4 Tips for Medical and Dental Offices to Smoothly interact with their Insurance Company.
Medical and Dental Offices have unique risks that differ depending upon the location, size, and scope of the business. Because of these unique risks, a business in this industry needs an insurance agent and insurance carrier that are prepared to address these unique risks. As a Small Business Owner of Medical and Dental Offices, you more than likely know the importance of adequate insurance. Your clients carry health care insurance coverage so they can receive the treatment from your business without jeopardizing their personal finances. As a Small Business Owner, it is wise to also properly protect the investment you make into your business. Here are four Tips for securing adequate insurance coverage and saving on premium.
Take your time to Purchase Insurance for your Medical and Dental Offices
Medical and Dental Offices are unique and they have unique risks. Some offices are for general practice physicians. Other offices offer sports medicine, chiropractic services, or physical therapy. Still other offices offer dental or orthodontic services. No matter what type of medical service your business offers, it is important to insure the business properly. Purchasing Insurance is not a wise time to rush through a decision. Carve out an adequate amount of time to prepare for and talk to your independent insurance agent.
Keep Open Lines of Communication with your Insurance Carrier
When you are establishing a new relationship with an insurance agent, it is important to take an adequate amount of time to talk about the day to day operations of your business. They can help you understand risks you may not have realized that you face. Also, They can only make a recommendation about insurance coverage based upon the information you give them about your business. The more information they have about your business and the more information you give them about what type of coverage you prefer, the more likely they are to provide the type of coverage that is best for your business.
Partner with an Independent Insurance Agent when purchasing Insurance for Medical and Dental Offices
There are several reasons why partnering with an Independent Insurance Agent is always the best way to go about securing the best insurance coverage for Medical and Dental Offices.
- An Independent Agent Works for You
- An Independent Agent gives you choice
- An Independent Agent can be your advocate
- An Independent Agent can save you time and money
An Independent Insurance Agent is a true middle man between you, the business owner, and the insurance carrier you are purchasing coverage. In some industries, eliminating the middle man is a good way to cut costs. In the insurance industry, that is not always a wise decision. An independent insurance agent can give your business choice when it comes to choosing coverage, where as a captive agent can offer you the coverage of one or a select few carriers. This will save you money because the independent agent forces carriers to compete for your business. They can also save you time because they shop insurance so you don’t have to. Finally, an independent insurance agent can be your advocate when you have to file a claim. It is important to keep them in the loop when you have a claim because they can negotiate on your behalf if the carrier is not living up to their end of the bargain. They can also be an advocate when you renew coverage at the end of a year when you had several or a sever claim.
Talk about Safety
As the owner of the business and the lead physician within Medical and Dental Offices, Doctors set the tone for the other employees within a business. If you focus on safety, the rest of the staff will follow suit. Because of the nature of the business, cleanliness is important to all aspects of your business. This is important to not only take care of your patients, but also to keep a healthy staff. Your business cannot operate without a healthy staff. Focusing on safety in all aspects of the business will keep your employees safe, cut down on the frequency and severity of insurance claims, and can contribute to a lower insurance premium over time.
Business Liability Category: Health Care Providers
SIC Business Insurance Codes:
- 8011: Offices and Clinics of Doctors of Medicine
- 8042: Offices and Clinics of Optometrists
- 8031: Offices and Clinics of Osteopathy
- 8021: Offices and Clinics of Dentists
NAICS Liability Classifications:
- 621111: Office of Physicians (Non Mental Health)
- 621320: Office of Optometrists
- 621320: Office of Dentists
- 621498: All Other Outpatient Care Centers
- 621330: Office of Mental Health Practitioners
- 621399: Office of Other Health Practitioners
Business ISO General Liability:
- 66561: Medical Office
Common Workers Compensation Class Codes:
- 8832: Doctors, Physicians and Office Staff