Medical malpractice insurance is essential for you as a healthcare professional, but you may wonder why it is so costly, especially in Florida. More patients are making claims, and the value of payouts is rising, which has caused insurance companies to charge more.
According to the American Medical Association, in 2022, 31.2% of physicians said they had been previously sued. That number is quite surprising, and it shows that about one in every three doctors will deal with such an issue, whether or not they made a mistake.
You should get medical malpractice insurance to protect yourself if you’re ever in such a position. Once you understand why the costs are rising, you’ll be able to make smarter decisions to protect your money and career.         Â
What Are the Effects of Insurance Cost Trends?
When most people hear about rising healthcare costs, their mind goes to patient bills. Others may think about the cost of buying drugs in today’s economy or paying for hospital stays.
Healthcare malpractice costs are the hidden layer most people aren’t aware of, and they’re causing a lot of financial pressure.
Florida is one of the states with a high number of malpractice cases. Juries who attend these cases can even award hundreds of millions, which means that a single case can bankrupt your practice if you don’t have reliable liability coverage options.          Â
If you’re a young doctor in Tampa or have been offering services here for a while, the rising costs will definitely affect your career in one way or another. The high premiums may cause you to start thinking twice about the direction you wanted to take or how you want to practice.
What Are the Two Types of Malpractice Insurance?
Claim-made policies and occurrence policies. If you get a claim-made policy, it will only cover you if an incident and a claim happen when your policy is active. It can be a good option, but the safety net won’t be available anymore if you stop paying your insurance company.
If you leave a policy, then you get sued, you won’t be covered unless you get tail coverage. It may be helpful since it extends the protection you had for past incidents.
An occurrence policy covers any incident that happened while your policy was still active. If you treated someone five years ago when you had such malpractice coverage, you won’t have to worry about the costs if they sue, even if you are no longer paying for that insurance.
You’ll definitely pay more money upfront for an occurrence policy, but you may find it better because it gives you long-term peace of mind.
How Much Does Malpractice Insurance Cost?
Healthcare malpractice costs aren’t fixed because several factors will affect how much you pay your insurer. These main ones are:
- Specialty: Surgeons and anesthesiologists face much higher risks than family doctors
- Claims history: Insurers may ask you to pay more if you’ve had past malpractice claims
- Policy type: Occurrence policies often cost more than claims-made ones
- Coverage limits: If you choose higher liability coverage options, the cost will be higher
Insurance rates have a domino effect because they significantly affect your finances (and sometimes your confidence) when practicing. If you have to pay more due to rising malpractice costs, you may decide to retire earlier than you planned to protect your money and reputation.
Some doctors have even been influenced to move out of areas like Tampa Bay, FL, into other states that offer lower rates.
Finding the right insurance partner, like Hummel Group Insurance, can help you avoid closing your practice or moving. You’ll get an insurance policy to address the unique risks you face in your line of work.
Practice insurance solutions should offer you the protection you need without draining your pockets or affecting your confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose malpractice insurance?
You have many options when shopping for malpractice insurance because there are many providers all over Florida and others that operate across the country.
The unique risks you face should guide you first, but you should also work with a company that has a good reputation among other healthcare providers. Key factors are:
- Financial stability: To avoid worrying, no matter the size of the lawsuit you face
- Specialty expertise: The coverage options you get should be suitable for your practice
- Customer service: You need a team that will respond quickly when you’re facing a claim
Think about your goals and where you see your practice in the next decade to know whether you need a claim-made or occurrence policy.
How long does it take to get malpractice insurance?
Most insurance companies will have it ready within a few weeks. The timeline can vary because every provider has a unique process, and the steps you follow when applying differ too. Their process may involve:
- Doing background checks
- Reviewing any past claims
- Assessing your specialty
It’s always good to plan ahead, even if getting malpractice insurance doesn’t take that long. Don’t wait until a patient or their loved one sues you, because it can be detrimental if they win the claim.
What triggers a claim for medical malpractice coverage?
Many claims will come up if a patient believes they suffered harm because you were negligent or not careful when treating them. Other common triggers are:
- Surgical errors
- Misdiagnosis
- Lack of informed consent
You may provide a patient with the best possible care and still face a lawsuit years later. Once you have malpractice insurance, you won’t have to worry about paying your attorney or covering court costs out of pocket.
Navigate the Shifting Landscape of Medical Malpractice Insurance
Medical malpractice insurance costs are rising as a result of other trends, like the high number of claims and jury payouts. A trusted partner is what you need to protect your practice so you don’t have to move or retire altogether.
You have two good liability coverage options, but it’s always good to think about your needs and the risks you face. Practice medicine without worrying about legal issues by investing in your future with a good policy.
Stay up to date with the latest healthcare and insurance developments. Follow our news coverage for more updates.
This article was contributed by Next Net and published on cdapress.com as part of our contributed content program. Contributed content provides perspectives from businesses and organizations. These contributions help support local journalism through financial support, ensuring we can continue delivering trusted local reporting to our readers.
