The need for non-emergency transportation rises each year as the elderly population increases. They bring with them a need for rides to and from their local medical centers and hospitals for appointments, trips to the hospital pharmacy, and more. In order to ensure that these patients have the transportation that they need, NEMT companies grow, hiring more drivers and buying more specialty vehicles.
How can your NEMT business grow on a reasonable scale? And why is it necessary to have the right insurance policies in place? Here are the answers to those questions.
Set Up Goals for the New Year
NEMT (the acronym stands for Non-Emergency Transport) vehicles play a significant role in the community. Not only do they help people get to their appointments on time, but these companies also provide employment for the local residents.
With those two things in mind, set some company goals for the next year. How much do you want to grow? Which specific transport areas, such as certain parts of the city to a specific hospital, have been used the most? Are there certain days that are busier than others?
Thinking about these things not only helps you see where you need to advertise and which days need additional staffing, but it also assists you in planning for the future. For example, there may be a need for a certain number of new vehicles and drivers to go with them. Determine how many, such as two or four, and start planning.
Put Your Plans into Motion
Once you have a plan in place, it’s time to get it going. If you plan on increasing your range and servicing certain areas of the city, figure out how many NEMTs you’ll need to take care of those residents. If your business wants to add new vehicles to the mix, start looking for reasonably priced ones, then place an ad online to find experienced drivers for them. You can do this slowly, such as adding one vehicle and driver at a time, or choose a specific number and increase your fleet at one time.
Make Sure to Have Comprehensive Insurance
As your NEMT company starts to grow, you’ll need to make sure that you have enough insurance coverage. Every new vehicle added to your fleet needs to have an NEMT vehicle policy. These differ from commercial insurance policies, because they’re designed to cover the specific issues that can arise while transporting patients.
Other insurance options include workers’ compensation for your new employees, as well as liability insurance, just in case something goes wrong. Also, if you plan to add onto your existing building to make room for your new vehicles, you may have to increase your commercial property insurance as well.
Have Questions? Contact Charlotte Insurance
Want to learn more about insurance for your NEMT fleet? Contact Charlotte Insurance. Our agents can explore and explain all available options and put together the insurance coverage plan your business needs.