Malpractice Insurance for Registered Nurses (RNs)

You work hard to provide your patients with the best possible care. But in nursing, mistakes happen and bad outcomes sometimes occur. In those instances, a patient or their family may file a malpractice claim against you or your team. That’s why RN malpractice insurance is so important: If you’re ever facing a malpractice lawsuit, your insurance policy can give you the resources and support you need to protect your career, your reputation, and your livelihood.

In addition to registered nurse insurance, we also offer malpractice coverage for other types of nursing professionals, including:

 

An Overview of Registered Nurse (RN) Insurance

Registered nurse malpractice insurance – also known as RN liability insurance – is a type of professional liability insurance that protects nurses when a patient or a patient’s representative sues them for making a mistake. The nurse may be named individually or as part of a group of defendants.

Regardless of whether you actually made the mistake, a malpractice lawsuit can be an enormous financial burden. There are the legal costs of defending yourself against the claim, as well as court fees, lost wages, and more. In addition, if you settle the lawsuit or are found responsible by the court, you’ll have to pay for damages. This usually comes as a financial settlement.

When you buy RN liability insurance, you’re protecting yourself from the financial blow of a malpractice claim: The insurance company can help you cover the costs associated with the lawsuit.

Coverage varies widely by policy and the company you choose, but RN malpractice insurance can cover the following expenses:

  • Settlement and claim costs
  • Defense counsel and legal fees
  • Defense for licensing board actions
  • Lost wages and travel expenses
  • HIPAA violations
  • Reputation protection
  • Good Samaritan coverage

When buying RN malpractice insurance, it’s important to choose a provider you can trust and a policy that will give you the protection you need. Berxi, which is part of Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, has the stability, resources, and expertise to support you every step of the way.

 

Why Do RNs Need Liability Insurance?

A malpractice claim not only impacts your finances, but it can also threaten your nursing license, damage your reputation, and consume your valuable time – not to mention the emotional toll it can take.

RN liability insurance won’t take away all the stress of a claim, but it does reduce the financial burden. The insurance provider puts a dedicated attorney and a team of claims professionals in your corner to help you through the ordeal.

According to the National Practitioner Data Bank, of the total number of medical malpractice payments made from 2012 to 2022, 26% were from non-physicians. What’s more, the average total costs of malpractice claims are mind-boggling, especially when you consider paying them without the financial safety net of malpractice insurance: Based on data collected in the NPDB, between 2015 and 2022, the average medical malpractice payment for RNs was $359,826.

Why It’s Important to Have Your Own RN Malpractice Insurance

A common misconception among RNs is that because they receive insurance through their employer’s policy, they don’t need to purchase their own supplemental insurance policy. While your employer-provided insurance might cover you if you’re named in a malpractice lawsuit, there are a number of benefits to having your own policy.

  • Legal defense for licensing board actions, which is often not covered by employer policies.
  • Protection in HIPAA-related claims and actions. This is also usually not covered by your employer.
  • Extra funds, which can be helpful if many members of the team are named in the same suit as you.
  • Personal legal counsel. Having your own policy means you are the main point of contact with your defense team.
  • Control over deciding whether or not to settle. Employer policies might be more likely to force your hand.
  • Reputation coverage, which is usually not provided by employer policies.

Supplemental malpractice insurance gives nurses across the country the financial support and peace of mind they need to survive a malpractice claim – and everything that comes with it.

RN Malpractice Insurance Benefits and Coverage

Berxi’s registered nurse malpractice insurance provides top-rated protection customized specifically for you. Benefits of a Berxi RN policy include:

  • Occurrence and claims-made policy options.
  • Legal defense outside the limits of liability. This means that money spent on your defense won’t be deducted from your insurance limits — so if you have a $1 million limit, you’ll still have $1 million to pay for any settlements or damages.
  • Consent to settle. This means that we won’t settle a claim without your consent.
  • $0 deductibles
  • Flexible insurance limits based on your needs
  • Convenient payment plans for select policies
  • Customizable tail coverage options for customers with claims-made policies

What’s Covered in a Berxi RN Malpractice Insurance Policy

Medical malpractice coverage insures you against claims of negligence or of making a mistake that caused bodily harm to another. This includes providing you with a lawyer to defend yourself and the funds you can use to pay judgments or settlements. Typical limits of liability for RN malpractice insurance range from $500,000 per claim/$1 million aggregate to $2 million per claim/$6 million aggregate.

