
A malpractice insurance certificate is a crucial document for medical practices, providing proof of coverage and protecting healthcare professionals from financial ruin in the event of a lawsuit.
To obtain a malpractice insurance certificate, you'll need to provide your insurance provider with proof of licensure and medical credentials.
This certificate typically includes the policyholder's name, policy number, and coverage dates, ensuring that the medical practice is adequately protected.
Your insurance provider will also specify the coverage limits and any deductibles or co-payments associated with the policy.
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Benefits and Coverage
A professional liability certificate of insurance can open up business opportunities. For example, your certificate can help you secure contracts and partnerships with other companies.
Your policy number, policy limits, deductible, and effective date and expiration date of your coverage are outlined on the certificate. This information is essential to understand your business's insurance coverage.
A certificate of insurance (COI) provides a concise summary of your coverage, all on one page. This summary includes details about your business's liability insurance, such as professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions insurance (E&O).
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The information provided by the certificate of insurance falls into categories, including coverage details, such as claims-made coverage in the case of professional liability. This means your certificate will outline what's covered and what's not.
Your certificate may also specify the work your business does, defining the scope of your coverage. For example, an architect is covered for designing buildings, but not for providing legal advice.
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Obtaining and Managing
To obtain a professional liability insurance certificate, you must have an active insurance policy. You can access the certificate on the Insureon online customer portal where you can review policy info and all of your insurance documentation.
You can complete Insureon's easy online insurance application to get quotes from top-rated carriers if you don't have coverage. An Insureon agent can help finalize your policy details once you choose the professional liability policy that best matches your needs.
If you already have an active policy, you can contact your Insureon agent or log in to your account with the Customer Portal to download or request a certificate.
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Obtaining Professional Liability

To obtain a professional liability certificate, you'll need to have an active insurance policy in place. You can get a quote from top-rated carriers by completing Insureon's easy online insurance application.
Having a professional liability insurance policy means you'll receive a certificate of insurance, which contains key information about your policy and provides proof of insurance to your clients and licensing boards. This document can also lead to more business opportunities.
To access your certificate, log in to your account with the Insureon Customer Portal or contact your Insureon agent. You can also reach out to a dedicated account manager with questions about billing and claims.
A professional liability certificate provides proof of insurance and can be obtained by contacting your Insureon agent or logging into your account.
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Save Money with Insureon Quotes
You can save money by comparing quotes with Insureon, which allows you to complete an online application in no time.

Insureon's easy online application is a breeze to complete, and it takes less than 24 hours to get started with the right policy for your small business.
Once you've found the perfect policy, you can download or request a professional liability certificate from Insureon's Customer Portal.
Insureon can also help you secure a general liability insurance certificate, workers' compensation insurance certificate, or any other insurance coverage you may need.
Client and Partner Considerations
A certificate of liability insurance provides clients with peace of mind by guaranteeing your insured status.
You can make your clients an official certificate holder, which means they'll receive notification from your insurer if you cancel your policy or allow it to lapse.
Don't see your profession listed? Don't worry, most businesses are insured.
A certificate of liability insurance is an efficient and easy way to prove to potential clients and business partners that you have professional liability coverage.
You can fax or email the document to a client in seconds, making it a convenient way to secure contracts and clients.
Secure Contracts

A certificate of liability insurance proves to potential clients and business partners that you have professional liability coverage. This can be especially important when dealing with clients who require proof of insurance before contracting with you.
You can fax or email the document to a client in seconds, making it an efficient and easy way to accomplish this task.
Requiring third-party coverage and verifying it through obtaining a certificate of insurance can potentially reduce your liability exposure. This is because it can provide you the ability to potentially transfer a loss to their insurance should they make an error that impacts your clients.
Here are some benefits of requesting a certificate of insurance from your business partners:
- It proves that your vendor or business partner is covered for the work they do with or for you.
- It can give you comfort and peace of mind knowing that your third-party partners are protected.
Peace of Mind for Clients
Providing clients with peace of mind is crucial for building trust and loyalty.
By making them an official certificate holder, you can notify them if you cancel your policy or allow it to lapse.
This guarantee of your insured status will give them peace of mind and a sense of security.
Your clients will appreciate this level of transparency and care.
Don't worry if you don't see your profession listed, as most businesses are insured.
Is COI the Same?

