General Liability Insurance

How Is General Liability Insurance Different from Medical Malpractice Insurance? 

Do I Need Both?

While general liability and professional liability insurance (aka medical malpractice insurance) are both types of liability insurance, they cover different risks and practices need both to be adequately covered. 

Generally speaking, professional liability insurance covers any errors, negligence, or other claims related to patient care.  General liability insurance covers incidents that may happen on your premises or incidents related to products you may sell.     

Examples of General Liability Insurance Needs in Healthcare Practices

• A medi-spa sells its own skin care products under the physician's name.  A patient had a severe allergic reaction and decided to sue the practice.  In this situation, the physician's general liability insurance kicked in to handle the product liability. 

• A high volume surgical center had a flood, due to an employee accidentally leaving a faucet running overnight.  The center's general liability policy covered the flood.  The center had also added income replacement protection to their general liability policy and was able to utilize their GL policy for income replacement during the time they were closed. 

• A patient slipped and fell at a dentist office after the janitor had mopped the floor.  The practice's liability insurance covered the patient's injury in this case.