FAQs

We offer a part-time discount to certain healthcare providers based on the number of hours worked. If your full-time premium exceeds $100 per year, and you work 24 hours per week or less, you would be eligible for this discount.  
 
Please note that our part-time discount does not reduce coverages on your policy.  
 
To take advantage of this discount when you apply online, simply indicate that you are working part-time on the application in order to request the discount on your policy.

Yes, you are eligible for up to a 60% discount if you’ve graduated from school within the last 12 months. When you apply through our online quote process​, your rate will reflect all discounts for which you are eligible.

If you’re looking to obtain coverage for more than one profession, contact us via phone or email. When we learn more about your situation, we will have a better understanding of how we can best help you.  We provide coverage for 200+ different healthcare professions and can typically provide you with one policy covering multiple professions. In these cases, you will pay one premium, which will be determined by whichever of your licenses carries the higher premium for coverage through HPSO.   
 
For example, if you are licensed as both an Athletic Trainer and Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), your premium would be based on the rate for an Athletic Trainer, as the higher premium of the two professions, and you would receive coverage for your PTA license at no additional charge.

To apply for professional liability coverage offered through HPSO, simply download, print and complete the following application:

School Blanket Professional Liability Insurance Occurrence Application

Once you've completed the 3-page form, mail or fax it along with all supporting documents to:

Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO)
1100 Virginia Drive, Suite 250
Fort Washington, PA 19034

Or fax your application with all supporting documents to 1-800-701-1986. To speak with an HPSO service associate, please contact us. 

A business policy is the right choice if you: 

• Provide professional services at a business you own:
• Own a business or are incorporated (including LLC and S-Corp) or have employees; or
• You practice under a DBA (doing business as). 

If none of the above applies to you, then an individual policy is the right choice for you. 

Your coverage can become effective upon approval of your completed application and receipt of payment. In most situations, this process may be completed in less than one day if you apply online. If you decide to fax your application, processing is typically within 2 to 3 business days of receipt of the faxed application. The effective date of a policy cannot be before the day in which you apply.  
 
Your application processing time may be extended if additional information is needed from you or all items requested or required are not submitted with the application.
 

If you are a self-employed healthcare provider leasing space in an office building, you may benefit from workplace liability extension coverage. This coverage pays for amounts you are legally obligated to pay as a result of injury or damage caused by an occurrence at your workplace up to the limits indicated on your certificate of insurance. The workplace liability coverage also provides up to $150,000 for your legal liability caused by fire or water damage. There is no additional charge for this coverage.

A sound method for determining whether you’re employed or self-employed is to review how you file taxes. If your company takes taxes out of your pay and files a W2 form with the IRS at the end of the year, you can indicate that you are employed.  Typically, if you receive a 1099 form from the company/companies for which you have performed services, you’re considered self-employed. If you are working in multiple roles and receiving both W2s and 1099s, then you should apply as "self-employed" in order to ensure that you are covered for both your employed and self-employed work. 

As a PRN, you should apply for coverage as a self-employed individual. When determining full- or part-time status, please use the average number of hours worked per week. If the average is 24 hours or less, select part-time. If the average is more than 24 hours, select full-time. Click here for a quick quote and online application form. 
 

Practice methods, continuing education, and risk management techniques, as well as the severity and frequency of any incidents or claims reported are evaluated, before taking such serious underwriting action.​ Each situation is reviewed independently.

If you face  professional disciplinary charges or a licensing board complaint, you are eligible for coverage, up to the applicable limit of liability, for legal representation for covered disciplinary hearings as a result of a covered license protection incident. 

Claims will be evaluated for coverage based upon the specific facts and circumstances presented, the issued policy terms, conditions and exclusions. If coverage is afforded, the amounts payable under a policy are subject to applicable deductibles and limits of insurance. An interpretation of coverage does not predict the outcome of a claim. 
 
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.  

An act that violates the standards governing your profession may result in a disciplinary action. Instances of unprofessional conduct may include incompetent practices, medication errors, documentation errors, and practicing outside the scope of your license and/or certification.  
 
Any party may file a complaint against you with a state board for any reason—even your own employer—and it may not be solely related to your professional duties. You’ve studied and worked hard for your license and it should be protected. All complaints must be taken seriously, no matter how trivial or unfounded they may appear. 
 
