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Designed to help the Washington State counselor, therapist, social worker psychotherapist social worker or psychologist who is interested in finding out about professional liability insurance (malpractice insurance).
mental health or addictions malpractice insurance:
Professional Liability Insurance for Counselors, Therapists, Psychotherapists, Social Workers & Psychologists
Professional organizations often negotiate with insurance providers for good rates for their members. The four professional counseling organizations that I am most familiar with are the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), the National Association of Alcohol Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC), and the American Psychological Association (APA). All offer excellent professional liability insurance to their members at fairly inexpensive rates and the Healthcare Providers Service Organization insures persons without regard to membership.
The American Counselors Association
Individuals, groups and students are eligible for professional liability insurance coverage through the ACA Insurance Trust. Professional categories include Professional Counselor, Psychologist, Social Worker, Counselor Educator, School Counselor (K-12), Substance Abuse Counselor, Bodywork Practitioner and other human development professionals. Business Owners Package (BOP) and Directors & Officers Liability Insurance are also available. For more information, visit the website, or call 1-800-347-6647. Extension 284. Licensed insurance professionals are available to offer consultation and to answer questions.
The ACA Insurance Trust, Inc. (ACAIT) has partnered with Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO) to offer a professional liability insurance that provides broad coverage, whether you work with families, individuals, or in difficult areas, such as counseling sex offenders. Check whether your profession is covered and go through the simple Quick Quote process to find your annual rate, then you can either apply online or by fax or mail. [I did a simple inquiry about a mental health counselor in Washington State, working 24 hours a week or less, not a recent graduate, and got a quote of $158 a year premium for $1 million per occurrence/ $3 million annual aggregate professional liability coverage.
American Mental Health Counselors Association
AMHCA business partner CPH and Associates has revamped its website so that eligible applications can apply for new coverage or renew their current policy online. Online applications are processed immediately and customers receive their proof of coverage in less than five minutes. In addition, customers can now access their proof of coverage from the "Customer Document Lookup" to print a copy or make changes.
CPH & Associates offers competitive rates and superior customer service to Marriage & Family Therapists, Mental Health Counselors, Psychologists, Social Workers, School Counselors, LPC, LCPC, Licensed Educational Psychologists, School Psychologists, Psych Assistants/Associates, Case Managers, Rehabilitation Professionals, Nationally Certified Counselors, Interns/Post-Masters under supervision, and Students/Trainees in accredited programs.
In an email November 2005, CounselingSeattle.com was advised that CPH has a discounted category for those completing their required hours under supervision toward licensure. It is entitled "Post-Masters/Intern under supervision." Supervisors for those on the licensure track will be covered for supervision automatically as long as they pay the professional premium and they are qualified to supervise by the state or a professional association. As Washington also allows registered counselors, it is important to clarify that those who are registered (and eligible to work without supervision) must pay the professional premiums based on their number of hours a week self-employed.
National Association of Alcoholism &
Drug Abuse CounselorsNAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals, is the largest professional membership organization that serves counselors who specialize in addiction treatment. They are located at: 901 N. Washington St. Suite 600 Alexandria, VA 22314. Telephone: (800) 548-0497, FAX: (800) 377-1136.
Individual Professional Liability Insurance for Chemical Dependency / Addiction Professionals who are members of NAADAC is available through The Van Wagner Group, 21 Maple Ave, PO Box 5710, Bayshore, NY 11706-0503, Phone: (888) 383-3512, Fax: (888) 525-9072, or [ Send an email ]
In email communication November 2005, CounselingSeattle.com was advised that the regular policy covers licensed or certified persons doing supervision; however, we recommend that you verify that for yourself as policies are subject to change over time.
IMPORTANT: The liability insurance program does not cover physicians, licensed or certified clinical psychologists, pastoral counselors, registered nurses in the practice of their profession or hypnotherapists. It is intended for addiction counselors who are members of NAADAC. If you are not a member of NAADAC, call (800) 548-0497 for a membership application. [ Online Application form ] [ Insurance Program Highlights and Quotes ]
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association (APA) Insurance Trust offers a number of different financial security products: professional liability, student liability, researcher/academician liability, disability income insurance, and office overhead insurance while recovering from a disability.
NASW--The National Association of Social Workers
NASW offers processional liability insurance to members and agencies through American Professional Agency Inc. They also offer Group Health and Life Insurance. [Thanks to Jeff Hewitt]
Healthcare Providers Service Organization
[This is an unauthorized condensation from the HPSO mail brochure. To the best of our knowledge, this HPSO professional liability insurance is offered directly to practitioners without regard to professional organization membership.]
Your own individual coverage protects you beyond the limits of your employer provide plan. With HPSO you can protect your individual interests. Provides a defense attorney, settlement of a claim, deposition representation, defendant expense benefit, license protection, medical expenses and property damage resulting if you are assaulted in the workplace or while commuting to and from work, medical expenses and property damage for persons accidentally injured or property damaged at your residence or workplace, personal injury coverage on and off the job, even if you change jobs--all at affordable group rates. The underwriter for the Professional Liability Insurance Program is American Casualty Co. of Reading, PA, a CNA company. CNA is one of the 10 largest insurance groups in the United States with over $60 billion in assets. [They also offer a line of health insurance.] Call 1-800-982-9491 or visit their website. Get a quick quote or purchase professional liability insurance online.
In an email inquiry in November 2005, I asked whether their policy would cover a counselor doing supervision of other counselors working toward licensure. They assured me that it would, saying, "The intent of coverage is to pay amounts, up to the Professional Liability limit of liability stated on the certificate of insurance, that you become legally obligated to pay as a result of a professional liability claim arising out of a medical incident by you or by someone for whose professional services you are legally responsible." [However, as always, I recommend that you verify this information for yourself. Floyd Else, Webmaster.]
Four Myths about Malpractice Suits and Insurance
[Extracted from a HPSO advertisement in Counseling Today, March 2008, an American Counseling Association Publication]
Myth #1: An individual malpractice insurance policy is an unnecessary expense if your employer already provides coverage for you. |
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Myth #2: You are more likely to be sued if you carry an individual malpractice insurance policy in addition to employer-provided coverage. |
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Myth #3: Plaintiffs' attorneys will keep you on the defendant list in a lawsuit if they find out that you have your own insurance in addition to employer-provided insurance. |
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Myth #4: If you are careful with your clients, you are unlikely to be sued--and therefore don't need your own insurance. |
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