Malpractice Insurance
Protection against claims arising from your practice of dentistry
As a licensed professional, you are legally responsible for the services you or your staff perform. That means you may be accused of malpractice, error or omission while you’re practising, and have to bear the significant financial consequences that can accompany those charges. Malpractice Insurance can protect you in the event a patient makes a claim against you or your corporation arising from professional services rendered. In addition, Malpractice Insurance provides claims assistance and legal representation—all at highly economical rates.
The CDSPI Advantages:
- Coverage for you and your practice against claims arising from professional services rendered
- Up to $25-million per claim coverage (to a maximum of $75-million annually)
- Provisions for legal representation
- Extended coverage for special circumstances
- Infectious Disease protection for dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental nurses and certified dental assistants and removal of the oral disease sublimit, subject to compliance with provincial or territorial health authority and/or regulatory college regulations and guidelines; and
- Up to $75-million of individual annual aggregate coverage available for dentists to purchase.
How Malpractice Insurance Protects You
Malpractice Insurance offers a range of coverage limits — you can choose the one best suited for you. You can be protected for up to $25-million for each claim, to a maximum of $75-million in one calendar year. And you can select a $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000 deductible.
Benefit from Expert Legal Representation
Malpractice Insurance covers more than just the potential cost of claims. In addition, the insurer provides legal representation for the insured and covers approved legal costs for malpractice actions.
Protect Both Your Personal and Company Assets
If your practice is incorporated, your insurance covers both you and the company from claims arising from your dental practice (it should also be named on your application) if named in a lawsuit.
Be Reimbursed for Time Spent in Court
You can be reimbursed for up to $400 per day, to a $1,600 maximum per claim, if you are required to attend an examination for discovery, pre-trial, trial or appeal.
Hygienists, Certified Dental Assistants, and Dental Therapists Coverage
Eligible hygienists, certified dental assistants and dental therapists in any province or territory who purchase their own coverage are offered a claim limit of $2-million per claim with a $500 deductible. A maximum of $6-million can be paid out in one calendar year.
Pay No Premiums for Coverage After You Retire, Are Totally Disabled, or On Parental Leave
The plan’s non-practising status coverage provides ongoing protection for dentists against claims from incidents that occurred while you were practising — at no additional premium. If you retire, are totally disabled, or on parental leave, you must surrender your license to be eligible for non-practising status, and your coverage will be effective as of the date you are no longer licensed. In addition, it protects your estate. Your coverage limits and deductible will be those in effect when you stopped practising.
Conditions and Limitations
Details, terms, conditions and exclusions are set out in the Policy Terms and Conditions for the Malpractice Insurance plan.
Please note:
- this Malpractice coverage applies to acts or omissions committed by the insured (i) in Canada (subject to the exclusion of professional services provided by dentists who obtain their primary malpractice insurance from their regulator) and (ii) anywhere else in the world where there is no applicable government statute regulating the practice of dentistry. However, the insurer is only liable for actions brought in Canada to recover for such acts or omissions
- the insurer has the right to and shall appoint legal counsel to defend the insured
Coverage does not apply to:
- claims or liability out of professional services provided anywhere in the world outside Canada where there is an applicable government statute regulating the practice of dentistry
- injury arising out of the performance of any criminal act
- injury arising out of the knowing violation of any law, including any acts committed by the insured after his or her licence to practice dentistry or, if the insured is not a dentist, his or her professional licence has been surrendered, cancelled, suspended or revoked
- acts by dental hygienists, assistants, nurses or therapists who are knowingly acting outside of the supervision requirements of any applicable legislation or, if there is no such legislation, are not being supervised by a licensed dentist on the dentist's premises
- losses resulting from nuclear energy losses or liabilities
- claims which the insured has knowledge of, or could have reasonably foreseen would likely arise from the services provided, prior to the date of commencement of the initial Period of Insurance for the Malpractice coverage
- claims for reimbursement of fees paid by the claimant to the insured for dental services
- claims arising from damage to or misuse of data, or claims arising from terrorist acts of activities to prevent or respond to such acts
- claims or liability arising from non-compliance with your governing regulatory body's guidelines including but not limited to Covid-19/Coronavirus protocols
- cyber act or cyber incident including, but not limited to, any action taken in controlling, preventing, suppressing or remediating any cyber act or cyber incident
Malpractice Insurance – Member and Non-Member Pricing
Effective January 1, 2024, dentists who are not members of a participating dental association will be charged non-member pricing for Malpractice Insurance.
