PRODUCT: Dental Professional Liability
COMPANY: Affinity Insurance Services Inc., underwritten by CNA
BEST RATING: CNA has a rating of A (Excellent).
AVAILABILITY: Coverage is available on an open-brokerage basis.
FOCUS: Dentist’s Advantage, a division of Affinity Insurance Services, Inc., has provided dentists with professional liability coverage for more than 50 years. But to support shifts in the dental industry, Aon Affinity and CNA are teaming up to provide a contemporary insurance solution to dental professionals and practices nationwide.
Michael Loughran, president of Aon Affinity’s Healthcare Division, says Dentist’s Advantage currently insures roughly 20,000 dental practices in the U.S. and works with more than 2,000 agents.
“Together, we are paying attention to the broader shift from traditional, privately owned dental practices to larger dental group practices and dental support organizations,” says Michael Scott, assistant vice president of underwriting at CNA. “In order to continue providing comprehensive professional insurance solutions for these evolving needs, our two companies decided to join forces.”
CNA has 40 years of experience underwriting dental risks and is “a recognized leader in providing dentists and dental practices with risk education to help them mitigate their risks for both themselves and their patients,” Loughran adds. “When that’s coupled with Affinity’s expertise in terms of marketing, distribution and underwriting, we’re bringing an advantage to the dental space.”
CNA’s product enhancements include media expense coverage to protect an insured’s professional reputation, as well as improvements to license protection coverage, HIPAA coverage and coverage related to property damage caused by a dental incident.
“We give agents and their clients not only insurance solutions, but also the tools they need to mitigate the risk in their practice,” Loughran says. “That builds a stronger relationship with the dentists, their agents and ultimately us, so agents can expect improved retention and a stronger program.”
UNDERWRITING: Standard limits are $1 million/$3 million, with higher limits available. Loughran says most clients don’t elect a deductible, but options are available. Coverage is available on either a claims-made or occurrence basis.
First Aid Expense coverage pays up to $10,000 for expenses incurred when a patient is accidently injured during treatment. Claims settled with dentist’s written consent. Additional coverages include billing errors & omissions, with a limit of $2,500 and up to $25,000 for an additional premium; medical waste legal reimbursement, with a limit of $50,000; and employment practices liability, with a limit of $5,000 and up to $750,000 for an additional premium.
License protection coverage is included in the policy, as well as coverage for employers and independent contractors/dental hygienists. A 24/7 hotline is available to policyholders with access to experts in dental risk management.
MINIMUM PREMIUM: $250.
TARGET: “The program and products can be customized to meet the unique needs of small to large practices of all specialties and all sizes,” Loughran says.
COVERAGE TERRITORY: All 50 U.S. states.
CONTACT: Michael Loughran, president of Aon Affinity Healthcare Division; Aon Affinity, 1100 Virginia Drive, Suite 250, Ft. Washington, PA 19034; 215-773-4127.
Ronimarie Acord is an IA contributor.
