Professional Liability Insurance
Adequate professional liability insurance is essential for healthcare professionals, including sonographers. Lawsuits can target the entire healthcare team, not just the lead clinician, making coverage critical. Having your own insurance also allows you to keep your coverage when changing employers, giving you peace of mind knowing you're always protected.
When shopping for coverage, ask about these options:
- Zero Deductible - No out-of-pocket expenses if a claim is made
- Occurrence-Based Coverage - Ongoing protection after the coverage period has ended
- High Limits - Up to $1,000,000/$6,000,000 in liability coverage
- There When You Need It - Unlimited legal defense costs
- Portable - Move between jobs/employers and your coverage follows
Potential Carriers:
If you have employer coverage, here are some questions to ask:
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Are you referred to by name in the employer’s policy?
- Is your employer willing to provide you with written verification, such as a Certificate of Insurance, to confirm that you are covered?
- Does your employer’s policy have a separate limit of liability for you, so your coverage is not used up by claims made against others covered by the employer’s policy?
- Does your employer’s coverage provide for legal costs for you, even when your interests may be in conflict with the employer’s?
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Will your employer’s policy cover you if you work on a contract basis outside regular work hours?
Here are questions to ask about case resolution and payment:
- Will your employer advise you of a settlement offer from a litigant before the settlement is accepted? (This is called consent to settle.)
- Will your employer reimburse you for lost income due to court appearances or meetings?
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Will your employer reimburse your costs of legal representation for licensure and/or administrative review?