Orlando, Fla. -- It’s not an easy job and we know it! As a paratransit business owner you are  responsible for operating company vehicles designed with wheelchair lifts and seats to safely transport passengers with physical, emotional, or developmental disabilities in a safe, courteous and professional manner. Sounds easier said (or read) than done right?

Approximately 3.6 million of Americans miss or delay medical care because they lack appropriate transportation to their appointments. Many low-income Americans lack the disposable income necessary to have access to a working automobile, and may lack public transit options to get to and from medical appointments. Medicaid —provides a non-emergency medical transportation benefit that pays for the least costly and appropriate way of getting people to their appointments whether by taxi, van, public transit or mileage reimbursement.

Paratransit agencies face many challenges nationwide, and of course also here in the State of Florida. The majority of states currently require paratransit companies to obtain insurance by broadly defining a motor vehicle. In Florida, for example, a motor vehicle is “…any self-propelled vehicle with four or more wheels which is of a type both designed and required to be licensed for use on the highways of this state and any trailer or semitrailer designed for use with such vehicle.”  The law requires “…every owner or registrant of a motor vehicle … required to be registered and licensed in this state shall maintain (insurance) … continuously throughout the registration or licensing period.”

Due to the complexity of this particular business, at the time of selecting your insurance company, it is of utmost importance to work with an agency that specializes in these type of businesses, because some insurance companies may deny coverage or increase premium costs of paratransit companies due to the relatively high possibility that an injury could occur. Your specialized agent should be able to walk you through a wide array of alternatives that may help you either complement your policy for a more comprehensive coverage or even save money.

Now, talking about  the size of this industry in the United States, demographics dictate an imminent growth. As the baby-boomer generation increases, so does the population of those who need paratransit. These type of providers will become even more vital to help maintain the mobility of this population segment. During the last decade, the number of people over age 65 in the United States increased to more than 35 million, and the number of people over age 85 grew by more than 1.1 million, to more than 4.2 million.

• By 2025, that number is expected increase by 80 percent to 62 million. 

• As the U.S. population ages, it will become increasingly difficult for some to retain their driver’s licenses because of age-related impairments. This may diminish their freedom of mobility, but not their desire to remain active and be mobile.

Some of the actions paratransit businesses take when moving passengers from one point to another create the risk of an incident that could result in injury to either the passenger or the employee. 

These high-risk activities include door-through-door service; crossing state lines to drop off or pick up passengers; mixing populations; dealing with Americans with Disability Act (ADA) issues; employing volunteer drivers; and sharing vehicles.

We understand how important your vehicles are to the success of your company. An accident could not only mean high repair expenses, but also loss of business that will end up affecting your bottom line. 

You can protect your non-emergency vehicles with the appropriate types of business auto insurance. The following are a few of the most important types of paratransit insurance you must consider:

Liability Insurance

• Bodily Injury
• Property Damage

Medical Payments

• Physical Damage Insurance
• Comprehensive Physical Damage
• Collision Damage

Uninsured or underinsured motorist

• Bodily Injury
• Property Damage
• Collision Deductible waiver

One of our courteous agents is readily available to discuss your best scenario and a few others just in case.