There are several forms of business insurance you should consider if you’re an occupational therapist. These include:
Professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity insurance covers you against claims that the advice, recommendations or service you provided were either wrong or negligent. This type of insurance (sometimes also called malpractice insurance) can offer you protection against many types of claims, including:
- Allegations the therapy you provided was not suitable, did not achieve the desired results or was ineffective
- Claims your therapy caused personal injury
- Claims the advice you offered was negligent, misleading or contrary to professional standards in your industry
Cover starts at $250,000 and goes up to $10 million or more. This is a compulsory type of insurance for many occupational therapists working in hospitals or clinics and also may be needed to join many professional associations or gain certain accreditations.
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance is also very important for anyone who runs their own therapy business or who has a commercial premises they work out of. It'll cover you against claims that your business activity caused injury to a member of the public or damaged their property. This insurance is available for sums between $5 million and $20 million.
What it covers:
- Third-party personal injury claims
- Damage to a third party’s property
- Legal fees to defend yourself
General business insurance
General business insurance may also be worthwhile if you have a business clinic or portable equipment or machinery you need coverage for. Commercial vehicles aren’t included in a general business insurance package, so you may need separate commercial vehicle protection for your work vehicle.
What it covers:
- Fire, storms, theft, vandalism and collision which cause damage to your business assets
- Specialist cover for electronic equipment and other portable equipment
- Limited business interruption insurance