What is the expiration date?
Policies are usually issued for a one year period. If your effective date if December 1, 1999, your expiration date will be December 1, 2000. In some instances, policies may be issued for a short term; however, consult with your insurance agent to confirm this.

What is your retro date?
Retro date actually means retroactive date. The retroactive date is 12:01 A.M. Standard Time at your address and date requested on the policy's declaration page which begins your policy's coverage period. In most cases, the retroactive date is the first date on which you began providing services and have maintained continuous medical malpractice insurance coverage. It is important that you verify your retroactive date so that there will be no lapse in coverage. Claims made coverage means coverage for claims resulting from injury occurring after the retroactive date, provided the claim is reported to the carrier while the policy is in force.

What is your practice area?
Most companies divide the state up into regions. For this illustration please use Dade County, Broward County, Palm Beach County. If you practice in any other county in the state, use Rest of State.

What is specialty?
Specialty is the area of medicine in which you have received training and for which you will be providing services.

What is current limits?
Current limits are the amounts of monies for which you wish to be insured. As an example, $250,000/$750,000 denotes the following: You have available $250,000 in coverage for any one medical malpractice claim against you for any one act of negligence. $750,000 is available to you as an "aggregate". Your insurance company will not pay out more than $750,000 in any one year, regardless of the number of negligent acts or claims.

Do I qualify for a claims free credit?
If you have no claims filed against you and:
(usually any payment under $35,000 is considered claims free but it varies by carrier)
You have been practicing 0-4 years No
You have been practicing 5-6 years Yes
You have been practicing 7-9 years Yes
You have been practicing 10-14 years Yes
You have been practicing 15 years + Yes

Do I qualify for a Medical Society Credit?
Minimum Medical Society Varies with each carrier
Standard Medical Society Usually a 5% credit
Maximum Medical Society Varies with each carrier

Do I qualify for a Medical Society Credit?
Minimum Medical Society Varies with each carrier Standard Medical Society Usually a 5% credit Maximum Medical Society Varies with each carrier

Do I qualify for Risk Management Credit?
Minimum Risk Management CME's or Risk Management Seminar participation every two years to include correspondence courses.Standard Risk Management CME's or Risk Management participation annually, plus Domestic Violence and AIDS participation every two years. Maximum Risk Management CME's or Risk Management participation Annually, plus an article or publication on Risk Management, service on a Quality Assurance committee at a hospital, Peer Review Committee, Utilization Review Committee, Medico legal Participation. These credits vary by insurance company and in some instances additional credits may be allowed.

Do I qualify for a New Physician Credit?
If you have completed you educational requirements and a fellowship, internship or residency and are just starting to provide services within:
Last 12 months 50% credit
Last 24 months 30% credit
Last 36 months 10% credit
These discounts vary be insurance company.