Has Anyone Ever USED Their Malpractice Insurance?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I was reading the thread about the disappointing visit to the BON and this gives rise for another discussion for me. Has anyone ever used their ? Did it really save money, or did you still have to pay an attorney out of your own pocket? I am curious because it makes me wonder...NSO doesn't charge too much, just under $100 a year, but does that really help us when we are in trouble, or does it just make us feel comfortable to have it?

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Specializes in CVICU.

Good question. I am curious too.

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Specializes in jack of all trades.

If by chance a complaint was ever made against you with your state BON they will cover you up to I believe is $25,000. I wish I had many years ago when a bs complaint was made by a disgruntled employee. I didnt have the cash for a retainer for legal representation and with the insurance I would have had an attorney at my side. You may never have to use it but are you willing to chance it? If so I hope you have an unlimited bank account. I wouldnt be caught dead without it now but I learned the hard way.

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I was reading the thread about the disappointing visit to the BON and this gives rise for another discussion for me. Has anyone ever used their malpractice insurance? Did it really save money, or did you still have to pay an attorney out of your own pocket? I am curious because it makes me wonder...NSO doesn't charge too much, just under $100 a year, but does that really help us when we are in trouble, or does it just make us feel comfortable to have it?

Really good question.

Also, could you post a link to the thread you're referring to? Thanks.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
If by chance a complaint was ever made against you with your state BON they will cover you up to I believe is $25,000. I wish I had malpractice insurance many years ago when a bs complaint was made by a disgruntled employee. I didnt have the cash for a retainer for legal representation and with the insurance I would have had an attorney at my side. You may never have to use it but are you willing to chance it? If so I hope you have an unlimited bank account. I wouldnt be caught dead without it now but I learned the hard way.

I have and have had it since I have become a nurse in 2006. What I was asking was if anyone had ever had to use it, and if so, was it helpful.

I called NSO once and was told that they reimburse you if you need an attorney, also, I asked if they have a list of attorneys that are close to where I live and they told me that they don't represent under certain circumstances. It seemed that this was either a new employee or inexperienced because when I kept asking more questions, she seemed to clam up. This is making me consider a different company to cover me.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Really good question.

Also, could you post a link to the thread you're referring to? Thanks.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/really-disappointed-after-394631.html

Sorry, I should have posted this in the original thread.

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I am a nursing student currently, but have worked in the insurance industry for 23 years. The company I have worked for has an endorsement for Nurse's Professional Liablity, which gives you coverage equivalent to whatever your homeowner's liability is. For example, if you have $100k the NPL will be $100k. The cost is pretty minimal, like $25-$50/yr. I am sure that most of the other major companies also have such an endorsement. If you are concerned with going through the BON in your state, call your home insurer and ask them if they carry such an endorsement.

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Specializes in ER.

I've had it and used it. I recommend it, but also recommend not telling people you have it. Just a little ace in your back pocket.

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I am a nursing student currently, but have worked in the insurance industry for 23 years. The company I have worked for has an endorsement for Nurse's Professional Liablity, which gives you coverage equivalent to whatever your homeowner's liability is. For example, if you have $100k the NPL will be $100k. The cost is pretty minimal, like $25-$50/yr. I am sure that most of the other major companies also have such an endorsement. If you are concerned with going through the BON in your state, call your home insurer and ask them if they carry such an endorsement.

I hope you are using the $100k figure as an example, and not as the amount of insurance you carry -- that is a very low figure for liability coverage. I've never seen a nursing personal liability policy for less than a few million $$ a year coverage (a typical level of coverage these days is $1,000,000/$6,000,000 -- that is, (up to) $1 million per occurrence up to a max of six occurrences a year). My homeowner's coverage is nowhere near that much, and I would never settle for as little nursing liability coverage as I have on my homeowner's insurance ...

Also, I've never checked with my homeowner's policy company, because I'm more comfortable dealing with a company that specializes in dealing with professional liability coverage for nurses. However, there are others on this board who have commented in the past that they carry their nursing liability coverage as a rider on their homeowner's insurance.

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I hope you are using the $100k figure as an example, and not as the amount of insurance you carry -- that is a very low figure for liability coverage. I've never seen a nursing personal liability policy for less than a few million $$ a year coverage (a typical level of coverage these days is $1,000,000/$6,000,000 -- that is, (up to) $1 million per occurrence up to a max of six occurrences a year). My homeowner's coverage is nowhere near that much, and I would never settle for as little nursing liability coverage as I have on my homeowner's insurance ...

Also, I've never checked with my homeowner's policy company, because I'm more comfortable dealing with a company that specializes in dealing with professional liability coverage for nurses. However, there are others on this board who have commented in the past that they carry their nursing liability coverage as a rider on their homeowner's insurance.

Yes, the $100k was an example. Sorry! I also would never cover myself for so little, nor recommend less than $1M. The rider is not the ideal form of coverage anyway, as the amounts are limited. I was just offering an option, as the OP sounded as if they were leery of the BON. It is better to have some coverage than no coverage. Also, for me personally, I would have BOTH the home rider and cvg thru a malpractice carrier. But then, I am paranoid and see what happens on a daily basis. Better safe than sorry!

Thanks for allowing me to clarify.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I've had it and used it. I recommend it, but also recommend not telling people you have it. Just a little ace in your back pocket.

Just for clarity, why would you not tell people you have ? I probably would not want to mention it if I worked a private case, but, from what I understand, most agencies require it, so, they would know anyhow? I am just trying to get a better picture...if it helps me, I would not say anything. :D

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Specializes in psychiatry.

Going on with this same thread, my hospital assures me that I do not need any extra insurance, and that they will cover me. This is a large Catholic hospital that I would like to believe would cover me. Has anyone else heard this from their hospital?

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