Frequently Asked Questions

Also known as “Medical Malpractice” insurance, professional liability insurance protects medical professionals from liability associated with wrongful acts resulting in bodily injury, medical expenses and property damage. We offer individual insurance to professionals in the following categories:

• Clinical Research
• Dentistry Professionals
• Emergency Care Professionals
• Fitness & Wellness
• Holistic Medicine
• Home Health Care
• Laboratory Professionals
• Medical Administration
• Nurse Practitioner – NP
• Nurses
• Pharmaceutical
• Physician Assistant – PAs
• Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum
• Psychology, Counseling & Behavioral Health
• Surgical Healthcare Professionals
• Technicians & Technologists
• Therapists
• Other Healthcare Professionals

View the full list of professionals we serve.

These terms are both interchangeable. Medical malpractice insurance is a professional liability insurance specifically designed to protect healthcare professionals.

Purchasing your own individual personal liability protection ensures you have the malpractice coverage you need. Many employers insurance programs do not provide superior coverage, have specific exclusions, do not provide legal defense, restrict the rights to fight a lawsuit and will not protect you outside your employment. The only way to protect your career is to purchase your own individual personal liability protection.

Absolutely not. In fact your insurance status is not discovered until you have been named in a lawsuit. At that point you are ALWAYS better off having your own individual liability protection to defend you against any allegations.

Yes almost all medical professionals are required by law to carry some level of liability insurance protection. Practicing medicine without malpractice coverage is like driving a car without auto insurance. Looking for clinic or group coverage options? View the list of groups eligible to apply for a CM&F group professional liability insurance policy.

An Occurrence policy covers a loss that occurs during the policy period regardless of when that claim was made. A Claims-Made policy requires the claim be made or reported while the policy is in force or during the extended reporting period (Tail). Both an Occurrence policy and Claims-Made policy have their strengths. In general, most lower premium paying medical professionals carry Occurrence coverage whereas most higher premium paying medical professionals have the option to purchase Claims-Made which can be less money during the initial years.

Our insurance plans are extremely flexible. We offer full time, part time and moonlighting policies for almost all professionals.

Tail coverage is only applicable when a Claims-Made policy cancels or terminates. If you have an Occurrence policy you DO NOT NEED TAIL COVERAGE. The Tail is an insurance industry term for “Extended Reporting Period Endorsement”. The Tail allows the insured to report claims that occurred during the claims-made policy term but were not made until after it was cancelled or terminated. Since most malpractice claims are made 18 – 24 months after the incident it is important you purchase Tail coverage if your claims-made policy cancels or terminates. This can be a complicated subject for non-insurance professionals so please contact a service professional with ANY questions.

The liability limits depend on a number of factors and is a very personal decision. Though we offer policy limits up to $2,000,000 per claim, we typically recommend that liability protection of $1,000,000. With that said, we understand the many factors that impact this choice, including cost and state regulations. Call our team to discuss your options.

Your “Per Occurrence,” or “Per Claim,” limit refers to the total amount the insurance company will pay per incident during the policy term. Your “Aggregate” limit is the total amount the insurance company will pay for multiple claims over the course of one policy term (which is often one year).

This coverage specifically protects a third-party Medical Director appointed by you. It does not extend to cover your personal medical services. Opting for Medical Director Coverage adds an extra $500 to your premium.

Opting for Supervising Physician Coverage is additional to, and a separate cost from, your premium. This coverage may be essential if you would like to extend coverage to a supervising physician under your policy. If you require this coverage, please contact our team to access a separate application for submission.

There are very few restrictions on workplaces. If you are licensed, certified or trained to perform your services we have very few workplaces which are restricted from coverage. If you have a question contact our service professionals.

Yes, that is the reason our policy is so great. The coverage is specific to you, not your employer. So it follows you where you practice.

It depends. Generally speaking, if you move from one job to another within the same scope of practice the premiums should be relatively similar. If, however you change state or increase your risk of services, there may be a change in premium.

That depends. We do have a policy type that would cover you for all your work at one rate. The best option is to call our service professionals at 800-221-4904 and discuss your specific situation.

Most employers do provide some level of malpractice insurance for their employees. The only way to know for certain is to ask for a certificate of insurance every year to confirm that you are a “named insured.” Millions of medical professionals purchase personal professional liability insurance, also known as medical malpractice insurance, protection in addition to what their employer provides. Coverage that is portable from job to job, protects your license, your personal assets and financial future is ALWAYS the best option. CM&F offers both individual liability insurance and group liability insurance.

If you fully retire, you may be able to cancel or let your policy expire. If you have a Claims-Made policy, you may need tail coverage to protect you from future claims. Contact us to discuss your options.

Yes! CM&F offers blanket group policies that cover both employees (W-2) and independent contractors (1099) under the same policy. Our coverage is not limited to individuals listed by name, so your policy automatically adapts to staff changes throughout the year.

Adding new services or specialties to your practice can impact pricing based on the risk level of those services. For example, expanding from primary care to aesthetic procedures like Botox or IV hydration may increase premiums due to the higher risk. Before expanding your services, check with your state’s licensing board and ensure your policy reflects your new offerings.

CM&F policies are portable, meaning your coverage follows you wherever you work. If you move states, make sure your new state allows you to practice under your license.

You can update your policy by logging into your client portal and submitting a request to add new providers. Since our policies do not require individual names to be listed, your coverage automatically adjusts as providers join and leave. At renewal, we update pricing based on your average provider headcount throughout the year.

Many healthcare students need liability coverage during their schooling and clinicals. We have a low-cost liability policy for students of many professions. Select the profession you are studying and select student in the application dropdown for coverage type or contact us for more information.

