Parents can take out insurance to protect their children against the damage they are likely to cause or suffer on a daily basis. In the first case, it is a civil liability guarantee. In the second case, the student will be covered by life accident guarantee. School insurance can also concern these two types of risks to consider at school, middle school or high school.
What is school insurance?
A school insurance is an offer to cover damage suffered or caused by a student. It can be offered in the form of a specific contract or as a guarantee integrated into broader insurance. Therefore, parents must check current contracts before subscribing to a particular plan for their children. A multi-risk home contract, for example, extends civil liability coverage to school activities. That said, dedicated offers often involve various benefits.
When taken out separately, the insurance contract covers all aspects of the child’s school and extracurricular activities. The student will then benefit from better coverage against damage suffered (individual life accident guarantee) or caused (civil liability). Depending on the insurer, the formula may also include other guarantees in the following areas:
- Dental and orthodontics (dental care and appliances);
- Optics (prescription glasses and lenses);
- Hearing (hearing aids);
- Medical (hospitalization, pharmacy, surgery, immobilization, etc.);
- Psychological (educational and psychological support, support in the event of school bullying, followed after an accident, etc.)…
However, you will need to carefully check the guarantees included or offered as an option to avoid unpleasant surprises. Insurance companies nevertheless provide fairly detailed and clear information regarding the extent of their guarantees. In this way, parents will be able to effectively protect their children against the risks associated with school or extracurricular activities.
The legal obligation of school insurance
Taking out school insurance is optional for any compulsory activity at school, middle school or high school. This rule applies to activities present in the student’s timetable, whatever their level. For example, it is not necessary to have insurance to go to the swimming pool or the gym. These sites can sometimes be located outside the premises of the establishment. However, insurance is not compulsory.
Conversely, school insurance is required for any optional activity organized by the teaching staff or administration. These may include discovery classes, museum visits, language stays, etc. Likewise, this type of coverage is mandatory for activities offered by municipalities outside of school hours. This category includes, among other things, supervised studies, sporting activities, cultural events, etc.
School insurance is also essential for children attending the canteen. That said, students can already be protected by a multi-risk home contract or life accident guarantee. These formulas effectively cover civil liability and individual damages. In both cases, it is sufficient to obtain a certificate from the insurer to comply with the legal obligations in this area.
The advantages of taking out school insurance
In principle, taking out school insurance is optional, unlike take out home insurance for your student accommodation. Any rental must in fact be insured, regardless of the type of accommodation (residence CROUS, university room, house, apartment, studio occupied free of charge, etc.). However, children need insurance to peacefully enjoy the activities offered during or outside school hours.
On the one hand, this cover is essential to attend the canteen and participate in extracurricular activities of the establishment or communities. Parents will then be required to subscribe to a specific offer, if the children are not covered by other contracts. It will then be necessary to choose the appropriate individual guarantee. On the other hand, school insurance helps protect children from the hazards of school life (falls, injuries, accidents caused, damage suffered, etc.).
In short, it is strongly recommended to provide insurance for schoolchildren, middle school students and high school students. Parents will only have to check beforehand the formulas applicable to the whole family. Indeed, school activities are often covered by comprehensive offers such as multi-risk home insurance or contracts covering life accidents. This precaution will make it possible to avoid redundant guarantees and unnecessary expenses in the field.