If a claim is filed against you, we’ll retain a lawyer for you from our network of defense attorneys specializing in medical malpractice. We’ll also pay for related defense costs (e.g., lawyer fees, court fees, and expert witness costs). Note that these defense costs are outside the limits of your RN liability insurance. This means that the cost of legal counsel and other defense fees won’t cut into the settlement fees you may need to pay after a ruling – if you have a $1 million limit per claim, you’ll still have that full amount for a settlement.

Your RN malpractice insurance policy applies on a worldwide basis, as long as a claim is brought against you in the United States (which includes any U.S. territories or possessions).

If you provide professional care to someone who is not your patient in a first aid or emergency situation, and that person files a claim against you, your policy will still apply.

Automatic Coverage Extensions

If a claim alleges that you violated privacy rules in connection with private health information, we provide you with access to counsel and will reimburse you for costs related to HIPAA proceedings — including relevant HIPAA fines.

If a professional licensing authority is investigating matters related to your professional conduct, our policy provides you with legal defense.

If you face a threat to your professional reputation, your RN liability insurance policy can provide you with a crisis management/public relations consultant to help clear your name.

Additional A La Carte Coverage

The policy applies if someone files a claim against you alleging that your premises or operations caused them bodily injury or harm.

If you’re audited by either Medicare or Medicaid, we offer reimbursement for related accountant or attorney costs that result from the investigation or defense of the audit proceedings.

 

Get RN Malpractice Insurance Through Berxi

We’re working to create a better insurance experience for RNs by offering affordable coverage and outstanding service. Here are a few things that set us apart.

We’ll Save You an Average of 20%

Berxi is a direct-to-customer insurer. This means we’re not just the people who sell you an insurance policy – we’re also the people who are responsible for handling your claim. Working directly with us eliminates many fees that are typical in insurance transactions. In fact, our customers save an average of 20%.

We’ll Save You Time

Because Berxi is an all-digital platform, you can go on our website to get a quick quote, buy a policy, and download your certificate of insurance – all in the same day. And if you ever need to file a claim, you can do that online, too.

We’re Part of Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company

Every Berxi policy is backed by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, which has a financial strength rating of A++ from AM Best and AA+ from Standard & Poor. That means we have the financial stability to make sure you’re protected for the long term.

Our Customer Support is World-Class

If you purchase insurance from Berxi, you’ll get top-notch customer support when you need it. When you call our support line, which is open from 8 AM to 8 PM, five days a week, you won’t have to navigate through an endless phone tree or argue with a robot: You’ll reach a real-life human being who will work hard to answer all your questions. And if a claim is ever filed against you, our team will help you navigate the claims process, every step of the way.

 

FAQ About Malpractice Insurance for Registered Nurses

Malpractice insurance for registered nurses typically starts at around $68 per year, but the actual cost of your policy will depend on a number of factors, including your years of experience, your education, the state in which you work, and time spent on the job.

Want to get a better idea of how much your nursing insurance policy could cost? Take a few minutes to get a quote now. If you decide to purchase, your nursing malpractice insurance policy can go into effect any day you’d like, including today.

Many nurses choose malpractice insurance policies with coverage limits of $1 million per claim and $3 million aggregate, but the amount of coverage you choose will depend on your level of risk. Berxi offers limits of liability for RN malpractice insurance that range from $500,000 per claim/$1 million aggregate to $2 million per claim/$6 million aggregate.

Not all malpractice insurance providers are created equal. When choosing a provider and policy for your nursing malpractice policy, consider whether it has:

  • Flexible options for the limits of liability
  • HIPAA violations defense
  • Licensing board protection defense
  • Coverage for wage losses and deposition expenses
  • Legal defense costs paid outside the limits of liability
  • No deductible
  • Convenient payment plans and options
  • Availability of both occurrence and claims-made coverage
  • Expert claims professionals who specialize in nursing claims
  • Consent to settle
  • Online access to manage your policy
  • Optional coverage add-ons, including general liability coverage
  • Financial strength ratings that prove its ability to pay future claims (A++ ratings are ideal)
  • Easy-to-reach, knowledgeable customer support
  • Educational materials
  • Excellent customer testimonials
  • Discounts for taking risk management courses

Berxi offers all of the above and more. We know malpractice insurance, and our policies are customized just for you, with top-rated protection and extensive coverage options and benefits. Plus, we work hard to make insurance easier – easier to understand, easier to buy, and easier to afford. Get a quote in minutes and see how nursing malpractice insurance from Berxi can benefit you.