NOTE: Current year graduates applying for Malpractice Insurance will automatically receive member pricing until December 31, 2024.
Premium rates are in effect January 1, 2024 until December 31, 2024.
Member Pricing
| Malpractice Insurance - Member | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Claim Limit | Deductible | ||
| $1,000 | $2,500 | $5,000 | |
| $3,000,000 per claim (maximum $9-million per calendar year) | $1,737.51 | $1,677.40 | $1,601.90 |
| $4,000,000 per claim (maximum $12-million per calendar year) | $1,793.13 | $1,733.01 | $1,657.51 |
| $5,000,000 per claim (maximum $15-million per calendar year) | $1,841.66 | $1,781.56 | $1,706.05 |
| $10,000,000 per claim (maximum $30-million per calendar year) | $2,082.31 | $2,022.20 | $1,946.70 |
| $25,000,000 per claim (maximum $75-million per calendar year) | $2,505.65 | $2,445.54 | $2,370.04 |
| Short Term Malpractice - Member | |
|---|---|
| Minimum Premium | $250.00 |
Non-Member Pricing
| Malpractice Insurance - Non-Member | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Claim Limit | Deductible | ||
| $1,000 | $2,500 | $5,000 | |
| $3,000,000 per claim (maximum $9-million per calendar year) | $2,171.89 | $2,096.76 | $2,002.37 |
| $4,000,000 per claim (maximum $12-million per calendar year) | $2,241.41 | $2,166.26 | $2,071.89 |
| $5,000,000 per claim (maximum $15-million per calendar year) | $2,302.07 | $2,226.95 | $2,132.56 |
| $10,000,000 per claim (maximum $30-million per calendar year) | $2,602.89 | $2,527.75 | $2,433.37 |
| $25,000,000 per claim (maximum $75-million per calendar year) | $3,132.06 | $3,056.93 | $2,962.55 |
| Short Term Malpractice - Non-Member | |
|---|---|
| Minimum Premium | $312.50 |
Provincial taxes are extra where applicable under provincial law.
A minimum premium of $250 applies to all coverage regardless of the duration of time it remains in force.
Premiums for Hygienists, Certified Dental Assistants and Dental Therapists
| Claim Limit | $500 Deductible |
|---|---|
| $2,000,000 per claim (with an annual aggregate limit of $6-million per calendar year) | $106.99 |
Eligibility
You are eligible for Malpractice Insurance if you are:
- A dentist who is licensed or possesses a certificate to practice dentistry in a province or territory of Canada other than the provinces of Alberta, Ontario or Quebec.
- A dentist licensed to practice in Canada who is not mandated to obtain their primary professional liability insurance from their regulator.
- A hygienist or certified dental assistant or dental nurse in any Canadian province or territory (except the province of Quebec) who is employed by, or under contract to, and who performs dental services only when in the office of or acting under the direction or supervision of a licensed dentist. Staff members who have purchased malpractice coverage may maintain it if they change employment, as long as the new employer is a licensed dentist.
- A dental therapist in any Canadian province or territory (except the province of Quebec) who is employed by, or under contract to, and is directly supervised by a licensed dentist.
We're Here to Help
Note: The plan’s non-practising status coverage will be provided as long as Zurich Insurance Company Ltd. underwrites the Malpractice Insurance plan. Should carriers change, the availability or format of such coverage could change, but CDSPI would endeavour to negotiate with the new carrier to continue the non-practising status coverage.
Malpractice Insurance is underwritten by Zurich Insurance Company Ltd (Canadian Branch). CDSPI Malpractice Insurance is offered in all provinces and territories except Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.
The information contained here is a summary only. A full description of coverage and eligibility, including exclusions, restrictions and limitations can be found in the Policy Terms and Conditions governing each plan.
