Representing health professionals means understanding your work, the challenges you face, and the specific tools and support you need to do your job well.
OPSEU/SEFPO’s Professional Liability Insurance (PLI) coverage for members is designed to meet the requirements set out by each regulatory college overseeing health professionals’ classifications.
Our PLI coverage is not a one-size-fits-all program. Instead, we’ve tailored a Professional Liability Insurance plan to meet your specific professional requirements – at a remarkably low cost.
We know it takes dedicated resources, including research and legal expertise, to understand and navigate each regulatory college and keep up with changing policies and requirements. Luckily, we’ve got over 50 years of experience doing just that.
In addition to our PLI coverage, we have a dedicated legal department that deals with complaints made to professionals’ colleges and supports members through these processes. OPSEU/SEFPO represents a broad range of professional classifications. As a result, our legal department has experience dealing with each professional college.
IMPORTANT: The OPSEU/SEFPO Professional Liability Insurance program is available for health care professionals who require personal professional liability insurance in the course of their employment.
What does OPSEU/SEFPO’s Professional Liability Insurance cost?
Costs for professional liability insurance vary based on the extent of your college’s requirements, but no matter what, the price you pay with OPSEU/SEFPO is remarkably low. That’s because we have the power to negotiate the best group rates for you.
Available limits per claim | Annual cost per member per year |
$1 million per claim / $5 million aggregate | $54 |
$2 million per claim / $5 million aggregate | $60 |
$5 million per claim / $5 million aggregate | $92 |
OPSEU/SEFPO’s got the better plan for professionals.
OPSEU/SEFPO’s coverage is designed to meet Bill 179 Professional Liability requirements for regulated health professionals. Our policy is written on a primary basis and there are no deductibles.
Primary Insurance with Extensions
As a health professional, you have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. Having primary Professional Liability Insurance means having a safe and strong policy. OPSEU/SEFPO’s PLI coverage includes a number of extensions to meet colleges’ requirements:
- Libel and slander
- Penal defense costs reimbursement coverage
- Disciplinary action – legal expense coverage
- Coroner’s inquest coverage
- Loss of earnings
- Retirement/death/disability/cessation of business
- Patient therapy and counseling
- Cyber security and privacy liability extension
- Students
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Transparency is extremely important to us, as is making sure that you are well-informed ahead of the union representation vote at Ontario Health atHome.
Click here for answers to FAQs from our insurance provider.
Below are additional answers to some Frequently Asked Questions we’ve been hearing from you during our presentations.
If my coverage lapsed since an event that precipitates charges (e.g. due to retirement), does the insurance still provide coverage?
If a person retires or ceases to be an OPSEU/SEFPO member in the middle of the policy term, their insurance coverage under the PLI program cover members for the work they did prior to retirement or membership ceasing, up to the automatic extended reporting (ERP, or “tail coverage”) deadline. A minimum of 2 years of ERP coverage would be provided, or longer terms based on what your respective College By-laws require (up to 10 years possible).
Should a retiring/departing member wish to extend their ERP length, a different term of 3, 5 or 10 years of extended reporting coverage could be purchased at the time of ceasing membership.
Does an event that uses the insurance policy mean you cannot continue your coverage or, if not, your rates will increase?
Rarely ever would a claim necessitate an insurer to remove the member from coverage mid-term (and if this ever happened, the insurer would provide adequate notice to allow members to find alternative coverage).
PLI rates do not increase for individual members after a claim as the program has set tiers based on types of operations and limits of liability selected.
Does a member have the ability to choose their representation (i.e. the law firm)? Or does the insurance company mandate which firm is chosen?
Under the PLI policy, our insurance company has a duty to defend all members covered.
Why would someone want to choose an increased premium/claim limit?
Choosing a higher liability limit can provide more peace of mind in the event of significant claims or lawsuits, to reduce the risk of out-of-pocket expenses. That said, members are encouraged to choose the coverage limit that is most affordable for them.
Can the insurance company refuse coverage at application?
There are restrictions in place under certain circumstances, for example: applicants under 18 years of age, or applicants who operate as independent contractors/consultants or own private practices.
If the coverage is provided, is there anything specific to an event that would allow the insurer to decline the coverage of a specific event?
Some common reasons an insurer might decline coverage for a specific event include:
- Policy exclusions: The event falls under a category explicitly excluded in the policy, such as intentional acts, criminal activities, or certain high-risk activities.
- Non-disclosure or misrepresentation: If the policyholder fails to disclose important information or provides false information when applying for the policy, the insurer might deny coverage.
- Late reporting: If the event or claim is not reported within the required timeframe specified in the policy, the insurer might decline coverage (e.g. not reporting a claim situation until after renewing for another term).
- Outside the policy period: If the event occurred before the policy started or after it ended, it would not be covered.
- Breach of policy terms: If the policyholder did not comply with specific terms or conditions of the policy (e.g. failing to maintain safety measures or not paying premiums), coverage could be denied.
- Uninsurable events: Some events, like war or nuclear incidents, may be deemed uninsurable and excluded from coverage.
Does the PLI policy cover sexual harassment allegations?
As outlined in the defence costs for Alleged Criminal Acts or Abuse Endorsement on the policy:
“The Insurer will reimburse any insured for claim expenses incurred by the insured to defend a claim alleging criminal act or abuse, following a final judgment or adjudication, of an acquittal or ‘not guilty’ verdict is reached.
This endorsement is subject to a maximum of $100,000 per claim, which is the most the Insurer will reimburse the Insured for the claim expenses described above.”