Paramedic Malpractice Insurance from Massachusetts Specialists

What is paramedic malpractice insurance? 

Working as a paramedic or EMT comes with obvious risk, as anyone providing medical treatment might be held responsible for mistakes they make. Paramedic malpractice insurance can help medics in Massachusetts better protect themselves from this risk.

Paramedic malpractice insurance provides tailored coverage for paramedics and EMTs. Policies retain the protections that medics need, without requiring the premiums that surgeons pay.

Who in Massachusetts needs to have EMT malpractice insurance? 

Most paramedics and EMTs in Massachusetts should have EMT malpractice insurance. Wilderness medical responders and other first responders might want or need coverage too.

Moreover, this generally applies to both paid and volunteer medics. It also broadly applies regardless of working in an ambulatory, search and rescue, fire department or other setting.

While minor adjustments might be made depending on a policyholder’s license, the same policies can usually cover both paramedics and EMTs.

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Do employers have malpractice coverage that insures their employees?

Many employers and volunteer organizations that have medics carry malpractice insurance for their team members. Before relying on such coverage, however, paramedics and EMTs should understand the limits of employer-provided coverage.

First, not all employers and volunteer organizations offer enough coverage for their medics. Sometimes employers might not have any insurance, and other times their insurance may be lower than medics want. Even what seems like a sizeable amount of protection might be too low if multiple providers are sued.

This problem can be more common among volunteer organizations that are trying to manage tight budgets, but it can be an issue with employers as well.

Second, any employer-provided coverage likely only applies when working for the employer. Medics who volunteer outside of their paid employment usually need different insurance for their volunteer work. The additional insurance might come from the volunteer organization, or it may require the medic to get their own policy.

If medics have questions about their need for coverage, an insurance agent specializing in EMT insurance can help assess coverage needs. A specialized agent can also help employers and volunteer organizations determine how much coverage they should purchase for their medics.

What incidents are covered by EMT malpractice insurance? 

EMT malpractice insurance primarily covers liability claims and lawsuits that allege a patient was harmed because of bad treatment. Some examples of incidents that might lead to a claim include:

• Failure to identify serious injury or condition during initial assessment
• Hasty and improper patient stabilization for transport
• Incorrect medication administration (for paramedics)
• Injuries caused by unsecured equipment in an ambulance
• Inaccurate or incomplete reports

When there’s a covered incident, policies typically help pay attorney fees, court fees and settlements.

Does EMT malpractice insurance cover medical equipment?

As a liability coverage, EMT malpractice is mainly intended to insure against situations where a medic could be held financially liable for mistakes they make. This insurance generally doesn’t cover equipment against theft or damage.

Most organizations should get additional coverage for their equipment. Medics might want coverage for their equipment in certain situations, but they don’t always have enough equipment to make an equipment policy worthwhile.

A knowledgeable agent can help both organizations and medics evaluate their need for equipment coverage.

How much do paramedics and EMTs pay for malpractice insurance?

Malpractice insurance rates for paramedics and EMTs vary, but they’re usually far less than a doctor or physician assistant might pay. An independent insurance agent can help medics find out how much their coverage would be, by comparing policy options from among several insurers.