Our license protection coverage pays for your defense of disciplinary charges and other covered expenses arising out of a covered incident, up to the applicable limit of liability. We understand the importance of your license to your livelihood and will help you safeguard it.

If you’ve been contacted regarding a lawsuit, or you suspect that you may be contacted in the future, please contact us immediately, so that we can work with you on next steps.   

Call us toll-free at 1-800-982-9491, Monday–Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., ET  

Or  

Submit an online contact form 

Once we’ve heard from you, your information will be shared with our insurance carrier partner, CNA, and a CNA claims consultant will reach out to you by phone within 24-48 hours. Your CNA consultant will explain next steps and discuss the attorney options available to you, if needed.    

Do not attempt to contact the patient or the patient's attorney to discuss the subpoena or any other paperwork you may receive. You should also avoid the temptation to talk with your friends and colleagues about anything relating to the notification. Please notify your insurance provider as soon as possible.

Our customer service team is happy to help. You can call us at 1-800-982-9491 or email us at service@hpso.com.

Yes. We currently offer schools a Claim-Free Discount and a Size of School Discount. To determine your school’s eligibility, please complete the application and HPSO will review it for discount opportunities.

Your employer's policy is designed to protect your employer’s needs and interests. So, while your employer-based coverage is a good start, it may result in coverage gaps. Policies issued through HPSO place your interests first and provide additional policy benefits to help protect your career against risk exposure.  
 
It’s also important to remember that your employer’s policy probably extends solely to the duties you perform at your place of employment.  Therefore, you may not be covered if you give advice to a friend or neighbor after hours, perform volunteer work, or moonlight outside of your full-time job. A professional liability policy issued through HPSO is individual coverage that goes with you wherever you go, and it stays with you even if you change jobs, subject to the policy terms, conditions and exclusions.  
 
For additional information on the benefits of having your own coverage, click here​.

HPSO offers professional liability insurance in two forms – occurrence and claims-made.  Both provide coverage.  One form is not necessarily better than the other. 

Occurrence provides coverage for incidents which take place during a covered policy period – regardless of when the claim is reported.  An occurrence policy provides long term protection for covered claims that may arise at any time in the future – up to the limits of the policy in force at the time of the incident that led to the claim.  
 
Claims-made coverage provides for claims made against the insured arising from an incident and reported to the insurance company while the policy remains in force and during any applicable extended reporting period.  Generally, claims-made coverage is offered on an annual basis. 
 
If you’re unsure whether your policy is occurrence or claims-made, please check your certificate of insurance. If you have specific questions about occurrence or claims-made, contact us with your policy number, and we'll discuss your coverage needs and options with you.  
 
Please note: If you currently have a claims-made policy and have decided to either not renew or cancel that policy, you may be able to purchase tail coverage. Tail coverage will extend the timeframe that a claim can be reported, but the incident will still need to have occurred while the policy was active. Contact us for more information.     

Your professional liability insurance policy does not provide coverage for direct physical loss or damage to your property or premise due to fire. Such coverage should be sought under a fire insurance policy. 
 
However, if a claim is made against you for damage to property in which you do not have a financial interest or own, caused by a fire due to an accident, coverage for fire and water legal liability may apply if your policy includes workplace liability coverage, subject to the policy terms, conditions and exclusions.  To determine if your policy includes this coverage, check your Certificate of Insurance, or contact us.  
 
The fire and water legal liability coverage provides up to $150,000 in coverage to property in which you do not have a financial or ownership interest.                 

A shared limit policy may be available for you and your qualifying professional business or company, subject to the policy terms, conditions and exclusions.  

Claims will be evaluated for coverage based upon the specific facts and circumstances presented, the issued policy terms, conditions and exclusions. If coverage is afforded, the amounts payable under a policy are subject to applicable deductibles and limits of insurance. An interpretation of coverage does not predict the outcome of a claim. 
 
In determining your practice premium, the business and all eligible employees will be considered, and will all share the same coverage limits you select for the business.

Yes. HPSO offers coverage for many allied health programs under one policy. If your school’s allied programs have separate coverage, you may want to consider consolidating them under one policy.

No, having your own professional liability insurance coverage does not make you a more likely target. If/when a malpractice lawsuit occurs, many plaintiffs will name everyone involved in the patients' care—having your own coverage has no bearing on whether or not you’re named in a suit. In fact, because professional liability insurance disclosure is typically not required until the discovery phase of the lawsuit; the opposing counsel may not even know you have your own policy at the time of filing.   

