PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE/MEMBERSHIP
I am very grateful to a number of our members who have recently raised with me questions regarding the ESMBA personal accident (PA) insurance and its relationship to membership and the CSMBA. I trust that I have provided answers to the individual questions raised but it may be useful for all who regularly view our excellent website to try and summarise.
Insurance can be a very complex field and I can only summarise what is within my knowledge. We within the CSMBA committee do not have all the answers of course, but we can always seek the information needed from experts in the field on behalf of our membership. I and my colleagues on the committee always welcome questions from any of our membership because this is part of our role as 'elected' committee members. Insurance matters tend to be directed to me because I previously showed an interest in this field.
The personal accident insurance is provided by the ESMBA as part of a 'paid up' members’ registration fee. This is automatic and a direct benefit of affiliation. The CSMBA, via our own membership secretary, compiles membership details for Cambridgeshire and lodges those details at regular intervals with the ESMBA registration secretary.
The ESMBA (PA ) insurance essentially offers cover to members whilst on premises in connection with organised short mat bowls activities, including commuting to and from destinations for that purpose. The cover benefits are quite specific dependant on injury type or regrettably even death. There are also weekly benefits potentially payable in respect of temporary partial disablement and a hospitalisation benefit. These details are published by the ESMBA on their website. Any claims under the policy are to be made direct to the insurers and again these details are on the ESMBA website although we can assist members in the first instance should any need help in this regard.
As with all insurance there are cover extensions, exclusions and conditions as part of the policy schedule.
To clarify, it is the ESMBA who arrange the PA insurance cover as part of membership not county associations. We in the CSMBA play our part by updating membership details and making onward payment to the ESMBA for individual registration. At this time the CSMBA have 433 registered members but this figure fluctuates a little as registered clubs (for the greater good of our sport) are fortunate enough to recruit new members.
It is essential that clubs register all of their members and within Cambridgeshire it is part of our constitution: Rule 4 a). As you all appreciate clubs having members that are not registered potentially risk subsequent claims not being supported by the insurers and none of us want to see that situation arise. I am as confident as I can be that all CSMBA affiliated clubs do register all members but it is possible that inadvertently some 'members' or 'part members' may be omitted for what are thought by clubs to be legitimate reasons.
We are all aware of clubs that have different private club rules and arrangements regarding guests with new individuals trying the game for a few club nights. This is acknowledged, as in interim these 'new' people would not initially be regarded as 'paid up' members, but I urge all clubs to register all their members with the CSMBA membership secretary. This process can be done at any time throughout the year as we are regularly updating the ESMBA registration secretary with member names and assigned/affiliated clubs.
To clarify, 'one off guests' playing short mat bowls are not personally covered by the PA insurance until they are registered with the ESMBA membership secretary. There would still be cover potentially provided under the civil/public liability insurance but this is a very different cover indeed to that of the PA insurance.
All affiliated clubs should by now have received invitations to renew their civil liability insurance premiums for 2020/2021 from the brokers Sutton Winson Ltd. This unique scheme through the ESMBA represents very good cover for a competitive premium. The annual civil/public liability premium of just £35 remains the same as previous years and the ESMBA insurance is through Allianz Insurance PLC.
We are aware that some clubs insure stored bowls club equipment via respective Village Hall policies but those who do not could insure equipment through this ESMBA scheme for £15 per annum for each £1000 unit of cover.
The insurance is only open to affiliated clubs. Any club not currently affiliated but who wish to take advantage of this insurance scheme should in the first instance contact the membership secretary to affiliate to their local association. The association invites all clubs playing short mat bowls in Cambridgeshire to affiliate for which there are many advantages, not least access to the scheme ESMBA insurance policies.
In the event of any non-affiliated club wishing to seek further information about the CSMBA then please contact the secretary to arrange an informal chat in the first instance. The committee are fortunate to have designated members who are prepared to visit clubs to promote and encourage the sport of short mat bowls throughout Cambridgeshire and its border clubs who are already registered or considering registering with the CSMBA. Any club wishing to take advantage of a personal/site visit should initially contact the County Secretary.
All contact details for post holders are available via the contact section on this website.
Happy bowling and lets all hope for another successful year for the CSMBA and its many organised events and competitions.
David Wilcox
County Treasurer
28th January 2020