Yes, we cover self-employed medical professionals and can include coverage for your business entity if needed. Get in touch with us to discuss your needs or select your profession and apply for a quote.

Absolutely. We have liability coverage for individual professionals, sole-proprietors, clinics, schools and healthcare groups. Get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

We always recommend liability protection until full retirement.

If you are operating as an individual under your name, your individual malpractice policy remains valid. However, if you establish a business entity, you may need a group or business policy to cover your practice. If you hire W-2 employees or 1099 contractors, a business policy ensures everyone is protected. Contact us to discuss the best option for your practice.

Simple. Email us and report the incident. We ask that you include any documentation you have received relating to the claim / incident. That information is then reported to our insurance carrier immediately for review. At that point a claims adjuster will contact our client directly to coordinate next steps. Click here to download our Client Incident Report to include in your email.

CM&F fights very hard for our clients and will never automatically non-renew because of a claim or disciplinary action. Every situation is reviewed individually and the decision is made based on the merits of that specific situation.

The minute you are served with a lawsuit or notified of a claim contact CM&F directly to report it. Please include any information relating to the claim so our team can coordinate the response as quickly as possible.

Any number of incidents can result in a disciplinary action. The important thing to remember is our policy provides $25,000 in legal defense costs. Do not hire a personal attorney or seek outside counsel. Report the incident to our team immediately so we can report the issue to the insurance carrier.

Yes – we expect that most patient claims alleging professional negligence relating to COVID-19 would be covered. MedPro has no plans to modify or restrict existing coverage as it relates to COVID-19. If you’re concerned about coverage for COVID-19 claims involving transmission of the virus to employees, we suggest reviewing your workers compensation policy for potential coverage. For claims involving transmission of the virus to members of the general public, we suggest reviewing your general liability policy for potential coverage.

Simple. Call us or send an email requesting cancellation as of what date.

Our individuals can renew online in minutes. Groups and Schools must send in a renewal application prior to expiration.

We allow many of our clients to make updates during the renewal. If you need to make a change mid-policy call or email us directly.

We can update this straight away. Contact our services professionals to update your license or certification.

You can either apply online or download your application and mail or fax it to our offices. Below are the turn around times for each method:

• If you apply for coverage online via our CM&F Online Web Applications*, you can pay for and receive proof of coverage in MINUTES!
• Printing and Mailing a PDF application can delay the receipt of your coverage documents by a few weeks due to mailing time.
• You can always fax your paper application to 212-608-4378, and we will process within a few business days, then mail your policy documents out to you, which may take a week or more.

If you have the ability to pay with a VISA or MasterCard, we recommend applying for coverage online.

The process usually takes less than 10 minutes to complete and once you submit your application, you are emailed your coverage documents in minutes–No Delay, No Headache.

If you can’t complete the online application but need your documents right away, you can always fax your application to the number above and include a note directly on the application requesting that we mail or fax your documents as soon as we process.

Log in to your client portal to update your coverage. Whether you’re adding a new certification, switching employment types, or opening a practice, we make it easy to adjust your policy.

You can access your certificate of insurance in the client portal. If you need a customized certificate with additional details, request one through the portal, and we’ll process it quickly.

If you do not see your profession or specialty listed on the certificate under “professional services”, call our service team to discuss.

Yes! Our plans are designed to be flexible. You can choose your coverage limits, add optional protections like general liability, and customize the policy to match your profession, work setting, specialty, and state requirements. Coverage options may vary based on your profession and filing state.

It is easy. Our applications are now available online and take not much longer than 5 minutes to apply and checkout with coverage.

If you have an Occurrence policy you can simply purchase the CM&F policy when the existing policy expires. Claims-Made policies should be discussed with a CM&F service professional to ensure there are no gaps.

Millions of medical professionals do not trust their employer’s insurance and purchase individual liability protection. An employer’s insurance policy inherently looks out for the employer and not the employee. A policy with CM&F is designed to protect our clients and gives them the power and protection they need if a claim is made.

Yes. Claims-Made policies start lower but increase each year until maturity, while Occurrence policies have a steady premium but often cost more upfront. Claims-Made policies also require tail coverage when canceled, while Occurrence policies do not.

Yes. W-2 employees typically pay less because their employer shares liability, while 1099 contractors are fully responsible, leading to higher premiums. Students, volunteers, and retirees usually qualify for lower-cost policies.

Your CM&F policy automatically covers services allowed under your license in your state—including telehealth if permitted. No upgrades are needed when your state expands your scope of practice.

In many cases, yes. CM&F partners with several associations to offer exclusive discounts. If you’re a member, be sure to select the association on your application.

Your group renewal premium can change due to several factors, including:

• Increase or decrease in staff size
• New services or procedures being offered
• Changes in state regulations or malpractice trends
• Optional coverages like General Liability or Cyber Liability
• Claims-Made Step Factor Increase (if it is a Claims-Made Policy);
• Optional Coverages such as Medical Director and Supervising Physician

Our underwriting team ensures stable pricing while adapting to changes in the insurance market. If your renewal premium changes, we’re happy to review and help optimize your policy.

CM&F’s group policies cover businesses across multiple states, as long as providers are licensed and legally allowed to practice in each location. Telehealth services are also covered if they align with state laws and scope of practice regulations. Always check licensing requirements before expanding into new states.

Malpractice insurance does not always include cyber liability, but CM&F has an option for Cyber Liability Insurance for added protection. Cyber coverage helps defend against data breaches, HIPAA violations, and ransomware attacks. Many clinics pair Cyber Liability with their malpractice policy to safeguard patient data and financial security. Click here for more information.