discouraged on getting own insurance?

[mommy2BCD]

Well I am in my first week of orientation and I am excited to finally be starting. Today a person from Risk Management came in to speak with us. She told us that we do not need our own insurance, and in fact, the hospital discourages it ??? She said that a nurse with her own Liability Insurance is considered to be one with "deep pockets" and that the hospital would not be able to "remove our name from a lawsuit" if we have our own insurance. She was saying that if you are involved in a lawsuit that if you are covered under the hospital that they could put it in the corporations name and remove your name from the suit. In addition, said that this particular hospital has $55 million in insurance that protects it from lawsuits. She said that the hospital's insurance was more than enough and that they will always protect their employees. I am obviously a new grad and very new to this profession. A lot of my fellow orientees are now not getting insurance. I don't know what to do ? Do you have your own insurance? why? and who is it with ? I just wonder why they would discourage you from getting it ? Is there something I am missing ?

[Heloisea3]

In my opinion, you should get your own insurance. I am not a nurse yet, but I used to carry my own insurance when I was teaching school even thought the school district carried insurance for us as well. Employers will always look after their own interests first. A teacher I know found this out when she was involved in a lawsuit and the school district hung her out to dry. She didn't have her own insurance, and the whole thing was a nightmare for her. I am sure hospitals do the same thing to nurses. In fact, I would think most businesses would look after their own interests and yours last. I definitely recommend getting your own insurance. Better safe than sorry.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

Yes, definitely get your own insurance..The woman who did part of my orientation was a legal nurse consultant and impressed upon us the need for our own insurance...The hospital can turn around and sue you if they get sued and you have to follow policy to the absolute letter or they hang you out to dry...This insurance also covers your legal fees, has license protection, good samaritan coverage etc...I get mine from NSO.Many older nurses will say not to get insurance but they come from an era where hospitals would cover you. These days, they will sacrifice you if it serves their needs. .The risk management lady can tell you that the hospital would protect you till the cows come home, but they will ALWAYS look after the hospital's benefit first. If that means throwing you to the wolves, they'll do it. Any person I know that has legal background recommends personal insurance.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Get your own insurance.

www.nso.com

You won't ever need it unless the facility or a patient decides to go after you, and then where is their support going to be?

Pick it up. Don't tell them because it's none of their business anyway.

[llg, PhD, RN]

In addition to what the other posters have said ...

I doubt the hospital will cover you if you are sued for something you do while not at work. Unless they give you a document guaranteeing that they will act in YOUR best interest (not theirs) in ALL circumstances, I would recommend having your own insurance.

Also, they don't want you to have your own insurance because they want to remain in total control should their be an incident. If you have your own insurance, you'll be bringing in your own lawyer -- and he/she may not agree with their handling of the situation. Your lawyer will be looking after YOUR interests, and won't let your interests be sacrificed to make things easier for the hospital.

I got my own insurance right after I graduated from school back in 1977. I just renewed it this past weekend.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm not a nurse (yet), but even I have to say that what they've told you at orientation sounds rather fishy. In fact, IMO that's one big red flag being waved there.

Get the insurance and never let it lapse...at least not while you are working there.

[BAMACCRN]

IMHO.....Having your own insurance is one of the best things you could do for yourself. A coworker of mine is an attorney/RN and she stated: 1) tell no one you have your own insurance . The hospital has absolutely no legal authority to make you provide that info 2) The fact that you have insurance is revealed only when you are named individually as a defendant and only during the discovery phase- that means you will seem a penniless nurse and that plaintiffs usually go after the big fish as long as you tell no one til legally required. The attorney emphasized to tell no one but get insurance. My old employer is a "self-insured" facility and they care diddly squat about the staff when it comes to lawsuits. They will dime MD/DO's, RN's, RRT's, etc, before admitting any wrong doing. :angryfire:nono:

[flynntastic]

How much does personal insurance run?

I know that it probably varies from person to person, im just looking for a ballpark.

Thanks.

[Neveranurseagain, RN]

Well, a few things I learned about malpractice insurance...

carry your own--but not more than 1 million dollars...that is what most MD's carry here in CA...if you carry more than that you run the risk of being the Deep Pocket if involved in a med mal case...