Medical Professional Liability Insurance
Pinellas Park, Tampa

As a medical professional, you are legally responsible for correctly and accurately diagnosing, treating, and caring for your patients. 

You are good at what you do, but it’s important to keep yourself safe in the event something goes wrong. 

Protect yourself with a medical professional liability insurance policy from ARCW Insurance.

What is medical professional liability?

You may have heard other names for this type of insurance such as medical liability insurance, malpractice insurance, and medical malpractice insurance. Regardless of what term used, medical malpractice insurance provides a second line of defense if you are faced with a malpractice lawsuit.

You can tailor a policy to fit your unique needs. Some coverage options include the following:

• Misdiagnosis
• Surgical errors
• Medication errors
• Childbirth-related injuries
• Anesthesia administration errors
• Settlement costs
• Punitive and compensatory damages
• Attorney and court costs
• Arbitration

Who needs malpractice insurance?

Medical malpractice insurance is essential for anyone who provides healthcare services. However, there are a few nuances to keep in mind.

1. You may be covered under your employer. However, this coverage will have limitations, so make sure to find out what these limitations are from your local ARCW Insurance insurance agent. It may be a good idea for you to have a policy separate from your employer.
2. If you are a medical professional employed by the U.S. government, you do not need a malpractice policy. You are insured against liability claims by the federal government.
3. If you are an independent contractor, you need medical liability insurance. It is unlikely you are covered by your employer, and you need coverage to keep yourself safe.

Additionally, it’s not just physicians and surgeons who need medical liability insurance. Other medical professionals can benefit from coverage, including:

• Social workers
• Therapists
• Counselors
• Physical therapists
• Pharmacists
• Nurses
• Dentists
• Radiologists

Is medical malpractice insurance required near you?

There isn’t an easy answer to this question because medical professional liability insurance requirements vary from state to state.

Malpractice insurance is required in these states:

• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Kansas
• Massachusetts
• New Jersey
• Rhode Island
• Wisconsin

The following states have claim-assistance programs requiring you to have a minimum amount of malpractice insurance coverage to participate:

• Indiana
• Louisiana
• Nebraska
• New Mexico
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Wyoming

What does medical liability insurance look like?

As a specialized medical professional, you have unique needs, and what works for one person may not work for you. Fortunately, not every medical liability insurance policy looks the same.

Claims-made and occurrence policies are the two most common coverage options. While both give you a second line of defense, they have key differences.

• Claims-made policies only cover a claim if both the treatment occurred and the lawsuit was filed while the policy was active.
• Occurrence policies will cover claims that take place during the coverage period, even if the treatment did not occur during the active policy.

Medical liability insurance providers also come in a few different forms:

1. Traditional private insurer (ex. Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Travelers, etc.)
2. Medical risk retention group (RRG). RRGs are insurance organizations collectively owned by the medical professionals they serve.
3. Coverage under employer’s policy.

Key considerations for practice owners

If you employ other medical professionals, you should consider maintaining a vicarious liability insurance policy. This coverage can protect your practice against any actions or omissions of your employees.

You are liable for any damages caused by violations of HIPAA laws. However, these damages are not covered by medical malpractice insurance. You can read more about protecting your practice from cybercrime, one of the top risks leading to HIPPA violations.

As professionals in the field of medical insurance, we make it our business to know you and your concerns. We spend time learning and listening to better serve you, our clients.

You’ve worked hard to build your practice. The next step is to protect it. We’ll assess what your risks are and help you tailor an insurance policy for your business.

We’d love to chat with you. Contact your ARCW Insurance malpractice insurance agent near you today!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do truckers need general liability insurance? 

  General liability insurance is different from trucking liability insurance. They sound similar but cover very different things. You don't need it like you need trucking insurance, but it's still very beneficial coverage to have.  With general liability insurance, you cover things associated with business, not trucking or transportation themselves. A couple of these coverages include: 

  • Bodily injury and property damage that occurs due to a covered incident. 
  • Personal or advertising injury. 
• What does trucking insurance cover? 

  Every trucking insurance policy is a little different from the rest based on your or your company's needs. That said, there are several common coverages you can include when building your trucking liability insurance policy.

• How much does trucking insurance cost? 

  Your commercial trucking insurance premium can vary a lot from someone else's, even if you're in similar situations or have similar policies. Some factors that affect premiums include:

  • The type(s) of vehicles you're insuring.
  • How far vehicles are traveling per year.
  • Types of cargo. Drivers' driving records.
  • The location of your center of operations.
  • Standard operating radius.
  • How you store the vehicle(s).
  • Amount of coverage you opt for.

  As commercial trucking insurance professionals, we strive to know you and your worries. We spend time listening and learning to serve you better and help you find solutions. You've worked hard to build and promote your trucking operation. The next step is to protect it. We'll assess your risks and help you tailor an insurance policy. We'd love to chat with you. Contact ARCW Insurance today!

• Not sure which of these coverages is right for your construction firm?

  Our staff provides accurate and timely delivery of certificates of insurance. We also provide assistance and reviews of certificates and risk transfers. With our understanding of the design and administration of wrap-ups, we can help contractors navigate the construction defect litigation landscape. Our tailored risk management solutions enable contractors to respond to market fluctuations and better predict future costs.

• Who needs construction insurance?

  If you're in a construction business you should always have commercial insurance. Many businesses are required by their clients to carry specific coverages before they can work for them. Businesses involved in construction work often specialize in trades like:

  • Excavation
  • Home Improvement
  • Land Clearing
  • Remodeling
  • Home Building
  • Asphalt Laying
  • Welding
  • Fence & Deck Building
  • Concrete Laying
  • Stone & Granite Work
  • Roofing