Frequently Asked Questions

Professional Liability

Looking to know why you should have professional liability insurance, or what it covers? See the below FAQs or Contact Us at 1.800.221.4904 to Discuss Your Options.

What is Professional Liability Insurance?

Also known as “Medical Malpractice” insurance, professional liability insurance protects medical professionals from liability associated with wrongful acts resulting in bodily injury, medical expenses and property damage. We offer individual insurance to professionals in the following categories:

  • Clinical Research
  • Dentistry Professionals
  • Emergency Care Professionals
  • Fitness & Wellness
  • Holistic Medicine
  • Home Health Care
  • Laboratory Professionals
  • Medical Administration
  • Nurse Practitioner – NP
  • Nurses
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Physician Assistant – PAs
  • Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum
  • Psychology, Counseling & Behavioral Health
  • Surgical Healthcare Professionals
  • Technicians & Technologists
  • Therapists
  • Other Healthcare Professionals

View the full list of professionals we serve.

What is the difference between malpractice insurance and professional liability insurance?

These terms are both interchangeable. Medical malpractice insurance is a professional liability insurance specifically designed to protect healthcare professionals.

What would purchasing a professional liability insurance plan mean for me?

Purchasing your own individual personal liability protection ensures you have the malpractice coverage you need. Many employers insurance programs do not provide superior coverage, have specific exclusions, do not provide legal defense, restrict the rights to fight a lawsuit and will not protect you outside your employment. The only way to protect your career is to purchase your own individual personal liability protection.

Does having my own individual professional liability insurance policy make me a more likely target for a lawsuit?

Absolutely not. In fact your insurance status is not discovered until you have been named in a lawsuit. At that point you are ALWAYS better off having your own individual liability protection to defend you against any allegations.

Does my practice really need professional liability insurance?

Yes almost all medical professionals are required by law to carry some level of liability insurance protection. Practicing medicine without malpractice coverage is like driving a car without auto insurance. Looking for clinic or group coverage options? View the list of groups eligible to apply for a CM&F group professional liability insurance policy.

Coverage

Don’t know where to start or what you even need? See the below FAQs or Contact Us at 1.800.221.4904 to Discuss Your Options.

What is the difference between occurrence and claims-made coverage?

An Occurrence policy covers a loss that occurs during the policy period regardless of when that claim was made. A Claims-Made policy requires the claim be made or reported while the policy is in force or during the extended reporting period (Tail). Both an Occurrence policy and Claims-Made policy have their strengths. In general, most lower premium paying medical professionals carry Occurrence coverage whereas most higher premium paying medical professionals have the option to purchase Claims-Made which can be less money during the initial years.

Are your plans flexible and customizable to the coverage options I need?

Our insurance plans are extremely flexible. We offer full time, part time and moonlighting policies for almost all professionals.

What is tail coverage?

Tail coverage is only applicable when a Claims-Made policy cancels or terminates. If you have an Occurrence policy you DO NOT NEED TAIL COVERAGE. The Tail is an insurance industry term for “Extended Reporting Period Endorsement”. The Tail allows the insured to report claims that occurred during the claims-made policy term but were not made until after it was cancelled or terminated. Since most malpractice claims are made 18 – 24 months after the incident it is important you purchase Tail coverage if your claims-made policy cancels or terminates. This can be a complicated subject for non-insurance professionals so please contact a service professional with ANY questions.

What limit of liability does CM&F recommend?

The liability limits depend on a number of factors and is a very personal decision. Though we offer policy limits up to $2,000,000 per claim, we typically recommend that liability protection of $1,000,000. With that said, we understand the many factors that impact this choice, including cost and state regulations. Call our team to discuss your options.

What are “Per Occurrence” & “Aggregate” liability limits?

Your “Per Occurrence,” or “Per Claim,” limit refers to the total amount the insurance company will pay per incident during the policy term. Your “Aggregate” limit is the total amount the insurance company will pay for multiple claims over the course of one policy term (which is often one year).

Workplace Considerations & Changes

Is your job status changing? See the below FAQs or Contact Us at 1.800.221.4904 to Discuss Your Options.

What workplaces do you cover?

There are very few restrictions on workplaces. If you are licensed, certified or trained to perform your services we have very few workplaces which are restricted from coverage. If you have a question contact our service professionals.

I have a part-time in addition to my full-time employment. Would this policy provide coverage for these activities?

Yes, that is the reason our policy is so great. The coverage is specific to you, not your employer. So it follows you where you practice.

I just changed jobs. Will I have to pay more for my liability insurance?

It depends. Generally speaking, if you move from one job to another within the same scope of practice the premiums should be relatively similar. If, however you change state or increase your risk of services, there may be a change in premium.

I work for several different employers. Will that affect my coverage or rate?

That depends. We do have a policy type that would cover you for all your work at one rate. The best option is to call our service professionals at 800-221-4904 and discuss your specific situation.

Does my employer’s professional liability insurance cover me?

Most employers do provide some level of malpractice insurance for their employees. The only way to know for certain is to ask for a certificate of insurance every year to confirm that you are a “named insured.” Millions of medical professionals purchase personal professional liability insurance, also known as medical malpractice insurance, protection in addition to what their employer provides. Coverage that is portable from job to job, protects your license, your personal assets and financial future is ALWAYS the best option. CM&F offers both individual liability insurance and group liability insurance.

