Maryland Teachers Insurance Requirements and Benefits

Public and private school teachers in Maryland have similar insurance needs but there may be differences in the types of insurance offered through the school in which they work and so they may need to purchase on their own.

Teachers Insurance Benefits: The insurance benefits for teachers are not necessarily offered because they are employed by a school. They generally come from the innate qualities of a person who decides to become a teacher. For example, teachers in general may be better drivers than the average driver may be. This, in turn, means that it is often easier for teachers to receive lower auto insurance premiums because actuaries know that teachers pose less of a danger of becoming involved in an accident.

Similarly, even teachers who are not part of a union can often find a group of like-minded teachers to unite for the purposes of a group health insurance plan. This allows them to pay lower premiums for similar insurance compared to what an individually insured person would pay.

Maryland Teachers Insurance Needs: If you are a public school teacher, you may not be aware of some of the types of insurance that are protecting you while you do your job. It is legally mandated by the state that your school provide you with professional liability protection. Since teachers deal other people’s children on a daily basis, there is always a possibility of an incident occurring that could expose the school to liability. So, the public school must make sure they are protected from this exposure.

Private schools have the same liability exposure but the state does not make it mandatory for a private school to carry this coverage. For this reason, private school teachers must make sure that either their particular school offers this coverage or they seek it out on their own.

In addition to professional liability protection, teachers of course need the same kinds of insurance as the public; one example of this would be life insurance. Usually, there will be some kind of group life insurance available through the school but the benefit amount may be limited to 3 to 4 times annually salary and the term of the policy ends when you leave your job.

For this reason, it is always a good idea to consider additional life insurance coverage beyond what is offered through your school. Speak with your local agent about what specific types of insurance may make sense for you as a teacher so you can ensure that you and your family are adequately protected.