nursing liability insurance companies

bargainhound, RN · May 31, 2004

NSO is good.

Trauma Columnist · May 31, 2004

I have been very happy with NSO.

Nurse Ratched, RN · May 31, 2004

I initially checked with my car insurance company (Geico) to see if they had a subcontracted company that did professional Liability Insurance (they have one that we get our renter's insurance from.) They didn't have malpractice insurance available. I'm sure there must be other companies, but NSO is the only one I'm familiar with, and it's what I use.

mscsrjhm · May 31, 2004

Just a question..... other than receiving a bill and sending in payments, how can a person be happy with their insurance company, and see how supportive the company is, unless they have had to use the insurance. In 23 years of nursing, I have never known any one who used their insurance.

I did meet a few people who should never be without insurance- like some really bad drivers should never be without insurance.

Not trying to offend, just asking. Has anyone actually had to use their insurance? Why didn't the facility insurance cover the problem? Just curious.

Mschrisco

________________________________________________________________

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds"-Albert Einstein

FROGGYLEGS, LPN · May 31, 2004

The only other company I was able to find was medmal4nurses.com . It is a different looking site and advertises cheaper rates, but the only way to contact them is via the internet? I don't like that.

Thanks for the input. I'm going to go ahead and buy the coverage from NSO.

FROGGYLEGS, LPN · May 31, 2004

Other than the service they provide when you have a claim or need advice, I suppose there isn't a way to really *know* if you're satisfied with them or not. I don't know anybody that has used their insurance, but I don't know anybody that has been sued lately either.

I've went without it for nearly five years and I've been okay, but after consideration I do feel like I've put myself at unnecessary risk by not providing my own insurance. My current opinion is that everyone in nursing should carry it just like everyone who drives should be insured. You just never can tell.

I don't want to rely upon my employer for protection if something were to happen. I believe they and most other companies would be much more interested in self-preservation than in how their nurses fare in court. What if the impossible happened and the nurse was partially or soley responsible for the incident? If they fired you would you still be enough of a priority to defend? I really don't know the answers to any of these questions myself, but I would just feel more secure with my own coverage.

mscsrjhm · May 31, 2004

When companies are sued, whether they fire you or not, their insurance lawyers "defend" the company. They would not spend monies to "defend" any employee, current or fired. It is not so black and white as nurses think.

Again, do not wish to debate pros and cons of insurance, and I do not wish to offend anyone, just curious, has anyone needed/used their Liability Insurance? Has anyone heard of anyone using nursing liability insurance?

Mschrisco

__________________________________________________________________

"Visit the navy yard, behold the Marine....." Henry David Thoreau

(Chapter on civil disobedience- taken a little out of context, however, as a woman, I felt no need to go beyond that simple quote...kinda nice, dontcha think?)

FROGGYLEGS, LPN · May 31, 2004

I apologize if it sounds as if I am interested in debating the subject. I am requesting recommendations for an insurance provider and attempting to answer your question with my personal opinion.

I am curious about the answer to your questions as well. Out of curiousity, have you or anyone you've known been named in a suit without having outside coverage? If so, were you satisfied with the defense furnished to you by the company?

dphrn · Jun 1, 2004

No need to apologize. You came here for input on a subject. A very good subject at that. Thanks to you, I just renewed my yearly insurance with NSO, which I have been putting off. My goodness, yearly coverage of $1,000,000 for $85...that is what I call peace of mind. Thanks for bringing up the topic.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 1, 2004

Just a question..... other than receiving a bill and sending in payments, how can a person be happy with their insurance company, and see how supportive the company is, unless they have had to use the insurance. In 23 years of nursing, I have never known any one who used their insurance.
I did meet a few people who should never be without insurance- like some really bad drivers should never be without insurance.
Not trying to offend, just asking. Has anyone actually had to use their insurance? Why didn't the facility insurance cover the problem? Just curious.
Mschrisco
________________________________________________________________
"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds"-Albert Einstein

I have been a nurse for over 25 years and have never needed to use the insurance. You must take into account, that whatever the problem is, the hospital is going to cover themselves first, you last. For the price of the insurance I would prefer to know that someone is putting me first.

mscsrjhm · Jun 1, 2004

The hospital insurance covers employees and their actions. That is what insurance is about. There seems to be some misunderstanding about "facilities defending the employee". They are not spending extra money to defend "the nurse", the are defending themselves, which includes "the nurse".

That is my point. Possibly the lengthy debate re: insurance vs no insurance could be solved with simple facts:

How many nurses have been individually named, sued, AND PURSUED by attorneys, (this would include being named a litigant along with the facility), VS how many nurses have NOT been pursued by attorneys- who had insurance, who didn't.

Any ideas where that info might come from? Again, I am still curious.

Mschrisco

_________________________________________________________________

"If I were a rich man..." Fiddler on the Roof.