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Insurance
Avoid a Lawsuit with Professional Liability Insurance
The importance of individual professionals protecting themselves properly has never been greater than it is today. Client expectations of health care services are frequently escalating as training and services continue to evolve. A professional liability claim against an occupational therapist can be financially devastating to their livelihood and economic status if he or she is not insured adequately.
Aon and CAOT provide members with an affordable and all-inclusive insurance program. All claims, both actual and potential, must be reported as soon as possible or within 30 days of the member being made aware of the claim. To read an article prepared by Aon on professional insurance and what you need to know, please click here.
Professional Liability Insurance at a Glance
CAOT offers members two levels of insurance coverage:
Option 1 includes $5,000,000 in professional liability insurance for only $59 per year.
Option 2 includes $10,000,000 in professional liability insurance for only $97 per year.
Professional liability insurance protects you against liability/allegations for damages resulting from a negligent act, error, omission or malpractice arising out of your profession as an occupational therapist. Liability insurance offered through Aon includes sexual abuse therapy and counseling fund endorsement. This coverage also meets the requirements of all Canadian regulatory bodies.
We are pleased to offer special rates to new members during the first two years after graduation. Enjoy 50% off in your first year and 25% in your second. We also offer a 50% discount for individuals on maternity/parental leave who will work less than six consecutive months during the membership year.
Professional Liability Insurance includes:
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Legal Expense Reimbursement which provides coverage for legal costs if a complaint is lodged with a provincial regulatory board against you.
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Criminal Defense Cost Reimbursement which provides coverage for legal costs if you are found not guilty of a criminal offense.
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12 months retiree coverage if you leave the profession of occupational therapy. Additional coverage beyond twelve months is also available at affordable rates (Please note that you must be a CAOT member to qualify for retiree coverage or to purchase additional coverage).
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Temporary out of country coverage at no additional cost.
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Free legal assistance for potential claims.
The Risks Associated with Relying on Employer Insurance Coverage
Employers carry liability insurance for the protection of their organizations' assets while an individual policy through the CAOT member program protects the personal assets of the member. What does this mean? An employer's professional liability insurance policy is in place first and foremost to protect the best interest of the employer. This may not always be in the best interest of the employed occupational therapist. While the policy held by an employer may cover some costs associated with a claim against an employee, it does have limitations, putting the individual employee's assets at risk.
Beware that employer policies may not provide coverage for:
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Claims made when employer coverage reaches its maximum in terms of the number of claims or amount payable per annum.
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Actions on the job are deemed to be outside of the scope of the employer's "best practices" for the circumstance in which the claim arose.
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Complaints taken to a regulatory organization (which on average may cost $25,000 in legal fees to resolve).
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Services provided outside of the workplace (e.g. advice to a neighbor, another paid or volunteer position).
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Defense against work related criminal charges.
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Compensation for lost wages.
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Sexual abuse therapy counseling fund.
The above list includes only some of the significant reasons it is important to protect yourself! The only way to ensure complete malpractice protection is by securing an independent policy like that offered through CAOT members program. The CAOT program responds to numerous complaints on an annual basis and it safeguards the assets that you have worked so hard to acquire and don't want to lose. Please take a moment to read this detailed article prepared by legal counsel, Important Legal information Relating to Professional liability Insurance and make sure that you have the coverage necessary for your protection.
Remember, CAOT is here for you and offers the most comprehensive and affordable insurance program in Canada. Should you have any questions concerning malpractice insurance, please contact the Membership Department.
Pro-Bono Legal Services Related to Liability Insurance
Bell, Temple, Barristers and Solicitors will provide confidential advice by telephone to all occupational therapists that hold professional liability insurance through CAOT. For additional information, please contact the Membership Department.
To review a list of frequently asked questions about liability insurance, please click here.
Professional Liability Insurance Claims Reporting
Prompt claim reporting is not only critical to the process of bringing claims to a successful resolution; it is also a condition of the members’ professional liability policy that must be adhered to for insurance coverage to adequately respond. For more information on claims reporting, please click here.
To learn more about your insurance options, please visit caot.aon.ca or contact an Aon representative at 1-877-766-3098 or caot.insurance@aon.ca.
Aon also offers you value-added products such as:
To learn more about terrorism, please click here.
To learn more, please visit caot.aon.ca or contact an Aon representative at:
Dept 700300, Box 3309, MIP
Markham, ON L3R 6G6
Toll Free: 877-766-3098
Fax: 877-766-9075
Email: caot.insurance@aon.ca
www.caot.aon.ca
