Northern California CMA - Insurance

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is insurance needed if the location of the meeting already has insurance?
   No. If a meeting location’s insurance covers the meeting and it can be used, then the meeting location’s insurance should be used.
   
   

2. If a special event and a meeting are combined, is insurance needed?
   Yes. The standard insurance certificate only covers regularly scheduled meetings. Additional insurance is required for special events.
   
   

3. Is my meeting covered?
   If the meeting is listed on our Norcal CMA meeting list, it is automatically covered by our policy for the duration of the meeting (from set up to clean up).
   
   

4. How do I get proof of insurance for a meeting?
   If the facility requests proof of insurance, the certificate can be found on norcalcma.org (link)
   
   

5. What does the insurance cover for a meeting?
   Our insurance policy provides liability coverage in and directly around meetings for the duration of the meeting (from set up to clean up). It does not cover parts of the facility that aren’t required to be accessed to attend, enter, or leave the meeting.
   
   

6. I have more questions, who can I contact?
   Any questions not answered here can be directed to the Structure and Finance Chair (structurefinancechair@norcalcma.org).
   
   

Meeting Coverage

The Norcal CMA insurance policy provides liability insurance coverage in and around CMA meetings for up to 2,500 attendees for the duration of the meeting (including set up and clean up). It does not cover any area of the facility that is not required to be accessed in order to attend, enter, or leave the meeting. A meeting is covered as long as it is considered a standard meeting (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) and is included in the Norcal CMA meeting schedule.

A meeting does not include events outside the regular meetings such as social events, dinners, Unity day, game nights, sporting events, etc. These are considered special events even when they occur in conjunction with a regular meeting and require outside insurance.

If a meeting is listed on the Norcal CMA schedule and has less than 2,500 attendees, it is automatically covered by our insurance policy and no action is needed by the groups to start coverage. There is no need to provide proof of insurance to facilities unless it is requested by the facility. We suggest groups only provide proof of insurance if the hosting facility requests it.

Proof of Insurance

If a facility requests proof of insurance, the certificate can be found on norcalcma.org (link). 

If the facility of a regularly scheduled meeting wants to be named on the proof of insurance, please email structurefinancechair@norcalcma.org with the following information:

• Meeting Name

• Meeting Time & Date

• Meeting Facility Name

• Facility Address

• Facility Phone Number

• Facility Email Address

• Legal Name of Facility

• Approximate regular attendance number

They will follow up with our insurance provider to coordinate a certificate for your meeting. This process can take time, please give us at least 30 days' notice.

Pets are Not Allowed

Norcal CMA’s policy DOES NOT provide coverage for non-service pets at meetings. Service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, are covered under our insurance policy.

The presence of any animal not meeting the ADA definition of “service animal” could cause a claim to be denied by our insurance provider. There are two (and only two) questions that can be legally asked when it is not obvious what service an animal provides:

1. Is the animal a service animal required because of a disability?

2. What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

Members cannot ask about a person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the animal, or ask that the animal demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.