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Stand Alone Tails

Stand Alone Tails

Professional liability insurance

Protect yourself and your career

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What Is a Tail Policy?


Tail policies only apply to claims-made policies.  (Ie, they do not apply to occrrence policies.)


A tail policy should be purchased if coverage is canceled for a current claims-made policy, to avoid a gap in coverage. The  policy covers a provider if a claim is made for the work done under the prior insurance policy.


What Are the Two Kinds of Tail Policies?


Tail policies purchased from the current carrier are standard/traditional tails.  Tail policies purchased from a different carrier are called stand alone tails. 


Below we will discuss the vast difference in pricing between traditional and stand alone tails. 


While the vast majority of providers will need to purchase a tail policy after they leave their claims-made policy, it is important to note that most incumbent medical malpractice insurance carriers will offer a tail free of charge to their providers in the following situations:  death, disability, or retirement. 

The Cost of Tails

Most standard/traditional tails purchased from the current carrier typically cost 2-3x the expiring premium, which is very expensive. 


Because of the high cost of traditional tails, over the last 5-10 years, many insurance companies have decided to offer these policies separately, as stand alone tails, at a significant discount. 


Thus, a new market was created and this has greatly benefitted providers.  So, providers can now purchase their claims-made policy from Company A, and then purchase a stand alone tail from Company B. 

How Much Can a Stand Alone Tail Save Me?

Stand alone tails typically only cost 1-1.5x the expiring premium for the same coverage as traditional tails.  And, additional savings can be had if you are willing to accept a claim deductible, and/or a shorter duration tail (although this is not always recommended –please discuss this option with your agent to decide if this is a reasonable option for you). 


Contact us today to see if you need to purchase a stand alone tail or have questions about purchasing stand alone tail coverage. 



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