
Pharmacist malpractice insurance coverage and protection are crucial for pharmacists to safeguard their careers and finances. According to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, pharmacist malpractice insurance is a requirement for licensure in many states.
Pharmacists can choose from various types of insurance policies, including claims-made and occurrence-based coverage. Claims-made policies cover incidents reported during the policy period, while occurrence-based policies cover incidents that occur during the policy period, regardless of when they are reported.
Pharmacists should consider factors such as policy limits, deductible, and premium costs when selecting a policy. A deductible of $1,000 to $5,000 is common, but some policies may have higher or lower deductibles.
Pharmacists can expect to pay annual premiums ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the policy and their level of experience.
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Types of Policies
As a pharmacist, you'll want to consider a policy that provides comprehensive coverage. Having your own professional liability insurance, designed to put your interests first, is the best way to incorporate personal risk management.
There are different types of policies available, but one option is to choose a policy with premiums as low as $105, like the one offered by Proliability. This can give you peace of mind to focus on your patients.
You'll also want to consider a policy that covers unforeseen disciplinary actions or malpractice lawsuits. This can help protect your career and financial future.
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What Is a Claims-Made Policy?
A Claims-Made policy provides coverage for a loss occurring after the retroactive date and before the end of the policy period, as long as the claim is reported during the policy period or extended reporting period.
This type of policy is designed to cover risks from past services, allowing consideration of today's legal environment when setting policy limits and deductibles.
The applicable coverage provided is from the policy in force at the time the claim is made and reported. This means that if you have a Claims-Made policy and you're sued for a mistake made several years ago, the policy will cover you as long as you report the claim during the policy period or extended reporting period.
An extended reporting period may be purchased when a Claims-Made policy is canceled to extend the timeframe in which a covered claim may be reported.
Here's a quick summary of how a Claims-Made policy works:
- Lower premium in early years
- A claim made within the policy period triggers the policy to respond
- Insures risk from past services with the present coverage benefits
- Allows consideration of today's legal environment when setting policy limits and deductibles
Risks and Benefits
As a pharmacist, you face significant risks that warrant malpractice insurance. One mistake can have severe consequences for the patient, and ultimately, for your career and personal assets.
Pharmacists are highly trained medical professionals, but they can still make mistakes that lead to malpractice claims. Having the right insurance coverage can protect your career and personal assets.
With malpractice insurance, you can have coverage options up to $2 million per claim, which can provide significant peace of mind.
Here are some benefits of malpractice insurance coverage:
- Coverage Options up to $2 Million per Claim
- Full Consent to Settle Claims
- License Defense Coverage Included
- Sexual Misconduct Defense Included
- Add Additional Insureds At Anytime
- General Liability Available
This insurance coverage can also provide 24/7 portable coverage that covers you everywhere you go, even in volunteer, per diem, or contracted work assignments.
Occurrence
An occurrence policy is a type of insurance policy that responds to incidents that happen within the policy period.
The key characteristics of an occurrence policy include a premium that may be higher than other types of policies, and it's triggered by an incident occurring within the policy period.
Policy limits and coverages in place at the time of the loss apply, so it's essential to review your policy regularly to ensure it's adequate.
Inflation can increase the likelihood that policy limits will be inadequate, which is why it's crucial to review and adjust your policy limits regularly.
Here are some key points to consider with occurrence policies:
- Premium may be higher
- An incident occurring within the policy period triggers the policy to respond
- Policy limits and coverages in place at time of loss apply
- Inflation may increase the likelihood that policy limits will be inadequate
Risks Faced by Pharmacists
Pharmacists are highly trained medical professionals who can face significant risks in their line of work. One mistake by a pharmacist can have significant ramifications on the patient.
Pharmacists are ultimately responsible for making sure the medication and dose prescribed by the doctor is given to the patient. This level of responsibility can be a heavy burden.
Pharmacists fill prescriptions for patients and provide advice to ensure they are taking their medication appropriately. This dual role can increase the risk of malpractice claims.
Pharmacists can find themselves at the center of a malpractice claim due to one mistake.
Benefits of CM&F
CM&F offers robust coverage options, including up to $2 million per claim. This provides peace of mind, knowing your assets are protected in case of a lawsuit.
One of the standout features of CM&F is its 24/7 portable coverage, which covers you everywhere you go, even in volunteer, per diem, or contracted work assignments.
CM&F also includes full consent to settle claims, giving you more control over the claims process. This can be a significant advantage in navigating complex legal situations.
CM&F's coverage options are comprehensive, including license defense coverage, which protects your professional license in case of a lawsuit. This is especially important for professionals like pharmacists who require a license to practice.
CM&F's coverage also includes HIPAA defense coverage, which is essential for healthcare professionals who handle sensitive patient information. This coverage helps protect you in case of a HIPAA-related lawsuit.
