Why is insurance for emergency medical service (EMS) professionals a must?
Emergency service professionals face many risks when treating patients during a medical emergency. EMS insurance offers peace of mind by paying for legal costs if a patient sues over negligence. It also covers injuries, theft of medial equipment, and data breaches.
Get the right insurance
6 insurance policies every EMS professional should consider
These insurance products protect EMS professionals against common risks, and fulfill the requirements of state laws and client contracts.
General liability insurance
This policy protects EMS personnel against legal fees related to client property damage and injuries, such as a patient who falls from a wheelchair during an ambulance transport.
- Accidental patient injuries
- Accidental damage to a client's property
- Defamation and copyright lawsuits
Business owner's policy
A BOP bundles commercial property insurance and general liability coverage at a discount. It's often the most cost-effective type of business insurance for EMS businesses that own medical equipment.
- Slip-and-fall injuries
- Personal injury lawsuits
- Stolen or damaged medical equipment
Professional liability insurance
EMS professional liability insurance provides protection against legal costs related to professional negligence, such as inaccurate diagnosis of an injury. It's also known as EMS malpractice insurance.
- Delayed response
- Failure to provide correct treatment
- Mistakes in documentation
Workers' comp insurance
Most states require healthcare providers with employees to carry workers' compensation. It also protects sole proprietors against work-related medical bills that health plans can deny.
- Medical expenses from job-related injuries
- Disability benefits
- Lawsuits from workplace injuries
Cyber insurance
Cyber insurance covers costs related to cyberattacks and data breaches. It's strongly recommended for EMS professionals and other healthcare professionals who store client information.
- Data breach notifications
- Fraud monitoring services
- Cyberextortion demands
Commercial auto insurance
EMS business owners with company-owned vehicles must carry commercial auto coverage to comply with state laws. It helps pay for financial losses in an accident, including legal costs and property repairs.
- Auto accident injuries
- Auto accident property damage
- Theft of an ambulance
Emergency service professional insurance costs
Here's a quick look at the average costs of common healthcare insurance policies purchased by TechInsurance customers.
Most EMS professionals pay the following for coverage:
Business owner's policy: $49 per month
General liability: $29 per month
Professional liability: $33 per month
Factors that can influence your premiums include:
- Types of emergency medical services you provide (e.g., ambulance services, etc.)
- Number of employees
- Types of insurance purchased
- Size of business
- Deductibles and policy limits
- Policy exclusions
- Claims history
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FAQs about insurance for CPR instructors, EMTs, and other EMS professionals
Find answers to frequently asked questions about EMS insurance coverage options and more.
Is it mandatory for emergency service professionals to carry medical malpractice insurance?
Even though it's not often required by state law, there are still several reasons why an EMS small business owner may need a professional liability insurance policy, also called malpractice insurance.
- You need it to sign a contract. Your employer will likely require you to carry malpractice coverage. You might need it to sign a client contract, join a paramedic or caregiver health network, or work at hospitals or healthcare facilities.
- Your employer might provide limited coverage. Employers sometimes provide emergency service technicians with malpractice insurance. However, your employer's insurance program might only provide protection for a limited number of covered claims, or it might not provide sufficient coverage for a claim.
- You need protection against client lawsuits. Anyone who is responsible for patient care should carry malpractice insurance as part of their risk management strategy. If you're accused of professional negligence, such as failure to improve your patient's condition, this policy can pay for your legal defense costs, including attorney's fees.
What type of malpractice coverage is best for EMS professionals and first-aid instructors?
The most common type of EMS malpractice insurance is a claims-made policy. In order to benefit from coverage, this kind of policy must be active at the time of the claim.
Most other types of insurance, such as general liability insurance, are occurrence-based policies. With occurrence policies, you can benefit from having insurance even after your policy lapses, so long as you were covered at the time of the incident.
With malpractice insurance policies, it's crucial to maintain continuous coverage to avoid paying for a lawsuit out of pocket. Fortunately, insurance companies offer several ways to do this. You can set a retroactive date at which coverage begins, or add tail coverage to your policy after it would otherwise have expired.
What other types of insurance do paramedics and other EMS professionals need?
You can buy additional types of insurance for more complete protection, including coverage for different types of malpractice claims, such as:
- License defense coverage for incidents that threaten your license
- Needlestick coverage for injuries caused by needles and other sharps
- HIPAA defense coverage for violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Telehealth coverage for lawsuits related to virtual care
How do EMS professionals find affordable auto insurance?
Get the most out of your auto policy by considering the following:
- Choosing a higher deductible. Choosing a higher deductible is an easy way to save on your premium, but make sure to choose a deductible you can still afford. If you can’t pay it, you can’t collect on a claim.
- Paying the annual premium. When you buy a policy, you can choose to pay your premium monthly or annually. The annual amount costs less than paying by the month.
- Managing your risks. Claims make your premium go up – so reduce your risks to avoid claims and keep your premium low. This includes having regular car inspections and maintenance appointments, keeping records of your employees' driving records, avoiding texting or calling on the road, and requiring mandatory drug and alcohol tests after an accident.
Learn more strategies on how to get affordable business insurance.
