PRODUCT: Accidental Death & Dismemberment for Firefighters

COMPANY: K&K Insurance Group, a subsidiary of Aon plc

BEST RATING: A+

AVAILABILITY: Agents can submit applications for quotation. No prior appointment or agreement is necessary.

FOCUS: Nearly every town in America has a landmark firehouse. According to the U.S. Fire Administration’s census, there were 26,482 fire departments as of January 2012. Each firehouse employs volunteer or paid firefighters who loyally protect their fellow citizens. But it’s a risky occupation. Those serving in fire and emergency services are ready to respond, but face significant risk of death or injury from an accident while answering the call of duty.

For independent agents, firehouses are an opportunity to help protect the community while gaining new business.

K&K Insurance now offers coverage for volunteer and full-time firefighters. While the company built its brand on covering sports, leisure and entertainment risks, the managing general underwriter is now sounding the siren for this new area of risk protection as it looks to expand its footprint.

UNDERWRITING: K&K can write policies for an entire state (through a firefighters’ association, for instance) or on a per-firehouse basis for all serving firefighters. Coverage for full-time firefighters features:

• Accidental death and dismemberment
• Accelerated benefit
• Heart and circulatory benefit (death, medical expense or total disability benefit when an insured suffers a sudden heart or circulatory malfunction within 48 hours after participating in an emergency call)
• Seatbelt coverage ($20,000 death benefit due to the unintentional collision of an automobile or fire engine during which the insured is participating in a covered activity and wearing a seat belt)

The same coverage is available to both volunteer and full-time firefighters. The program also provides the option to purchase excess medical coverage and partial/total disability coverage.

K&K seeks submissions for both volunteer and paid firefighters and will cover a single firehouse or multiple firehouses within an association or even an entire state. The program is flexible—it can cover one firehouse of several within a fire district or service area. It requires covering every firefighter within an individual firehouse and does not offer coverage on an individual basis.

MINIMUM PREMIUM: $375 annually.

TARGET: Firehouses in approved states.

COVERAGE TERRITORY: The program is available in all states except AL, FL, IN, MA, ME, MN, MS, NY, OH and VA.

CONTACT: Nicholas Davey, associate underwriter, K&K Insurance Group, 1712 Magnavox Way, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804; 260-459-5597.