A COI is not the same as malpractice insurance. Disclaimers at the top of the COI specifically negate any malpractice insurance coverage unless the underlying insurance policy explicitly provides that coverage.
The only proof of insurance is the policy itself, not the COI. Many court opinions reiterate this concept.
A COI is evidence that insurance exists, but it's not proof of insurance.
Additional Medical Terms
The Additional Medical Terms section of a Medical Malpractice Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a crucial part of the document.
The COI has a box titled "Description of Operations/Locations/Vehicles" that contains any additional policy requirements, endorsements, additions, or policy modifications.
This box may also list the specific additional insureds under the policy, which can include a provider's employer or the provider's name if they receive individual coverage as an additional insured.
Policy effective dates can be found in this box, which is important to note as it may not be the same as the date the policy was issued.
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The COI may also contain annual deductibles that apply to coverage, which can vary depending on the policy.
The Certificate Holder is listed at the very bottom of the COI, which is not necessarily the primary "Insured" under the policy.
The actual insurance policy may contain multiple additional exclusions that are not listed in the COI, such as an exclusion of coverage for fraudulent acts.
Disclaimers
The COI is not a contract, it's just a summary of the insurance policy. The information on the COI doesn't form a contract for coverage between the insured entity and the insurance company or agent.
You might be surprised to learn that a certificate of insurance technically doesn't equal proof of insurance. This means you're relying on the insurance broker to correctly complete the COI, but if not, the terms of the actual insurance policy are what's binding.
The COI has a second section that's just as important. If the entity on the certificate is an "additional insured", there must be an endorsement (or "rider") that includes that certificate holder. This is true, regardless of what the policy language says about insurance provided pursuant to your medical contract.
Conclusion and Next Steps

It's essential to obtain a malpractice insurance certificate to protect your medical practice and patients from financial losses due to medical errors.
A valid malpractice insurance certificate is a requirement for most medical professionals, as it provides coverage for damages and settlements resulting from alleged medical malpractice.
You can obtain a malpractice insurance certificate by purchasing a policy from a reputable insurance provider, such as a professional liability insurance policy.
The cost of a malpractice insurance certificate varies depending on factors like your medical specialty, location, and years of experience.
To maintain a valid malpractice insurance certificate, you'll need to renew your policy annually and pay the required premiums on time.
Regularly reviewing and updating your malpractice insurance certificate ensures you have adequate coverage and complies with state regulations and professional requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get proof of malpractice insurance?
To verify your malpractice insurance, obtain a copy of the policy or certificate of insurance, and confirm your name is listed as a covered individual. This will also help you determine if you have occurrence or claims-made coverage.
What are the two types of malpractice insurance?
There are two main types of malpractice insurance: "claims-made" and "occurrence-made". These types differ in how they handle claims, with "claims-made" requiring the same insurer at the time of the claim as at the alleged occurrence.
How much does it cost to get a coi?
The cost of a certificate of insurance (COI) is free, but the policy itself is priced based on factors like insurance type, policy limits, and business details. To learn more about your specific policy costs, click here to explore our insurance options.
Sources
- https://www.insureon.com/small-business-insurance/professional-liability/certificate-of-insurance
- https://www.alpsinsurance.com/resources/glossary/certificate-of-insurance
- https://sullivanlegal.us/explaining-the-certificate-of-insurance-in-medical-contracts/
- https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2020/12/what-pas-need-to-know-about-malpractice-insurance/
- https://www.irmi.com/insurance-education/certifications/management-liability-insurance-specialist
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