Malpractice insurance

Specialties NICU

Published

I was told by many people that it is not necessary to purchase additional as a nurse since the hospital covers everything. I was also told that if a nurse were to have insurance, and God forbid something goes wrong, it draws attention to that nurse since she/he is considered to be the ones with the "deep pockets" as far as litigation is concerned. What do you guys recommend??

Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

It is foolish to not have your own insurance. If you do not follow hospital policy and procedure to the tee, then the hospital is going to throw you to the wolves. They are out to protect themselves and that is it. I have seen this once in all my years at the hospital and it was not pretty. So, unless you know that you will practice perfectly and follow every policy and procedure down to the crossing of t's and dotting of i's, you really need to invest in it. They are not going to come after you because you have insurance. And NSO also covers you if you are assaulted on the job.

I have one more question! If I purchase my insurance today, and in a year or two I receive notice that I have been named in a lawsuit for an incident that happened in the past six months - before I purchased my insurance, am I still covered?

Specializes in NICU level III.

Thanks for all your help! It's greatly appreciated!!

:balloons:

I have one more question! If I purchase my insurance today, and in a year or two I receive notice that I have been named in a lawsuit for an incident that happened in the past six months - before I purchased my insurance, am I still covered?

Your insurance coverage starts when you pay the premium -- the actual certificate of coverage will list the specific dates (including the time of day!) of your coverage.

There is no insurance company on the planet that will sell you coverage for an incident that has already happened -- like every other kind of insurance, if you wait until you need it, it's too late ... :o

Specializes in NICU.
NSO also has a great deal for new grads--1/2 for the first year! It's less than $50.

No excuse not to have malpractice insurance.

$50 a year for a new grad??? I'm getting ripped for 1,000,000/3,000,000. A new grad quote in TX was 113 and regular premium is 232! I think the price very much depends on the state you live in!!! :angryfire

Specializes in Cardiac.

Yeah you're getting ripped! My $50 first year's premium was for $6,000,000/ $1,000,000 .

Is yours through NSO?

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Limits of liabilty in TX are lower/rates higher than the rest of the U.S.

Full time (not new grad) in TX - $100,00/$300,000 - Premiums, $232/year (with NSO).

Full time (new grads) in TX - $100,000/$300,000 - Premiums, $116/year (NSO).

Rates vary across the country. But, limits of liability are generally higher, $1,000,000/$6,000,000.

Limits of liabilty in TX are lower/rates higher than the rest of the U.S.

Full time (not new grad) in TX - $100,00/$300,000 - Premiums, $232/year (with NSO).

Full time (new grads) in TX - $100,000/$300,000 - Premiums, $116/year (NSO).

Rates vary across the country. But, limits of liability are generally higher, $1,000,000/$6,000,000.

Yes, rates vary from state to state, same as they do for auto insurance or homeowners' insurance. :)

Specializes in NICU.
Yes, rates vary from state to state, same as they do for auto insurance or homeowners' insurance. :)

Makes sense. Same reason why I paid more and got less for auto insurance when I lived in TX.

It is money well spent to have your own insurance. Do a search on allnurses of and it will bring up interesting threads of nurses hung out to dry by their facilities. I am hoping that I can write the premium off on my taxes.

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