Coverage By Employment Status

Still a student? Starting your own business? We have options that cover just about any situation. See the below FAQs or Contact Us at 1.800.221.4904 to Discuss Your Options.

I am a student. Can I apply for coverage?

Many healthcare students need liability coverage during their schooling and clinicals. We have a low-cost liability policy for students of many professions. Select the profession you are studying and select student in the application dropdown for coverage type or contact us for more information.

I am self-employed. Can I apply for coverage?

Yes, we cover self-employed medical professionals and can include coverage for your business entity if needed. Get in touch with us to discuss your needs or select your profession and apply for a quote.

I’m starting my own company. Do you have a policy that will cover my company for malpractice?

Absolutely. We have liability coverage for individual professionals, sole-proprietors, clinicsschools and healthcare groupsGet in touch with us to discuss your needs.

I have an active license, but I am not going to be working for a while. Should I keep my coverage active?

We always recommend liability protection until full retirement.

Claims

Need to submit a claim? Want to know more about what you can be sued for? See the below FAQs.

How do I submit a claim?

Simple. Email us and report the incident. We ask that you include any documentation you have received relating to the claim / incident. That information is then reported to our insurance carrier immediately for review. At that point a claims adjuster will contact our client directly to coordinate next steps. Click here to download our Client Incident Report to include in your email.

Would CM&F cancel or non-renew insurance coverage due to a claim against a policyholder?

CM&F fights very hard for our clients and will never automatically non-renew because of a claim or disciplinary action. Every situation is reviewed individually and the decision is made based on the merits of that specific situation.

I have just been notified that I have been named in a lawsuit or that I am going to be sued. What do I do?

The minute you are served with a lawsuit or notified of a claim contact CM&F directly to report it. Please include any information relating to the claim so our team can coordinate the response as quickly as possible.

What kinds of activities might trigger a disciplinary action by a licensing board and/or state regulatory agency?

Any number of incidents can result in a disciplinary action. The important thing to remember is our policy provides $25,000 in legal defense costs. Do not hire a personal attorney or seek outside counsel. Report the incident to our team immediately so we can report the issue to the insurance carrier.

Am I covered for patient claims involving COVID-19, including the unintentional transmission of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)?

Yes – we expect that most patient claims alleging professional negligence relating to COVID-19 would be covered. MedPro has no plans to modify or restrict existing coverage as it relates to COVID-19. If you’re concerned about coverage for COVID-19 claims involving transmission of the virus to employees, we suggest reviewing your workers compensation policy for potential coverage. For claims involving transmission of the virus to members of the general public, we suggest reviewing your general liability policy for potential coverage.

Account Questions

Having issues with your account? See the below FAQs or Contact Us at 1.800.221.4904 to Discuss Your Options.

How do I cancel my policy?

Simple. Call us or send an email requesting cancellation as of what date.

How do I renew my CM&F liability policy?

Our individuals can renew online in minutes. Groups and Schools must send in a renewal application prior to expiration.

How do I upgrade or reduce my insurance coverage (limits of liability, hours I work per week, etc.)?

We allow many of our clients to make updates during the renewal. If you need to make a change mid-policy call or email us directly.

I just received a copy of my certificate of insurance. I am currently listed as an LPN, but I am now an RN. What do I need to do to change my certification?

We can update this straight away. Contact our services professionals to update your license or certification.

I just received a copy of my certificate of insurance. I am currently listed as an LPN, but I am now an RN. What do I need to do to change my certification?

We can update this straight away. Contact our services professionals to update your license or certification.

How quickly can I get my coverage documents?

You can either apply online or download your application and mail or fax it to our offices. Below are the turn around times for each method:

  • If you apply for coverage online via our CM&F Online Web Applications*, you can pay for and receive proof of coverage in MINUTES!
  • Printing and Mailing a PDF application can delay the receipt of your coverage documents by a few weeks due to mailing time.
  • You can always fax your paper application to 212-608-4378, and we will process within a few business days, then mail your policy documents out to you, which may take a week or more.

 

If you have the ability to pay with a VISA or MasterCard, we recommend applying for coverage online.

The process usually takes less than 10 minutes to complete and once you submit your application, you are emailed your coverage documents in minutes–No Delay, No Headache.

If you can’t complete the online application but need your documents right away, you can always fax your application to the number above and include a note directly on the application requesting that we mail or fax your documents as soon as we process.

CM&F Policies

Looking for policy information specific to CM&F? See the below FAQs or Contact Us at 1.800.221.4904 to Discuss Your Options.

I don’t see my profession title; how can I find out if you cover me?

If you do not see your profession or specialty listed on the certificate under “professional services”, call our service team to discuss.

Are your plans flexible and customizable to the coverage options I need?

Are your plans flexible and customizable to the coverage options I need?

How do I apply for professional liability or malpractice insurance?

It is easy. Our applications are now available online and take not much longer than 5 minutes to apply and checkout with coverage.

How do I transfer my existing liability policy under another company to CM&F so that there is no gap in time of coverage?

If you have an Occurrence policy you can simply purchase the CM&F policy when the existing policy expires. Claims-Made policies should be discussed with a CM&F service professional to ensure there are no gaps.

Why should I consider an individual Professional Liability Insurance Plan from CM&F?

Millions of medical professionals do not trust their employer’s insurance and purchase individual liability protection. An employer’s insurance policy inherently looks out for the employer and not the employee. A policy with CM&F is designed to protect our clients and gives them the power and protection they need if a claim is made.

Get Started Today

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