Yes, every practicing registered nurse should carry medical malpractice insurance. When you’re providing care for patients, there’s always the risk that you could be blamed for a patient’s injuries and sued for malpractice. Even if you aren’t at fault, a malpractice lawsuit can take a huge toll on your finances and your career. Not only are you responsible for the legal costs of defending yourself against a claim, including court fees and wages lost due to court appearances, but if found at fault, you’ll also be responsible for paying damages.

This is why malpractice insurance for RNs is so crucial: it can provide the legal and financial support you need in the event of a malpractice claim. When you buy a nursing malpractice insurance policy, you’re protecting yourself from the financial blow of a lawsuit. Berxi puts a dedicated attorney and a team of claims professionals in your corner to help you through the ordeal, giving you the peace of mind you need to focus on what matters: caring for your patients.

An easy way for nurses to buy malpractice insurance is directly from an insurance provider – which also has the added benefit of cutting out broker fees and saving you money. With Berxi’s easy-to-use online platform, you can get a quote and buy your policy online in just a few clicks.

Independently practicing nurses should have medical malpractice insurance, also known as professional liability insurance. Malpractice insurance can cover your legal and settlement costs if a patient or their family sues you for malpractice, providing crucial protection for your career, your reputation, and your financial wellbeing.

Yes. Even if you’re covered under your employer’s policy, it’s important to have your own insurance policy (also known as supplemental insurance). When you have your own dedicated professional liability insurance – also known as malpractice insurance – you get your own attorney, and you can be sure that you’ll have dedicated funds for your defense and any damages you may need to pay. In addition, with your own nursing insurance, you can get coverage that your employer might not offer, including:

  • Reputation protection
  • Board action and license defense
  • Wage loss/deposition expenses
  • HIPPA violation protection
  • Your own defense lawyer

Yes, nurses should have professional liability insurance, also known as medical malpractice insurance. Medical malpractice insurance can help protect you if a patient or a patient’s family sues you for allegedly causing them bodily injury.

A malpractice lawsuit can be a huge financial burden: there are the legal costs of defending yourself against the claim, as well as court fees, lost wages, and more. In addition, if you settle the lawsuit or are found responsible by the court, you’ll have to pay for damages. Nursing malpractice insurance can help protect you by paying for your legal defense and settlement costs.

Some states legally require healthcare providers to have malpractice insurance, while others don’t. But even if malpractice insurance isn’t legally required in your state, it’s important to make sure you’re protected. Mistakes can happen, and every nurse runs the risk of facing a malpractice lawsuit. Without malpractice coverage, you could be left paying substantial legal fees and settlement costs out of pocket.

Yes, nurses should have their own malpractice insurance policy. Even if you’re covered by your employer’s policy, you should look into purchasing your own policy (also known as a supplemental malpractice policy). While your employer’s policy can provide some protection, there are a number of situations in which their insurance might not protect you – or might provide inadequate financial coverage. The benefits of having your own supplemental nursing malpractice insurance policy include:

  • Extra funds available for your defense and settlement costs, which can be helpful if many members of the team are named in the same suit as you.
  • Personal legal counsel. Having your own policy means you are the main point of contact with your defense team.
  • Protection in HIPAA-related claims and actions. This may not be covered by your employer.
  • Legal defense for licensing board actions, which is often not covered by employer policies.
  • Control over deciding whether or not to settle. Employer policies might be more likely to force your hand.

What Our Customers Are Saying

“Berxi was recommended to me by a friend at another company, and now it seems that everyone where I work has them too! The quoting process was easy… and the price is better than anywhere I’ve found.”

– Jeremy B.

“Completely stress-free setup and customized to my needs. So easy I didn’t even need to talk to anyone!”

– Che H.

“[My claims representative] was so compassionate. He listened and kept me informed on the status of the case. He really cared about what I was going through and reassured me that Berxi was on my side and that I didn’t need to worry.”

– Kim P.

Related Articles

*”20% savings” is based on industry pricing averages as of June 2020. Berxi is a division of Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, part of Berkshire Hathaway’s National Indemnity group of insurance companies, which holds financial strength ratings of A++ from AM Best and AA+ from Standard & Poor’s. All policies are underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, NAIC# 22276. View full disclosures.