Everyone who has insurance also has questions about their insurance. Don’t worry—we’re here to answer any questions you have.
Here are the five questions we most commonly get to help get you started:
1. What is covered by my policy?
NSO nurse malpractice insurance covers you in a variety of ways. The policy includes professional liability coverage, sexual misconduct/abuse protection, information privacy coverage (HIPAA), license protection, personal liability coverage, and many more features that will protect you in your nursing career. You can see the full list of
policy features online.
2. What is the difference between my individual policy and my employer’s coverage?
There are important distinctions between your NSO malpractice coverage and that offered by your employer—in fact, these differences are what we believe makes our coverage worth having:
First and foremost, the employer’s insurance is designed to protect the entity and its interests. You come second, or third, or fourth. Your career is far too important to place in the hands of your employer, its attorneys, and your employer’s insurance company. Individual professional liability insurance ensures you have a team in your corner with your best interest as their top priority—always.
An employer’s insurance only covers you while you are on the clock. NSO protects you on and off the clock and in settings like volunteering, offering nursing advice, and the like—even off company property.
NSO covers your professional liability as well as license protection. A board complaint can be made against your license for any reason by anyone. The complaint could arise from a patient, family member, the hospital, or even a colleague. Most employer provided coverage does not offer defense of license to the board because it may be the employer who submits the complaint. We understand deeply how hard you’ve worked for that license and how much of your life and effort it represents—and we’ll fight as hard for you as you would against anything putting your livelihood in jeopardy.
3. When would I need to file a claim?
You can file a claim for any incident involving professional or personal liability, license protection, or assault. You should also file a claim anytime you receive a summons or letter of intent, subpoena for disposition, an incident that you believe may result in a lawsuit, or notice of complaint. Remember that anyone can file a complaint against you with the state board for any reason—even your own employer—and it doesn’t have to be solely connected to your professional duties.
If you have been contacted in regards to a lawsuit or you suspect that you may be contacted in the future, it is important to contact us immediately so we can proceed in your defense. You’ve studied and worked hard for your license, and it should be safeguarded. All complaints need to be taken seriously, no matter how trivial or unfounded they may appear.
You can submit an
online contact form or call us at 1-800-247-1500, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET. We will then forward your information to our underwriter, CNA. For more information, see our
claims guide on the NSO website.
4. I just submitted a malpractice claim—what happens next?
A CNA claim consultant will contact you by phone within 24-48 hours to explain next steps and discuss what attorney options are available to you if necessary. Be prepared to provide the consultant with all the information possible involving the incident.
It is important that you make no attempt to contact the patient or the patient's attorney to discuss the subpoena or any other paperwork you may receive. Avoid the temptation to talk with your friends and colleagues about the subpoena. Your insurance provider should be the first person with whom you discuss the details of the subpoena.
For more information, see our
claims guide on the NSO website.
5. How long does my coverage last, and what happens after?
Your malpractice coverage begins once your completed application is approved and payment is received. In most cases, this can be done in one day nearly instantaneously if you
apply online. If you decide to fax your application (1-800-739-8818), it is typically processed within 2-3 business days. Your application processing time may be extended if we need additional information from you.
Once active, your coverage will last for one year, but don’t worry; we will keep in touch with you and notify you when your policy is up for renewal.
Your policy runs for one year. There is no need to reapply each year - just let us know if there are any changes. For example, if you changed your employment status from employed to self-employed, part time to full time, went back to school, graduated, or are considering starting a business or practice.
If you have any additional questions, we want you to have answers. See our website for a longer list of more
detailed FAQ’s or don’t hesitate to get in touch with our support team today!