|
I'm
proud to be a member of the following organizations. Please click on their
logos to learn more!
| |
Professional
liability ("malpractice") insurance for dentists and oral
surgeons (both DDS's & DMD's) has customarily been written on
either a claims-made or occurrence basis, with basic liability
limits of $1 Million per incident, with a $3 Million policy
aggregate. Excess limits are generally available, either on an
individual basis or through a healthcare facility.
Underwriting
is based upon a number of different factors, and each insurance
company has their own set of criteria:
 | NATURE
OF PRACTICE:
Obviously, some dental specialties carry a far greater
litigation risk, and are thus going to be priced significantly
higher than others. For instance, a general dentist is
going to pay a lower premium than, say, a periodontist, who in
turn it going to pay less than an oral & maxillofacial
surgeon. Another key element of one's practice that has a
significant impact upon the cost of insurance is anesthesia - conscious sedation, deep sedation or general
anesthesia. Premium costs aside, certain insurance
underwriters are simply more comfortable with certain practice
profiles than others. |
| LOCATION:
Where a dentist practices can have an impact on his/her premium.
Underwriters are keenly aware that courts and juries in
different jurisdictions often come up with vastly different
verdicts. For instance, in my home state of New York,
doctors who practice in the southern portion of the state will
pay a higher premium than upstate practitioners. |
| FULL
TIME / PART TIME: How
many hours a dentist practices each week is also a factor
in pricing the policy. Generally, 20 or more hours per
week is considered "full time" and under 20 hours is
considered "part time." |
| TEACHING
CREDITS:
Some
insurance carriers provide discounts to dentists who spend a
significant portion of their time teaching. |
| CONTINUING
EDUCATION: While
the requirements vary from state to state, most insurers provide
discounts to dentists who attend certain continuing education or
loss control courses. Many insurance companies sponsor
these courses for their policyholders. |
| CONSENT
TO SETTLE CLAUSES:
Insurance companies will sometimes offer discounts to dentists
who agree to allow the insurer to decide when and if to settle
claims. It is my experience, however, that most
professionals prefer to maintain their right to consent to a
settlement. |
| CLAIMS
FREE DISCOUNTS:
A
number of carriers offer a discount to those dentists who have
been without claims for, say, five years or more. |
| RECENT
GRADUATE / NEW PRACTITIONER:
Most
insurance companies offer substantial discounts to dentists who
are just beginning their practice. These discounts are
usually graded, and disappear after 2 or 3 years. |
| CLAIMS
HISTORY: Obviously,
this is a critical factor. While every underwriter
appreciates the fact that in the increasingly litigious
environment in the United States, many medical professionals of
all types have had some degree of claims experience, an
underwriter will look carefully at the twin issues of
"frequency" and "severity." Depending
upon the dentist's specialty, it might be expected that there
will be a "frequency" issue, though most actions
should ultimately be either dismissed without payment or settled
for nominal amounts. On the other hand, a
"frequency" issue might also serve as a "red
flag" to an underwriter. "Severe" claims
are looked at very carefully, and are often analyzed by the
underwriter's own claims department before a decision is made.
For a more in-depth discussion of non-standard medical
malpractice insurance for "hard-to-place"
professionals, please click here 
. |
Without
a doubt, the subject of professional liability insurance for
dentists & oral surgeons is complex. The "best"
policy for you, may not be the "best" policy for the
doctor down the hall!
I
would be happy to discuss your particular situation in greater
detail. You can click here
and complete a brief inquiry form, which will allow me to get
back to you. Or, if you would prefer to, give me a call at 877-320-4061.
This number is available 24-hours a day, and it will automatically
try to find me, and will connect you to me if I am available. If I
cannot take your call, you will have an opportunity to leave a
private voicemail message, and will get back to you promptly. Of
course, I can always be reached via e-mail at, insurance@professional-liability.com.
Thank
you for your time . . . I look forward to speaking with you.
Bruce
R. Swicker
|
