your therapy animal were to be hit by a car, or suffer severe injury while working and require long term care. If you do not feel $10,000 is adequate to cover your therapy animal(s) while working, optional higher limits of $25,000 per occurrence/$25,000 aggregate, and $50,000 per occurrence/$50,000 aggregate are available for additional premiums.

If you are required to add an additional insured, such as a landlord, building owner, property manager, hospital, assisted living facility, therapy practice, municipality, etc., all can be added as needed/required by contract for additional premiums.

If you have more than one therapy animal, there is an option to add additional therapy animals to the policy, so long as you are the registered/certified handler. There is no limitation to the number of therapy animals that can be covered, but please be aware the therapy animal must be registered along with the applicant handler for coverage to apply.

If you are a domestic animal trainer, there is an option to cover your liability as a trainer, for additional premium. Please note the policy does not cover equine training or police work, protection, guard or aggression training.

Last but not least, the policy offers a Limited Therapy Practitioner Professional Liability sublimit of $25,000 option to cover any wrongful acts/errors or omissions arising out of your operations as an animal-assisted intervention practitioner.

What does General Liability include?

General liability is for bodily injury or property damage to a third party caused by your negligence during an AAI session. Please note that legal defense is outside the limit of general liability.

What is Care, Custody or Control?

Under the AAAIP Liability policy, all therapy animals owned by you, or in your care, custody or control, are automatically covered up to $10,000 for any injuries sustained while performing therapy work, regardless of fault. There is no limitation to the number of therapy animals that can be covered, but please be aware the therapy animal must be registered along with the applicant/therapy handler for coverage to apply. If you have more than one registered therapy animal, and/or wish to increase your care, custody or control limit, the policy offers additional optional limits of $25,000 or $50,000 for additional premium.

What does Limited Therapy Practitioner Professional Liability cover?

The professional liability coverage covers against claims alleging error or omissions by the handler/practitioner during AAI sessions. While general liability coverage covers you for bodily injury or property damage during therapy visits, professional liability covers you for wrongful acts. For example, if a client were to allege you or your therapy animal caused additional trauma as part of AAI services. The professional liability coverage includes legal defense within the $25,000 limit.

How much does it cost?

The minimum annual policy premium, not including any of the optional endorsements listed above, is $250 including all taxes and fees. This covers one therapy animal and handler. Premiums increase based on individual coverage needs and optional coverage enhancements. For example, if you wish to include the Limited Therapy Practitioner Professional Liability option, annual premium including taxes and fees would come to $500.

Is there a deductible?

Yes, there is a $100 per claim deductible for all claims.

When will my AAAIP policy become effective?

All policies are effective the first of each month. If you apply prior to the 15th of any month, we will back date coverage to the 1st, but will not cover any claims prior to the date the application is received and processed. For example, if the application is received on the 10th of the month, we would back date coverage to be effective the 1st, but the company would not honor any claims occurring between the 1st of the month and the date the application is received and processed (10th).

What is the insurance policy term length?

All policies are for one full calendar year, and all policies are effective the 1st of each month.

What happens if my C-AAIS credential or AAAIP membership lapses before my insurance renews?

Please be aware that you must maintain an active AAAIP membership or current Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist Certification during the entire policy term for coverage to be valid.

How is the risk of bodily harm addressed in this policy?

Bodily Injury to a third party is covered via the general liability coverage form, including bodily injury caused by a therapy animal.

What does an exclusion due to mental anguish mean for AAI professionals?

A Mental Anguish exclusion under a general liability policy means that there is no coverage should the insured or therapy animal cause mental anguish to a third party or client due to negligence on their part. There is not a Mental Anguish exclusion under the AAAIP policy for bodily injury or property damage.

Are there differences in plans by state that professionals should be aware of?

There are currently no differences in coverage or rates by state at this time. However, the company does reserve the right to amend coverage/rates in individual states as needed, based on loss experience and other unforeseen coverage exposures. Please note policy coverage or rates will never be changed by the company during your annual policy term, and if changes are made, 60-day advance notice will be given prior to your optional policy renewal.

Is this policy available throughout the U.S.?

Yes, coverage is available in all 50 states.

Is this policy available outside the U.S.?

Unfortunately, there is no coverage available outside of the U.S., including, but not limited to, U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands.

What is the Washington state guaranty association law?

When you receive your policy, you will see a statement that says "This contract is registered and delivered as a surplus line coverage under the insurance code of the state of Washington, Title 48 RCW. It is not protected by any Washington state guaranty association law." There are relatively few insurers for AAI coverage. The best provider AAAIP could find to meet the needs of our members is from a non-admitted insurance company, which is not covered by the Washington state guaranty association law. While the Washington state guaranty association law provides some protection should the insurance provider fail, dissolve, or go bankrupt before a claim is paid, the practical risk for policy holders is considered very low.