Country Dance & Song Society

How it Works

How It Works

The insurance year runs May 1, 2021 – April 30, 2022.

The premium is $585, $685, $785, or $885 for full year coverage (including Affiliate Membership dues), depending on how many events you are covering, or $65 per calendar day. Neither fee is refundable after your coverage begins.

Venues can be listed as "additional insured." There is no longer a cost associated with this. The purpose of "additional insured" is coverage for the hall or site and is not necessary unless the hall owner requests it, i.e., if they want the hall's name on the certificate of insurance. Some places insist on this; others don't.

Please allow two weeks for processing your application. If you require a certificate sooner than that, please let us know. Certificates of insurance will be forwarded as soon as we receive them from our insurance agent.

COVID-19 Info

Special COVID-19 Insurance Statement

Does the CDSS Liability Insurance Policy offer coverage for COVID-19-related claims?

Our policy beginning on May 1, 2021, will NOT allow for COVID-19 related claims due to an added virus exclusion—a change from the previous year’s policy. The advice below still applies to insured events held before May 1st, 2021.

Potentially. There is not an exclusion in our policy which would specifically prevent compensation for a COVID-19-related claim i.e. a claim could be submitted for compensation of a COVID-19-related suit. However, there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration.

First, keep in mind this is a general liability policy, it provides compensation in the case of a lawsuit brought against your group. To file a claim, an attendee to one of your events would need to sue you for damages related to contracting COVID-19 and prove a.) that it was contracted at one of your events and b.) due to negligence on your part.

In the case that this occurred, a claim could be submitted to the policy underwriter—Philadelphia Insurance, who would review the claim and determine compensation.

We have been advised by our insurance agency that holding an event in defiance of local, state, or federal guidance/regulations is not advisable would likely result in a claim being denied. 

This is a unique situation, not only for us as groups and individuals, but for insurance companies. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to give a definitive answer because each case will be unique and is reviewed on an individual basis. 

Groups seeking further guidance are encouraged to speak with a lawyer who understands these issues and can comment on the specific hypothetical in question.

Are virtual events covered?

Yes! As long as they are essentially the same as other events you would be holding (dancing led or taught by an instructor/caller). As usual, filing a claim would require someone who attended your online event to sue and prove your negligence.

Are regular events covered?

CDSS is recommending you not hold in-person events due to COVID-19, but such events are covered by our insurance policy as they usually are. Claims related to COVID-19, however, are likely to be denied if events are held in defiance of local, state, or federal guidelines—see above.

Should we have people sign waivers when we begin dancing again?

Some insurers require waivers for certain activities, ours does not. A waiver won’t prevent you from being sued, but may provide additional protection if you are. Again, it may be worth consulting with a lawyer to discuss your particular situation if you feel it’s necessary. 

How to Apply

How to Apply

To apply for group liability insurance, please fill out the online form, or download and mail the PDF form.

FAQs

How does it work?

CDSS has a single, group policy that Affiliates and callers may join, and provides general liability insurance for those Affiliates and callers. The limits on the policy have been calculated to provide enough coverage for all covered groups.

What does the policy cover?

The CDSS policy is a general liability insurance policy. This means to file a claim, someone must sue your organization and prove your negligence, at which point you can file a claim for reimbursement, which will be reviewed by the insurance underwriter. In addition to the $4,000,000 aggregate, $2,000,000 per-occurrence limits on liability coverage, the following is included

$ 100,000 Rented To You Limit (Any One Premises)
$ 5,000 Medical Expense Limit (Any One Person)

Do we need insurance?

Many venues require groups to have insurance before renting or holding events in their space. The CDSS policy meets and exceeds the minimum coverage amounts required by most venues. Further, many groups find the peace of mind afforded by the policy to be worth the cost when thinking about the long-term health of their organization.

Do you offer Director and Operators insurance (D&O)?

We are unable to offer D&O insurance because we are under a single policy, which cannot cover multiple directors and operators of different organizations. We’re happy to put you in touch with our insurance agent directly who has helped other Affiliates obtain this insurance in the past.

Are virtual events covered?

Yes! As long as they are essentially the same as other events you would be holding (dancing led or taught by an instructor/caller). As usual, filing a claim would require someone who attended your online event to sue and prove your negligence.

Should we list our venue as Additional Insured?

Only list a venue as Additional Insured if specifically requested by the venue. This is additional coverage for the venue, and is not required unless specifically requested.

Do attendees need to sign waivers?

Some insurers require waivers for certain activities, ours does not. A waiver won’t prevent you from being sued, but may provide additional protection if you are. It may be worth consulting with a lawyer to discuss your particular situation if you feel it’s necessary.

Is ____ situation covered?

We cannot offer definitive advice on what hypotheticals will or will not be covered by the policy. Each situation is unique and handled individually. It is helpful to remember that with any general liability policy, you must be sued and proven negligent to submit a claim. Beyond that, speaking to a lawyer or expert in the area is advised when exploring such hypotheticals. Feel free to contact us with questions and we can forward your question to our insurance agent if necessary.

Can we review the policy?

Absolutely! Email ben@cdss.org and we’ll be happy to provide a copy of the policy for your review.

Other questions?

Have questions or need more information? Call Ben Williams at 413-203-5467 x106 or email ben@cdss.org.