Medical Malpractice

Can hospitals in New York State self insure hospital employed physicians against medical malpratice?

If such self-insurance is indeed possible, would it provide coverage to the physician employee even after he left the employment. In other words is it an occurrence policy? Would the physician have to pay out of pocket if the hospital provided coverage is inadequate?

Public Comments

1. House docs are typically insured by the hospital under the hospital's general liability protection. They can, of course, buy additional insurance if they believe it is necessary. If they leave employment, they are no longer covered by the former employer's policy and must purchase their own. Physicians that have privileges must pay for all their insurance themselves.
2. THe above is correct, plus most (good) hospital or group malpractice insurances have "tail" insurance which provides coverage for the doc for a malpractice incident that occurred while employed there but filed after he has left the employment. This is something the medical staff office can tell you. This is something you would need to understand completely with every job you have--what the limits etc are of the malpractice. I personally would be hesitant to take a job with poor malpractice insurance. Personal malpractice is something else entirely and something you would need if self-employed not in a group or a staff MD at the hospital.