Professional Liability Insurance Terms to Know for Dentistry Professionals

Professional dental liability insurance can be confusing, overwhelming, or may even seem unnecessary.

Below is a list of liability insurance coverage terms that you should familiarize yourself with as you research options for dentist or dental hygiene malpractice insurance.

Glossary of Common Terms You’ll Find in Dentistry Professional Liability Insurance Policies

 

Assault Upon You – covers expenses which dental professionals can incur from a bodily injury or damage to their personal property resulting from an assault while traveling to and from their place of employment

Assets – a resource with economic value, whether that be completely monetary, or a material resource

Biomedical Defense – coverage that protects against claims alleging bodily injury or damage arising from biomedical waste

Damages Incurred – charges or punishment that a dental professional is obligated to pay as a result of a malpractice dispute before malpractice insurance benefits are paid out

Deductibles – the amount of money a dental professional must pay before the insurance company will finance a claim

Dental Professional Insurance Policy – a contract between an insurer and a dental professional who purchased insurance that details what the insurer is legally obligated to pay if an incident were to arise.

Dental Liability Insurance – also known as dental malpractice insurance, provides dental professionals with financial and legal protection from injuries and damages to patients and or property

Dental Malpractice Insurance – used interchangeably with dental liability insurance, malpractice insurance for dental professionals is designed to protect professionals from claims of negligence or improper treatment

Deposition fee coverage – financial assistance for fees that result from a deposition that the insured PT is required to attend

Employment Practices Liability – a type of liability insurance that covers wrongful acts arising from the employment process, including wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation

Extended Reporting Period – also known as tail coverage, extends coverage for incidents that happened during the time you had your policy, but a claim was not filed until after the policy was expired or canceled

A – E

F – M

First Aid Coverage – financial help to insured dental professionals in the event of an emergency that requires immediate attention. Expenses can cover things such as the cost of an ambulance or emergency medical procedures

Good Samaritan Coverage – protects an insured off-duty dental professional from liability claims if an injury or accident occurs from offering help in an emergency situation

HIPAA Defense – covers expenses that result from HIPAA infractions

Home Health Care Insurance Policy – a contract between an insurer and a dental professional who purchased insurance that details what the insurer is legally obligated to pay if an incident were to arise

Home Health Care Professional Liability Insurance – provides dental professionals with financial and legal protection from injuries and damages to patients and or property

Home Health Care Malpractice Insurance – used interchangeably with home health care liability insurance, malpractice insurance for dental professionals is designed to protect professionals and agencies from claims of negligence or improper treatment

Incident – an event or occurrence that spurred a liability or medical malpractice claim

Insurance Claim – a request for benefit compensation as a result of a covered incident

Liable – legal responsibility for an action

License Defense Coverage – assists insured dental professionals with expenses incurred from protecting their professional license due to an investigation or proceeding originating from a malpractice claim

Loss of Earnings Coverage – provides assistance for lost wages, costs, and expenses due to an insured dentist’s required attendance at a trial, hearing, or arbitration proceeding as a defendant

Medical Payment Coverage – reimburses third parties for medical expenses incurred to treat injuries sustained arising from business activities

Negligence – the failure to exercise care that is reasonably expected of a dental professional

Premium – monthly or annual payment amount dental professionals pay for malpractice insurance

Risk Management – the process of mitigating the chances of something going wrong

Sexual Misconduct coverage – provides indemnity to insured dental professionals for improper sexual misconduct claims including assault, harassment, defamation, or improper handling of misconduct allegations

Workplace/Premises Liability – protects landowners and tenants when someone gets hurt on their property due to dangerous conditions

N – Z

Do You Need Dentistry Professional Liability Insurance?

It is always advised that a dentistry professional secures their own individual dental malpractice insurance policy for minimized risk to personal assets or reputation. Before opting out of an individual dental malpractice insurance policy, make sure you know exactly what your employer’s policy covers and what your legal obligations are should you have to utilize the coverage under your employer’s policy.

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