You Need Malpractice Insurance

Whether you just graduated, or are dreaming of retirement, you need malpractice insurance.

Congratulations to all of the graduating optometrists! As you begin your careers and start treating patients, an unfortunate reality awaits you—Lawsuits! Despite your best efforts, you can be the subject of a lawsuit even if you didn’t do anything wrong! Defending yourself can be very expensive, and could potentially derail your career, even if there is no merit to the claim.

Fortunately, there is affordable protection available to you. COA, working together with our broker partner Mercer, ensures that the malpractice policy, (also called professional liability insurance policy) offered to our membership covers you while practicing within the scope of your license, giving you the freedom to practice where you want to. As long as you have received the proper training and/or certification required, all procedures approved by the California Board of Optometry are covered.

Protection is available for up to $2 million per occurrence, and $4 million aggregate per year. Legal fees and court costs associated with claims against you are paid in addition to your limits of liability.

If you are an employee, don’t rely solely upon your employer’s malpractice coverage, especially if you do charity or other work outside of your employer’s practice. Most employer-provided coverage does not cover you for actions outside of the workplace, plus there may be gaps in the policy or you may be sued after you have left that position.

For more information, including a brochure and application, contact a Mercer Client Advisor at 800-775-2020, visit www.COAMemberInsurance.com, or email COA.Insurance.service@mercer.com.

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