Progressive insurance does NOT offer NEMT insurance in any state at the time of this writing.
Get a commercial auto quote for your NEMT business
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyAg9B5Y4yY
If you’re a current or soon-to-be non emergency medical transportation provider, do NOT get a policy from Progressive insurance (at least not as of the time of writing). BE SURE TO READ THE CAVEATS AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.
Why? It’s not because I’m against Progressive, and in fact Progressive is one of the first business auto insurance carriers I often look to for commercial clients looking for an auto insurance quote or policy.
The reason I don’t want you to consider a NEMT Progressive auto policy is because Progressive doesn’t offer a NEMT auto policy. Let me say this one more time to remove any doubt and/or thought I may have made a typo….Progressive doesn’t offer non emergency medical transportation quotes, policies, or auto coverage in any state.
But my agent says you’re wrong and I can get a Progressive policy under TAXI, Livery, or some other commercial business classification.
Well, there’s no need or requirement to argue or debate the insurance coverage offered and available, all you have to do is simply call Progressive directly, and ask them, albeit make sure you talk to a LIVERY specialist which I will make clear as to why this is important soon. If you talk to a livery specialist, they will tell you as I’ve confirmed more than once, Progressive doesn’t offer NEMT auto coverage. Progressive also doesn’t offer general liability coverage for NEMT operators, which is vitally important for most providers.
Ha, I just called and talked to a representative, they told me you’re wrong and I heard it from the “horse’s mouth” I can buy NEMT coverage from Progressive.
There’s little or no question how being told from a representative that actually works (and expected to be fully trained in before providing advice) for Progressive Insurance and is answering questions about insurance coverage and offerings may give the impression the insurance carrier actually does offer non emergency medical transportation insurance.
However, what you will want to do is talk to a specialist, and namely, if you’re new to the industry, talk to a LIVERY specialist.
The reason is simple and I fully understand how you could call and hear an agent working for Progressive directly tell you NEMT auto insurance is available.
Why? I personally called Progressive on the agent’s coverage support number and have been told yes, NEMT coverage can be bought, and that’s with me asking all the right questions and knowing how to ask specifically to remove ambiguity so I have no doubt it can happen to others, especially someone who may not know exactly what to ask for.
Should that happen?
Of course not, but if it can happen to me, it can happen to others. Confirm with a specialist who understands the risks and industry, who is well-trained, and you’ll learn the same thing, that as of this writing, NEMT isn’t available.
Now, let’s discuss why a NEMT policy from Progressive (if the class isn’t available anyway) isn’t a good idea, despite the premium difference, even if someone is willing to sell it.
Because of my knowledge and articles I’ve written on this site about canceled auto, non-renewed auto insurance, and to some extent, difficult to get business auto insurance in the for-hire space, I receive calls, emails, and applications on an almost daily basis (usually one or two a week) from people who had a Progressive commercial auto insurance policy only to receive a “love letter” to inform the NEMT provider their insurance coverage is canceled effective in X number of days.
The number of days until the business auto insurance is canceled I believe varies by the state and is regulated by law and/or regulation. Regardless, as a NEMT operator, you should expect it to never be enough days when you’re already busy growing and operating your business and often simply trying to make ends meet.
And, if you just finished bidding/quoting business based on your cost projections using an incorrect and unrealistically cheap insurance policy that is about to get canceled, you may find your profitability, and hence your entire business and livelihood is in peril and risk for failure because of margin compression.
NEMT business can be great, albeit as many know, it can be highly competitive at times, and having the rug pulled out from under you is not a winning strategy for growth and success.
The typical call starts and moves along the lines of “hello, do you sell NEMT auto insurance, because I’m being canceled and have five days to get replacement insurance coverage or I’m out of business.” – Don’t be one of the many having to make that call.
My first question to them usually isn’t even much of a genuine inquiry because I’ve seen this movie and know how it ends all too well. “You have Progressive and you’re being canceled?” — Yes, how did you know?