A professional liability policy through HPSO provides coverage for covered medical expenses or personal property damage incurred by you if you are assaulted at your workplace or while traveling to or from your workplace. This policy defines "workplace" as any location used by you to provide professional services.  (Assault coverage is not available in Texas.)

Yes, HPSO offers professional liability insurance as well as other valuable coverage options to qualified allied healthcare businesses. Click here for more information on our affordable liability coverage for healthcare businesses.

Yes. It’s important for healthcare students to consider maintaining their own professional liability policy – which may be required by the facility where they are practicing. Students should also be aware that when they enter the workforce, there could be gaps in coverage provided by their employer.

Also referred to as a business owner's policy (BOP), business insurance coverage provides property and general liability insurance to small businesses. Our BOP prepackages a group of coverages designed for businesses, including:  

• Property Coverage  
• Business Interruption and Continuation Coverage 
• General Liability Coverage 
• Employee Theft  

Also available under the small commercial property and casualty category are Workers’ Compensation, Commercial Auto, Commercial Liability Umbrella, Fidelity/Crime, and Cyber Liability Insurance. 

This coverage pays compensation and other benefits required of a practice by the state’s workers’ compensation law or occupational disease law listed in the policy for covered claims. The coverage applies to bodily injury by accident and by disease arising out of, and in the course of, an employee's employment.

Business insurance coverage should be considered by any firm or sole practitioner that:  

• Leases space for business purposes 
• Owns a business property 
• Has office property or equipment  
• Has employees 
• Handles client records or property 
• Handles personal identifiable information 
• Handles firm or client cash/funds 
• Has clients visit their business premises   

Please be aware that there is no specific exclusion on the professional liability policy through HPSO for communicable diseases like the coronavirus. If you believe that you have a claim related to the delivery of professional services and a patient being diagnosed with or infected by COVID-19, please contact us.

For individual policyholders: To enroll, upon each year's online renewal there is a box that is pre-checked to enroll you in AutoPay prior to entering your payment card information. Leave that box checked to be enrolled and have your card on file charged at your next renewal, or simply uncheck the box if you do not wish to be enrolled. You can unenroll at any time by visiting HPSO.com/RenewNow or by contacting us.   
 
Or at any point in your policy cycle, if you wish to enroll or unenroll in AutoPay, please visit HPSO.com/RenewNow.  
 
For business policyholders: Simple. To enroll, please call us at 215-509-5437 and our service team will be happy to help. 

For individual policyholder: To modify your card on file, please visit our website at HPSO.com/RenewNow and select Modify AutoPay. You can then update your card information.

For business policyholders: To modify, please call us at 215-509-5437 and our service team will be happy to help.

For individual policyholders: Simple. To unenroll, please visit our website at HPSO.com/RenewNow or call us at 1-800-982-9491 and our service team will be happy to help. If you unenroll in AutoPay, please make sure to pay your renewal premium prior to your renewal date so that your professional liability coverage remains in effect.  
 
For business policyholders: Simple. To unenroll, please call us at 215-509-5437 and our service team will be happy to help. If you unenroll in AutoPay please make sure to pay your renewal premium prior to your renewal date so your professional liability coverage remains in effect.

You can easily retrieve your username and/or password by going to the My Account Login Page and clicking the "Forgot Username or Password/Pin" link. You will then be prompted to answer questions to validate your identity and once validated, you will able to retrieve your username and/or password. If you forgot your username, it will be displayed immediately. If you forgot your password, you will be emailed a temporary password that will allow you to log in and reset your password. 
 
If you are still unable to log in, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

Please contact us and we will be happy to help.

Your username is the email address we have on file. You may have recently changed your email address and therefore we do not have your updated email address in our system. Please log in using your original email address, and once you are logged in, you can update your email address by selecting "View/Change My Personal Information". If you cannot recall which email address we have on file, you can click "Forgot Username or Password/Pin", to immediately retrieve your username. 
 
If you are still unable to log in, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

No. When a policy is issued, "a picture" is taken of your company. During the policy year, all employees are covered while they are working for you. In the event new employees are hired, it is not required to report or pay an additional premium for this coverage—new employees are automatically covered. Additional premium will not be charged until the policy renewal, when another evaluation is conducted and the policy is rated for the next year based on this evaluation.

