Frequently Asked Questions About Nurses Liability Insurance

Frequently Asked Questions About Nurses Liability Insurance

Is it important for nurses to have liability insurance?

Nurses, like other health professionals, need protection when accidents involving patients occur. Whether you find yourself with a patient-issued lawsuit because of adverse results from your treatment or possible licensing issue; having Nurse Liability Insurance can give you a sense of security and protection. Wondering if having Nurse Liability Insurance is necessary, about potential coverage, or what types of policies and benefits are available?

We’ve compiled some frequently asked questions about Nurse Liability Insurance and how it works.

What is Nurse Liability Insurance

It’s an individual policy and optional policy that nurses purchase for extra protection. Nurse Liability Insurance protects nurses in case of medical malpractice, i.e. accident or mistake occurred while caring for a patient. The insurance package can cover HIPPA Coverage, deposition expenses, wage loss, and medical payments.

Do you need it if your workplace has a liability policy?

The workplace/employer policy covers medical liability, but there are limitations. The workplace policy covers all nurses, except for contract and travel nurses, which leads to the possibility of limited funding during litigation. For example, if there is a lawsuit, there may not be as much available funding and nurses may have to pay out-of-pocket lawyer fees or settlement. 

Having their own medical malpractice or liability insurance provides added protection for nurses; includes personal risk management. The individual policy covers the policyholder, this means you can use it even when you transfer to another facility, no need to reapply or renew.

What are some benefits of Nurse Liability Insurance?

Unlike the employer’s policy, all employees are on one policy, and legal representation focuses on the individual’s best interest, they cover legal fees under the policy. As the sole policyholder of the policy, the insurance company works with you and not your employer.  With your own policy,  the lawyer represents you in all proceedings. 

Legal Coverage benefit: Many individual policies reimburse for certain costs in any disciplinary actions by the state board of nursing or if your employer sues you for negligence. Check with your insurance company about your policy limits,  reimbursement coverage, and licensing defense.

What are the policy options?

Considered professional liability insurance, it covers common claims such as negligence, violation of good faith, or privacy violation. 

There are two types of professional liability insurance:

Most nurse liability insurances are occurrence-based, a benefit of the policy is that it covers claims filed many years, even when the policy has expired.

Tip (s): Connect with insurance companies and underwriters before choosing a policy. Also,  check with your workplace about their policy, if it’s a claim-made policy, or is it an occurrence policy and what insurance company they work with.

Do you need all that coverage

Liability or malpractice insurance covers for assault, first expenses, violations, attorney, property damage, and license protection. It’s affordable and in some states, a $6 million policy cost less than $100 per year. The cost depends on your practice and certification i.e. nurse practitioner insurance and registered nurse insurance coverages and policies may have different pricing; includes amounts versus aggregate. 

When choosing a policy and/or coverage you might ask yourself, “how much coverage or insurance do I need”

Each policy has its limits, depending on where you work, the services you provide, and how much coverage your employer has, your coverage may vary.  Therefore, it is essential to check your company policy to ensure you are not paying for double coverage or no coverage. 

Tip: Connecting with an insurance/independent agent can help you assess and decide your insurance needs and compare prices

Nurses care and protect patients, but it’s important for them to have protection. Having liability insurance can allow nurses to feel protected while they care for patients. Again, it’s best to discuss liability coverage and protection with an experienced agent. 

Do you have questions about liability insurance, let us know if we missed anything in the comment section.

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About the author

Joycelyn Ghansah

Joycelyn Ghansah is a former Healthcare Organizer with a background public health, include reproductive and sexual health. When she's not freelance writing, she's transcribing interviews and researching ways to strengthen healthcare labor laws.

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