The Doctors’ Insurance Agency insures Medispas for medical malpractice in California and in other states. We work hard to protect our individual physicians from liability claims that do not involve their medical practices.
Protecting their limit of insurance may sound silly, actually, isn’t that what the insurance is there for?...to protect them from claims against their personal assets.
Regardless of the claim’s origins?..
Actually, consider that individual medical malpractice carriers reward physicians for good claims histories
Even the renewability of their policies and the policies of their partners, employed physicians and associates can be effected by the individual claims history.
In a conversation recently with one of our Plastic Surgery Centers, we had this very discussion; Do they need a separate ‘stand alone’ medical spa insurance policy (especially if the spa is not separate from the plastic surgery center):
Indeed, a medical malpractice insurance carrier can add a rider (or, simply include the name of the spa portion of the plastic surgery practice in order to cover the added risk and business expansion.
And, there are some that will not cover this.
For professional liability (malpractice) coverage, the typical liability limits are $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 in aggregate. This will vary, however, depending on the carrier and State in which the spa operates…and, arguably is enough coverage if added to the vicarious risk of the plastic surgery medical group; However, if there is also a separate plastic Surgery Center, used by others in the community, then I would argue the added exposure of a
There are companies that manage just medispa business. We generally need a medical facility application along with a copy of the physician’s resume/C.V. In some cases, a carrier may request proof that the physician has his/her own malpractice coverage. Additional information about specific procedures and the staff providing the services will drive the premium determination.
It is important not to underestimate the services provided at a medispa. Since a med spa incorporates procedures and services that most States consider the “practice of medicine”, a qualified physician must be involved. Professional liability coverage must cover your spa, the clinicians performing the procedures and the physician in his/her role.
While it is not required that the physician supervising the procedures be a Derm or a Plastic, they should be qualified and specifically trained in these services.
The Medical Director should also be covered either on this policy or on their own. Medical Directors are usually not covered to provide the services.. and, of course, with some added premium, the medispa professional liability policy can be expanded to include administrative and aesthetic procedures.
Once you obtain medispa professional liability coverage, you would be adequately covered. However, you have other exposures such as your Workers' Compensation, Business Office Package, Benefits, etc. that are not covered by a professional liability policy.