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The "What," "Why," and "How" of Malpractice Insurance

How Can You Get Medical Malpractice Insurance?

There are two ways a healthcare professional may obtain medical malpractice insurance. The first way is through your employer. Most states require hospitals and clinics to provider malpractice insurance for at least all of their physicians, and every state but Florida requires physicians to have coverage. However, employer-based malpractice insurance may not be enough.

If you’re employer does not offer coverage, you have the option of buying your own malpractice insurance. Coverage is typically provided by private or physician-run insurance companies who specialize in medical malpractice coverage. The cost of insurance is often determined by:

• Limit of liability selected
• Hospital admitting privileges
• Retroactive date on the policy
• Type of medicine practiced
• Type of procedures performed
• Proximity to major city hospitals
• How long you’ve practice medicine
• Prior claims history