Malpractice / Liability Insurance

ffemt8978

ffemt8978

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I was reading the thread about stopping to render aid if you're not on duty. The part about the Good Samaritan Law got me wondering how many of you carry EMT Malpractice Insurance?

I carry some, and it costs me about $100 a year for $1,000,000 coverage.
 
Who do you go through to get that insurance? (Read:Who is your carrier?)

Chimp
 
Originally posted by ffemt8978@Jun 2 2004, 10:26 AM
Mine is through Healtcare Providers Service Organization
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That's who I went through too, and I feel it's definitely worth it.

While my company will provide certain coverage, I think it would be a bad choice not to have insurance. While most of the EMTs I talk to don't have it, all say they think it's a great idea and plan on getting it.

Hopefully I'll never have to use it, but I said that about my car insurance too, and I'm glad I have that :)
 
My school required that we have coverage (through the school) for our clinical time. I am considering getting my own now that I am out. Thanks for the link, im going to look into them. Definitly not a bad idea.

Russ
 
Liability Insurance

What are people's opinion on emts and medics carrying their own personal professional liability insurance? Most people are covered under their services liability insurance, but what about taking out their own policy. If you do, what company do you have? I think in this world of sue happy people that it is probably a good idea, but I was curious on what other people thought.
 
Once I became an IV Tech, I started carrying liability insurance because I was doing invasive procedures. My policy is through http://www.hpso.org and costs me $100 per year as an intermediate.
 
ffemt8978 said:
Once I became an IV Tech, I started carrying liability insurance because I was doing invasive procedures. My policy is through http://www.hpso.org and costs me $100 per year as an intermediate.
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I have the same insurance through the sams provider at the same cost. Personally I can't afford not to have it.
 
WOW...I hadn't given much thought to it. I am thinking I will have to invest in something like this.

Good Question.
 
It'd be $70 per year for me. Not bad, actually.

Another benefit: "You will be reimbursed for expenses you incur in rendering first aid to others- up to $2,500 aggregate."
 
If you think your service is going to cover you .. you are a fool.. especially, if you did something wrong. Don't think attorneys will not go for EMT's because of low pay .. etc.. guess wrong. Money is money even if it just $300 .. etc..

Your work may cover your insurance somewhat, what about attorneys fee?.. If you will use your company attorney they only have one thing.. to clear the company.. and that may be you taking the fall, you are asking for trouble as well, the will even tell .. "it is better, to get your own".. now, you are attorney poor... even if you win, you might have a $10-20, 000 attorney and legal fee.... can you afford that?

It is cheaper, to pay the $100 or so dollars a year...

R/r 911
 
R/r is absolutely correct. At the end of the day, your service is looking to cover their butt. If that happens to include defending you, great, if not, you're in a tough place.

For $100 a year through HPSO I get:

- $1,000,000 per claim professional liability coverage

- Defense Attorney Provided - Win or Lose!

- Deposition Representation

- Defendant Expense Benefit

- License Protection - They pay $10,000 per proceeding!

- Worldwide Coverage

- Assault Coverage - $10,000 of medical expenses per incident

- Personal Liability coverage - Protects you, up to $1,000,000 aggregate for liability damages for covered claims resulting from incidents at your residence, unrelated to your work

- Personal Injury coverage - Protects you, up to the applicable limits of liability, against covered claims arising from charges of privacy violation, slander, libel, assault and battery, and other alleged personal injuries committed in the conduct of your professional services.

- First Aid Expense - They pay for the supplies if I render first aid to someone

- Medical Payments - Pays up to $100,000 aggregate, up to $2,000 per person for reimbursement of medical expenses to others injured at your residence or business premises.

Damage to Property of Others - Pays up to $10,000 aggregate, up to $500 per incident for damage caused accidentally by you to the property of others at your residence or workplace.

For $100 a year, I would seriously question why anyone would not have this plan. HPSO is known in the healthcare industry as the insurer of healthcare professionals. They have teamed up with the NAEMT, and you can even fill out the entire form and pay your fees online.

For me $100 is working about two shifts in EMS. But this plan not only covers my butt as an EMT, but also outside of work. A policy like this is just a good thing to have. It's like medical insurance. You may never have to use it, but when you do, you can't afford not to have it.

I will also say that HPSO is very responsive and helpful with any questions or concerns I've had.
 
I have HPSO also. If you have a personality like mine, you better damn well have insurance. Remember though, you still might need your own lawyer. HPSO lawyers look out for HPSO first and foremost because that's where there money comes from.
 
Guardian said:
If you have a personality like mine, you better damn well have insurance.
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Now that's damn funny!!!

bounc10.gif
 
I carry an HPSO policy. I agree... it is well worth the money for the peace of mind.

In PA, it was $145 for Basics.
 
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I once told by a lawyer not to get the insurance because the more you have the more they go after :excl: I dont know though. Something that has always been in the back of my head. I know that by working for the town on the fire department I do have coverage. The problem is these days lawyers know how to get around the loop holes and still get ya. I don't know what to do :unsure: :unsure: :unsure: :unsure:
 
FF894 said:
I once told by a lawyer not to get the insurance because the more you have the more they go after :excl: I dont know though. Something that has always been in the back of my head. I know that by working for the town on the fire department I do have coverage. The problem is these days lawyers know how to get around the loop holes and still get ya. I don't know what to do :unsure: :unsure: :unsure: :unsure:
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Lawyers are scum.
 
Guardian said:
Lawyers are scum.
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Many are, yup. TOO many are. But it's standard operating procedure for them to name everyone remotely related in the lawsuit, otherwise a party they forgot could come back and say "hey, I never got my day in court" and next thing you know, the whole process is starting over again.

It sucks. It really does. Lawsuits absolutely suck. :|
 
FF894 said:
I once told by a lawyer not to get the insurance because the more you have the more they go after
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ALWAYS consider the source of your information...

In keeping with the previously stated fundamental law of the relationship between lawyers and pond algae, look at it this way. A lawyer tells you not to get insurance because that's more for them to go after. If you don't have insurance, they're going to take everything. If you do have insurance, that means you have insurance company lawyers on your side. Something an attorney doesn't want to face is a bunch of insurance lawyers looking to protect their money.
 
Question

Has anyone here been actually sued for doing their job? As a former LEO/Firefighter. I have been. Luckily nothing ever came of the suits and those were over 10 years ago and at the time I had nothing to personally loose. Now I am just entering a EMT program here in Central Florida and today one of the class instructors happen to mention extra coverage to prevent lawyer from going after your personal assets. Something I had not considered.

Thanks in advance for your insight....

Mark
Rookie Again..............
 
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