As a dentist, there are a considerable number of risks you face in your practice. You may regularly care for your equipment, keep meticulous records, hire the best employees, be extremely careful and considerate, and have great relationships with your patients. Inevitably, though, something can always go wrong–accidents occur and mistakes are made. That is why every dentist needs comprehensive dentist insurance coverage to protect their practice from the damage of these potential liabilities.

In this guide, we will provide you with the key details about dentist insurance cost, which will give you confidence to go out and purchase a policy that covers all your needs.

We Cover in This Guide

• How much does dentist insurance cost?

• What is dentist insurance?

• What does dentist insurance cover/not cover?

• Benefits and risks

• Types of insurance you may need

• Tips for buying

• FAQ

• Summary

How Much Does Dentist Insurance Cost?

Dentist insurance costs range from $39 to $439 per month depending on your provider, coverage, limits, location, and practice. The following are some examples of typical policies that cover the basic needs of most dentists.

• Basic coverage (essential protection): $39 per month for general liability insurance
• Standard coverage (protects your property and assets): $49 per month for general liability insurance + commercial property insurance (can be bundled in a business owners policy)
• Professional coverage (protects you against negligence claims): $439 per month for business owners policy (BOP) + medical malpractice insurance

Most insurance providers allow you to customize a policy with additional coverage to meet the needs of your practice.

What is Dentist Insurance?

Dentist insurance is a type of coverage designed to protect you from the various risks involved in running your dental practice. Those could include causing harm or injury while cleaning someone’s teeth; failing to identify an ailment that becomes extremely problematic; someone tripping while visiting your office; or even your chair breaking down and needing to be replaced. These scenarios can be extremely costly, time-consuming, and can harm or even destroy your practice. Adequate dentist insurance will cover the damages, legal fees, and other costs associated with these or other potential claims. No matter how large or small your practice is, you should get covered before taking on any patients.

What Does Dentist Insurance Cover/Not Cover?

Most dentist insurance policies cover the common types of claims that many dentists face. That can include liabilities that can happen to anyone working out of an office; ones that relate to your own property, equipment, and assets; and, the most important, harm relating to your actual dental practices. Dentist insurance packages will protect you from such risks and others that fall into the following categories:

• Third-party bodily injury

• Third-party property damage

• Personal injury

• Products/completed operations

• Business personal property damage

• Personal injury

• Lost business income

• Broken or damaged equipment, property, and other assets

• Mistakes, errors, and negligence resulting in patient harm

• Related costs and medical expenses due to personal injury or illness

• Legal defense fees and damages

• Covers you, your employees, and your business

While typical insurance packages cover most potential claims, certain risks will require additional policies. They can include:

• Employee injury or illness and related costs/expenses

• Exposure of confidential patient information as a result of someone hacking your computer system

• Injury or illness preventing you from being able to work

Benefits and Risks

Dentists have to deal with a wide variety of risks. Fortunately, a proper policy will cover you and provide additional benefits.

The biggest risk you may face as a dentist is getting sued for malpractice. Even if you have a great relationship with your patients, one mistake, or even the perception of negligence, could result in them filing a claim. Defending yourself against a lawsuit is time-consuming and expensive, and that is even if you win the case. If you lose, you may have to pay damages and then there is the additional harm to your reputation and practice in general; especially if you have to defend your license in front of a compliance or licensing board.

With the peace of mind afforded by comprehensive dentist insurance, you and your employees can focus on your work and your patients without being overly concerned with what could happen. You can simply do the best you can with the things you can control.

Types of Insurance You May Need

• General Liability Insurance: Covers dentists from claims of third-party bodily harm, injury, property damage, advertising mistakes, and other related liabilities.

• Commercial Auto Insurance: Provides protection from property damage and other liabilities resulting from accidents involving business-owned vehicles

• Commercial Property Insurance: Protects your practice’s property, equipment, and other assets from breakdown and other damage from disasters and other covered scenarios.

• Workers’ Compensation Insurance: Covers medical cost and other expenses of employee injury and illness.

• Medical Malpractice Insurance: A type of coverage specialized to protect people in the healthcare industry from claims of negligence, errors, and other mistakes.

• Cyber Liability Insurance: Protects your practice from data breaches, hacks, and other potential damages from cyber crimes.

Tips For Buying Denstist Insurance

Navigating the insurance market can be difficult. When considering dentist insurance costs, keep the following in mind before making your decision.

• Bundle your policies: Insurance providers will often provide discounts for combining certain policies. One common example is a business owners policy (BOP). This package typically includes general liability and commercial property insurance.

• Work with an independent agent: Even the best research could not be enough; you may need an expert to explain which provider has the most experience working with dentists. An independent agent will help you avoid those insurers who are not suited for your needs.

• Consider at least three quotes: Premiums often vary significantly between insurance companies. Make sure to compare quotes before signing a contract.

FAQ

- How can I protect myself in case an injury leaves me unable to work?

Consider disability insurance. For example, if a hand injury or some other condition leaves you physically unable to continue working as a dentist, disability insurance will provide benefits of a certain percentage of your income.

- What happens during a malpractice lawsuit?

After the suit is filed, the case will often go in front of a screening panel. If they find the claim valid, the case will proceed and lawyers on both sides will call medical witnesses.

- Do I need workers’ compensation insurance?

Workers’ compensation insurance is mandatory in most states for businesses with at least 2 employees.

Summary

The benefits of dentist insurance are so significant that they more than outweigh the premium fees. After reading this guide, you should have enough information about dentist insurance costs to make an informed decision about your own policy and feel confident that your package will provide all the coverage you need.