Physician Assistant Malpractice Insurance

Physician assistants or physician associates (PAs) have a unique set of responsibilities and risks. Most PAs work under the supervision of and with direction from a physician or a group of physicians, but with a great deal of independence in treating patients. They perform physical exams, order and read labs, diagnose and treat certain conditions, and assist in surgeries. In this unique position, PAs are often named in malpractice lawsuits. If you’re a PA, don’t assume that the medical malpractice insurance offered by your employer is sufficient.

Luckily, a local independent insurance agent can help you get equipped with all the physician assistant malpractice insurance you need. They'll ensure you get enough protection to cover you even in case you change jobs. But first, here's a breakdown of what physician assistant malpractice insurance is, why it's necessary, and much more.

What Is Physician Assistant Malpractice Insurance?

Physician assistant medical malpractice insurance is a special form of professional liability insurance designed to protect PAs from various expenses stemming from patient lawsuits. As such, this coverage is also sometimes called physician assistant professional liability insurance. Policies are designed to reimburse PAs for the cost of lawsuits related to third-party claims of professional errors or negligence.

Even the most careful physician assistant can sometimes make a costly and harmful mistake. For example, if a PA accidentally injures a patient while caring for them, they can be sued.

Without the proper coverage, they could have to pay tens of thousands of dollars or even more in defense and settlement costs in just one lawsuit. That's why it's critical to work together with an independent insurance agent to get the right medical malpractice insurance for physician assistants.

What Does Physician Assistant Malpractice Insurance Cover?

Any mistake or oversight that negatively impacts a patient can result in a lawsuit. Every type of medical professional has different risks that need to be covered by malpractice insurance. In general, physician assistant malpractice insurance covers you for liability claims arising from negligence or professional errors and omissions.

This coverage can reimburse you for the following expenses:

Defense costs, including attorney and court fees
Punitive and compensatory damages
Arbitration and settlement
Medical damages

Work with a local independent insurance agent to find the right physician assistant medical malpractice insurance.

What's Not Covered by Physician Assistant Professional Liability Insurance?

PA malpractice insurance typically excludes coverage for negligence due to illegal conduct, sexual improprieties, factual misrepresentations on insurance applications, hospital or lab administrations, or medical records alterations. Any intentionally harmful acts or criminal acts are also excluded from coverage. Be sure to review your specific policy with your independent insurance agent to be certain of what's covered and what's excluded.

Why Do I Need Physician Assistant Malpractice Insurance?

Even the smartest and most qualified professionals can make a mistake. Any physician or PA can be sued for mistakes, even if they are not actually at fault.

Defending a malpractice suit is expensive, even if you win. Though providers often win malpractice cases, the costs to defend the case will likely be unrecoverable. Having enough physician assistant malpractice insurance can help ensure you get the reimbursement you deserve and allow you to keep working rather than being buried under a financial burden.

My Employer Offers PA Malpractice Insurance, Isn’t That Enough?

While a PA’s employer may offer malpractice insurance for the entire practice, it is probably focused on protecting the group or the primary physician. The employer coverage likely has gaps that could leave you financially devastated if you are sued for malpractice.

Also, consider the following arguments for seeking your own coverage:

If you change jobs, the previous employer’s malpractice insurance may not cover you for claims made after you leave, even if the incident happened while you were still an employee.
Your employer’s malpractice insurance coverage limits may be insufficient to cover everyone named in a malpractice suit.
Employer coverage may not cover you for individual activities outside of the practice, e.g., if you moonlight or offer healthcare services outside of the practice as an independent contractor.

You likely need to purchase physician assistant malpractice insurance to make sure you are protected in all circumstances for the long term. An independent insurance agent can assist you.

What Kind of Physician Assistant Professional Liability Insurance Should I Buy?

You can purchase physician assistant malpractice insurance with dollar limits that are appropriate for you. Most policies specify:

An individual limit (i.e., the most that will be paid for any one claim)
An aggregate limit (i.e., the most that will be paid in any policy year for all claims)

So, if your policy has limits of $1,000,000/$3,000,000, it will pay a maximum of $1 million per claim and $3 million for all claims during a policy term. You'll also have to choose between the following categories of coverage:

Occurrence policies: This coverage will reimburse you if the service is provided while the policy is in force, regardless of when a claim is filed.
Modified occurrence policies: Known as tail coverage, this combines aspects of occurrence policies and claims-made policies for a kind of unlimited coverage. You can purchase unlimited tail coverage once the original coverage period expires. Tail coverage is beneficial for healthcare workers who are retiring, switching positions, or changing insurance policies.
Claims-made policies: This coverage will only reimburse you if the service is provided and the claim is made while the policy is in force. However, some policies include "tail" coverage, which extends protection for a specified amount of time, such as five years, after the policy's end date.

Your independent insurance agent can help you purchase a PA malpractice insurance policy that includes an appropriate limit and kind of coverage for you.

How Much Does Physician Assistant Malpractice Insurance Cost?

Your employer may pay for some or all of the cost of your physician assistant malpractice insurance. Many PAs purchase their own coverage and are reimbursed by their employers. You can typically expect annual premiums to range between $1,000 and $8,000.

The cost of PA malpractice insurance can vary significantly depending on several factors, including:

Your responsibilities
Your specialty
The location of your practice
How many hours you practice per week
Whether you are full-time or part-time
How much coverage you buy

A PA who assists in surgeries or works in an obstetrics practice, which are high-risk specialties, will likely pay more for malpractice insurance than a PA who works with a general practitioner. A local independent insurance agent can help you find affordable physician assistant malpractice insurance in your area.

The Benefits of an Independent Insurance Agent

When it comes to helping insurance customers find the absolute best physician assistant malpractice coverage, no one’s better equipped to help than an independent insurance agent. Independent insurance agents search through multiple carriers to find providers who sell physician assistant professional liability insurance, deliver quotes from a number of different sources, and help you walk through them all to find the best blend of coverage and cost.

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