Here are some of the key benefits of CM&F coverage:
- Coverage options up to $2 million per claim
- Full consent to settle claims
- License defense coverage
- General liability available
- 24/7 portable coverage
- Defense costs in addition to liability limits
- Telemedicine/telehealth coverage
- HIPAA defense coverage
- Sexual misconduct defense
Insurance Purpose
Pharmacist malpractice insurance is designed to protect your personal assets and cover unexpected legal costs in the event of a lawsuit. This type of insurance is essential for pharmacists, as it can provide peace of mind and financial security.
Having separate pharmacist liability insurance from your employer is crucial, as their policy may not provide adequate protection for you. In fact, an employer's policy may focus on their financial liability first, leaving little to no protection for you.
The main feature of pharmacist liability insurance is to cover you up to the limits on your declarations page, which can vary by profession up to $1 million per occurrence/$3 million aggregate. This means you'll have a clear understanding of what's covered and what's not.
CM&F's pharmacist liability insurance coverage includes legal representation, which means you'll have an attorney assigned to represent your interests, not the interests of others. This is a key benefit, as it ensures that your legal fees and expenses don't erode your liability limits.
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Some of the key benefits of pharmacist liability insurance include coverage for HIPAA fines, penalties, and notification costs, as well as licensing board reimbursement and deposition expense. These benefits can provide significant financial protection in the event of a lawsuit or disciplinary action.
Here are some of the key features of pharmacist liability insurance:
- Limits: up to $1/3M
- Legal Representation: legal fees paid in addition to liability limits
- HIPAA Coverage: $25,000
- Licensing Board Reimbursement: $10,000 per incident/$25,000 per policy period
- Deposition Expense: $10,000 per policy period
- Wage Loss and Expense: $500 per day/$10,000 per incident/$25,000 policy period
- First Aid Reimbursement: $10,000 per policy period
- Medical Payments: $5,000 per person/$100,000 all persons
- Damage to Property of Others: $10,000
- First Party Assault Coverage: $10,000/$25,000 policy period
- Occurrence Policy Form: covers incidents that happen during your policy period regardless of when the claims are reported
- Sexual Abuse/Molestation Coverage: $25,000 sub-limit
- Portable Coverage: follows you 24/7
Coverage Details
CM&F's pharmacist liability insurance coverage offers a range of benefits to protect your personal assets and cover unexpected legal costs in the event of a lawsuit.
The policy limits vary by profession, but you can expect to be covered up to $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate.
One of the key features of the policy is legal representation, which means you'll have an attorney assigned to you to represent your interests, not the interests of others such as your employer. This is a crucial benefit, as it means legal fees and expenses won't erode your liability limits.
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The policy also includes coverage for HIPAA fines, penalties, and notification costs, up to $25,000.
Additionally, you'll be covered for up to $10,000 per incident and $25,000 per policy period for attorney fees or other expenses related to investigations or proceedings from a licensing board.
Here's a breakdown of the coverage details:
- Limits: up to $1 million per occurrence/$3 million aggregate
- Legal Representation: legal fees paid in addition to liability limits
- HIPAA Coverage: up to $25,000 for HIPAA fines, penalties, and notification costs
- Licensing Board Reimbursement: up to $10,000 per incident/$25,000 per policy period
- Deposition Expense: up to $10,000 per policy period
- Wage Loss and Expense: up to $500 per day/$10,000 per incident/$25,000 per policy period
- First Aid Reimbursement: up to $10,000 per policy period
- Medical Payments: up to $5,000 per person/$100,000 all persons
- Damage to Property of Others: up to $10,000
- First Party Assault Coverage: up to $10,000/$25,000 per policy period
- Sexual Abuse/Molestation Coverage: up to $25,000 sub-limit
- Portable Coverage: follows you 24/7
This comprehensive coverage will give you peace of mind, knowing you're protected in the event of a lawsuit or other professional liability claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pharmacist insurance worth it?
Pharmacist insurance can provide essential individual coverage in case of professional claims, supplementing employer-provided business insurance. Consider investing in individual liability insurance for added peace of mind and financial protection
How much does it cost to insure a pharmacy?
The average cost to insure a pharmacy is around $69.50 per month or $834 per year for basic coverage. This estimate may vary depending on specific pharmacy needs and circumstances.
Sources
- https://phmic.com/pharmacist-professional-liability/
- https://www.cmfgroup.com/malpractice-insurance/pharmacy-professionals/pharmacist-malpractice-insurance/
- https://phmic.com/professional-liability-insurance/
- https://www.proliability.com/professional-liability-insurance/pharmacists.html
- https://www.cmfgroup.com/professional-liability-insurance/pharmacy-professional-insurance/pharmacist-insurance/
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