Four months prior to your renewal, a renewal application will be sent to your firm, so that you can notify HPSO of your total staff.  A revised staffing count will generate an adjusted billing or premium that will be due at your renewal. Conversely, it is not required to report staff reductions. Additional premium is not collected for new employees, and premium is not refunded for staff that has left your company. 

If you determine you would like to cancel your policy, we require that you submit the request in writing.  You can submit your written request through any of the methods below: 

Email 
Fax: 1-800-758-3635 
Or 
Mail: 1100 Virginia Drive, Ste 250
Fort Washington, PA 19034

Your policy will be canceled based on the date we receive your notification or your request. If you are eligible, you will receive a refund of any unused premium. 
 
Please note, if you are cancelling due to a temporary leave of absence, we may be able to adjust your coverage and offer you a 50% discount on your premium. This will help ensure you maintain coverage as a healthcare professional with an active license. If you’re cancelling because you’re covered by your employer’s policy, be aware that your employer’s coverage may differ in ways that could leave you with gaps in your coverage. Please contact us to discuss.

Please contact us  indicating any change(s) in coverage that you would like to make to your policy.  Any request for change(s) will be reviewed, and may be subject to additional terms and conditions for coverage that may be subject to an additional premium.  Be prepared to give us your name, address, policy number, requested change, and effective date of requested change. There may be a change in your premium due to your coverage change. If so, we will notify you about next steps.

To change the licensure on your policy, simply contact us about the change. We will update your policy and send you a revised Certificate of Insurance. Depending on the change in licensure, your premium may change.

If you plan on keeping your license active, you have a responsibility to anyone to whom you give advice, any entity where you volunteer, and any situation that requires emergency care. One option is to take advantage of our Retirement/Leave of Absence Discount, which can include family leave, change to a non-healthcare occupation, retirement, or disability. This discount offers limited coverage at up to 50% less than the premium applied to full-time insureds.  In order to change your status on your policy, please contact us outlining your particular situation. Be sure to include your name and policy number.

Please contact us to let us know of a change in your employment or employment status. Your professional liability insurance premium may be affected by certain factors, such as changing your place of employment, the type of work you do, or if your new employer is in another state.  For example, if you were employed and became self-employed, the charge for a self-employed policy may be higher. Or, if you were employed full-time and reduced your hours to part-time, your premium may decrease.  

You will want to update your policy status to “professional”. Please contact us to make this policy change. 

If you plan on keeping your license active, you may have a responsibility to anyone to whom you give advice, any entity where you volunteer, and any situation that requires emergency care. One option is to take advantage of our Retirement/Leave of Absence Discount, which can include family leave, change to a non-healthcare occupation, retirement, or disability. This discount offers limited coverage at up to 50% off of our full-time premium. In order to change your status on your policy, please contact us outlining your particular situation. Be sure to include your name and policy number. Please remember to contact us when you return to work so we can update your policy and ensure you are appropriately covered for your work status.

No. When a policy is issued, "a picture" is taken of your company. During the policy year, all employees are covered while they are working for you. In the event new employees are hired, it is not required to report or pay an additional premium for this coverage—new employees are automatically covered. Additional premium will not be charged until the policy renewal, when another evaluation is conducted and the policy is rated for the next year based on this evaluation.

Four months prior to your renewal, a renewal application will be sent to your firm, so that you can notify HPSO of your total staff.  A revised staffing count will generate an adjusted billing or premium that will be due at your renewal. Conversely, it is not required to report staff reductions. Additional premium is not collected for new employees, and premium is not refunded for staff that has left your company.

Yes, we offer a student discount that varies by state and profession. Find out your rate through our online quick quote. In addition, if you have completed training within the previous 12 months, you may be entitled to a discount of up to 60%, depending on your profession, as a first-year graduate.

Yes, HPSO offers coverage for student healthcare providers. For a complete listing of all healthcare providers currently eligible for insurance under our program, coverage information and rates, please click here.

If your school is not providing coverage for you while you're completing your clinical rotation, you may wish to purchase a student policy.  Consider that one of the benefits of including your student coverage and your professional coverage under one policy is that you may be covered for both your clinical rotation and  covered profession at no additional cost. Contact us and we will be happy to help with this change.

Yes, if your state permits you to work under a temporary license, you may apply for coverage to obtain professional liability insurance for your work immediately.  Also, you may be eligible to receive our first-year graduate discount - - a discount of up to 60% savings off of our professional rate!

