Dental Malpractice Insurance in Vermont
What is Dental Malpractice Insurance?
The nature of dental work comes with a certain amount of risk, and it’s important to protect against that risk when possible. Dental malpractice insurance may help shield Vermont dentists from covered liability lawsuits if they make a mistake when rendering care.
Dental malpractice insurance is a specialized professional liability insurance for dentists. Like other professional liability and malpractice insurance products, dentist insurance will usually cover court fees, attorney fees and settlements that are associated with covered lawsuits.
Because dentist insurance is so specialized, dentists ought to work with an insurance agent who specializes in these policies when choosing one.
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What Vermont Dentists Should Have Dentist Insurance?
In general, most dentists who practice in Vermont ought to carry dentist insurance. Medical malpractice claims may be expensive, and there might be other consequences to not having adequate coverage.
Although this insurance is right for most dentists, it often doesn’t meet all of the needs that oral surgeons and orthodontists have. These providers are typically better served by another, slightly different policy. A knowledgeable agent will be able to also help oral surgeons and orthodontists find a suitable policy option.
Do Employers Provide Dentist Insurance for Their Employees?
Many dental practices provide dental malpractice policies for employee dentists, but several items should be considered before relying on this coverage.
First, some dentists might find that an employer’s coverage limits are lower than they would like. Dentists should be comfortable with their employer’s limits before relying on the employer-sponsored policy, and it’s important to remember that limits could be spread across multiple providers and the practice if there’s a significant claim.
Second, employer-sponsored coverage might not extend to dentists who are hired as subcontractors — and not traditional employees. Whether coverage is provided in this situation is dependent upon the terms of a policy.
Third, any employer-sponsored coverage that is provided is unlikely to cover situations outside of direct employment. If dentists offer pro bono care at a charity or have a side gig, those probably have to be covered through another malpractice policy.
An insurance agent who’s familiar with the nuances of these policies can help dentists wade through the various considerations that should be taken into account before relying on an employer’s policy.
How Much Do Dental Malpractice Policies Cost?
Premiums for dental malpractice policies vary, as a number of factors can influence cost. Everything from a dentist’s tenure and scope of work to their history of malpractice claims could affect cost, as can many other items.
To find out how much insurance would be in a particular situation, dentists can talk with an independent agent. Independent agents are able to compare prices from multiple insurance companies, which makes it easy to identify differences in both premiums and protections.
Do Dental Malpractice Policies Come With Property Coverages?
Dentists who own their own practice usually need property coverages in addition to malpractice coverage. Coverages for buildings, equipment and other property are normally purchased through a separate policy, though. Malpractice policies typically provide just the specialized malpractice protection.
What is Occurrence Coverage and Claims-Made Coverage?
Most dental malpractice policies are underwritten as either occurrence coverage or claims-made coverage. The difference between these two primarily lies in what claims are covered by a policy.
Occurrence coverage generally covers claims that occur when the policy is in effect, rendering coverage irrespective of when a claim is filed. Claims-made policies generally cover only claims that are actually filed within the policy’s time frame.
In most cases, claims-made policies are more affordable but may provide more limited protection.
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