Claims Guide - We're there when you need us.

1. Count on CNA experience and commitment to guide you through the claims experience.
2. What you need to know.
3. What you need to do.
4. What we will do for you.
5. Dependability, experience and financial strength are CNA's greatest assets.

The information outlined here will provide a description of the claims handling process at CNA, including the steps you need to take in the event of a claim, and the response you can expect from CNA.

We will thoroughly investigate your claim based on the facts of the case because we recognize your professional reputation and financial security are important to you.

With over a century of commitment in the insurance industry, and over 40 years providing professional liability insurance to the healthcare industry, CNA has the experience you can rely on when faced with a claim.

Your best defense is your CNA policy....

Your policy has been designed to provide you with protection from allegations of negligence (true or false) that arise from "covered medical incidents" while you are carrying out your professional services.

The policy defines a medical incident as "any act, error or omission in your providing or failure to provide professional services. This includes your responsibility for anyone acting under your direction and control."

Your policy may also afford the following additional coverages: disciplinary defense, personal liability, personal injury, and first party assault. To learn more about these coverages, see An Explanation of Coverage.

Your policy will be written either on an occurrence or claims made basis (you can refer to your certificate of insurance for the specific coverages provided to you). Both policies are in force for a set time frame, typically one year. However, they differ on the type of event that triggers coverage.

Occurrence policies provide coverage for a medical incident that takes place during the policy period - regardless of when the claim is reported. It provides long-term protection for any covered claim that may arise at any time in the future - up to the limits of the policy in force at the time the incident leading to the claim occurred.

Claims made policies provide coverage for claims made during the period for medical incidents that take place while the policy is in force. A claims made policy offers coverage on a year-to-year basis - up to the limits of the in-force policy.

When we pay claims, we are fast and we are fair....

An insurance policy is much more than a piece of paper - it's a commitment to deliver the claims service that stands behind the policy. CNA's commitment is to:

• Provide timely coverage analysis;
  
  
• Make prompt assignments to defense counsel;
  
  
• Bring healthcare experts into the evaluation process early;
  
  
• Pay claims fairly and promptly while defending baseless claims aggressively;
  
  
• Appropriately consult with you on the issues of defense, settlement, and claim resolution. Your claims will be handled by one of our professional liability claims consultants located throughout the country.

Our staff is highly trained in appropriate claim procedures and the handling of litigation management. We encourage continuous education of our staff and provide on-site training by medical experts in specific areas of practice to assure that we have working knowledge of the profession, the standards, and the services being provided.

We follow and analyze trends in claims and in the legal environment to assure we are up-to-date in all the legal defenses.

Continue to What you need to know.