The professional liability policy through HPSO for students is designed to provide coverage for students doing clinical work as part of a school curriculum.   
 
One major highlight of the student policy is that it extends beyond graduation. We do not require that you pay additional premium for professional status until your policy's next renewal date, or for six months after graduation and certification/licensure.  Therefore, following graduation and certification/licensure, coverage will be extended as a professional for six months or until your next renewal (whichever comes first) -- at no additional charge.  Moreover, when you renew your policy as a professional, you may be eligible for up to a 60% discount.

If you are considering providing your professional services via telehealth, please know that the professional liability policy, issued through HPSO, does not contain a provision relating to whether professional services are provided in person or via technology. The policy requires that you are appropriately licensed to provide professional services and that you comply with state, federal and facility guidelines relative to scope of practice and practice setting, including considerations relative to licensure in both the state in which you are located, as well as the state in which your clients and patients are located.

If you are considering providing your professional services via telehealth, please know that the professional liability policy issued through HPSO does not contain a provision relating to whether professional services are provided in person or via technology. The policy requires that you are appropriately licensed to provide professional services and that you comply with state, federal and facility guidelines relative to scope of practice and practice setting. HPSO has developed telehealth risk education information that includes several resources for you.

It is important to keep abreast of the changing dynamics and guidelines, as they are being rapidly modified to address the changings needs of providers and their patients. Telehealth services must comply with the same HIPAA-related rules and regulations at the federal and state levels, as well as business policies, that apply to the delivery of in-person services. According to the FCC, if a patient provides a contact telephone number to a healthcare provider, the provision of that telephone number constitutes express consent for telephone calls to be made, subject to certain HIPAA restrictions. Consent applies to calls and text messages related to the provision of medical treatment. Make sure to check the FCC guidelines to verify if its position has changed. 

To ensure that the technology is compliant with HIPAA rules and regulations, practitioners should be conversant with the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule and technology encryption requirements. In the case of interstate practice, if requirements for privacy, security and informed consent differ between states, practitioners are encouraged to follow the most restrictive applicable laws and regulations. 

There are many HIPAA-compliant telehealth solutions. HPSO does not endorse or recommend any option. Rather, the provider must determine that the option is legal, cost-effective, and available in the state and area of practice. Here are names of a few options in no particular order: Doxy.me, thera-LINK, TheraNest, SimplePractice, Zoom for healthcare, and VSee. We recommend that you contact your professional association in order to obtain additional information. 

Some resources that may be useful to you as you offer more distance counseling:

• Counselor Spotlight: Telebehavioral Health
• American Counseling Association (ACA): ACA Code of Ethics, Section H, Distance Counseling, Technology, and Social Media
• CMS: HIPAA for Professionals

First, telehealth treatment/service practitioners may require appropriate licensure/certification/credentialing in order to practice in the state where the patient is located, and work under that state’s scope of practice.  Although the policy issued through HPSO does not contain a specific exclusion for telehealth/telemedicine, coverage would be subject to the policy terms and conditions, provided that you are working within the appropriate regulations and scope and standards of practice. Please refer to your professional association, state and/or federal government standards and requirements for more information about scope/standards of practice. 
 
A patient-provider relationship can be established via telehealth in a similar manner in which it is established in an in-person office/hospital setting. However, some state laws restrict the setting in which a patient must be located in order to establish a patient-provider relationship (for example, limiting it to “established medical sites”), the modalities that can be used to establish such a relationship (such as via telephone or audio/video technology), and the types of services that can be provided via telehealth (especially related to prescribing). It is advisable to review the relevant state practice act(s) as well as established professional standards prior to offering telehealth services. If a state practice act is silent regarding telehealth or published opinions, or interpretations regarding the subject of telehealth have not been issued by recognized sources, then contact the state professional licensing board for clarification.

Always adhere to HIPAA laws and regulations, which include the Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules as well as the HITECH Act. Keep in mind that additional state and federal requirements under patient privacy standards also apply, and these requirements do not change when practicing Telehealth/Telemedicine (e.g., behavioral health, alcohol/drug treatment and minors). It is the provider’s responsibility to be appropriately equipped to perform services. For questions regarding HIPAA or patient privacy regulations, please refer to the HHS website for guidance for providers: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/index.html