What You Should Know About Locum Tenens Malpractice Insurance

What You Should Know About Locum Tenens Malpractice Insurance

Physicians with locum tenens careers should always consider protecting their professional reputation and finances with locum tenens malpractice insurance. When working a temporary physician placement, malpractice insurance is provided for the most part. At Mint Physician Staffing, we hear many concerns regarding locum tenens malpractice insurance, how it works, and other things to know about it. Read and understand the information below regarding locum malpractice insurance prior to your healthcare job placement.

Claims-Made Insurance Coverage

A claims-made policy covers physicians for incidents that occur after the retroactive date of a policy and are reported while that policy is active. It’s common to purchase an extended reporting endorsement, also known as a tail, on top of the original contract. The tail is an extended coverage period that’s purchased to ensure coverage in the event of retirement, disability, termination, or even death. If the claim was made after the initial policy has finished, the tail will still cover the event if it happened while the policy was in effect.

Occurrence Insurance Coverage

Occurrence coverage provides more comprehensive protection than claims-made coverage does. With occurrence coverage, the locum tenens physician is covered for all alleged incidents that occurred within the active period of the policy, regardless of when the claim is filed.

General Liability Insurance Coverage

General liability covers the legal liability for claims involving bodily injuries and property damage not covered under the locum tenens malpractice policy. This includes claims such as libel, slander, or physical damage to a facility.

Limits of Liability

The standard locum tenens malpractice insurance is $1,000,000 per incident and $3,000,000 aggregate for the term of the policy. Before beginning a temporary physician placement, locum tenens physicians should check the limits with their physician staffing agency to be sure the coverage meets the standard.

Workers’ Comp

While working locum tenens careers, physicians are considered independent contractors, so they’re actually not entitled to workers’ compensation coverage from their physician staffing agency or from their healthcare facility.