It is a package of insurance coverages that protect physiotherapy practitioners from a wide range of risks. What exactly is covered depends on the individual policy, but it must include at least $5 million in general liability coverage and $5 million in errors and omissions coverage. A professional liability policy protects you against medical malpractice lawsuits, along with costs related to allegations of misconduct, bad advice, breach of contract and more. Commercial general liability coverage protects you against costs associated with third-party bodily injury and property damage. Without Physiotherapist insurance coverage, your livelihood and ability to generate income can be seriously compromised by paying upfront for medical expenses, legal bills, repairing or replacing damaged property and more.

Practicing physiotherapists or physical therapists (PT) that are actively providing patient care are required to be covered with liability insurance. You must be registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, a regulatory college that sets rules to ensure physiotherapists are practicing in a way that meets the best interests of the public, to work as a licensed physiotherapist or physical therapist. In order to register with the College and provide physiotherapy services, you must have a certain amount of Ontario physiotherapy insurance. That includes the following mandatory liability insurance requirements  for physiotherapists in Ontario:

• $5 million coverage minimum for your annual policy period
• Liability limit of at least $5 million dollars per incident
• No additional terms, conditions or exclusions (aside from standard)
• No deductible
• Tail insurance that lasts 10 years at minimum

If you are not sure how to navigate these requirements and get the best Ontario physiotherapy insurance to cover your individual needs and risks as a health-care practitioner, trust an expert Physiotherapy Insurance broker to leave no stone unturned. We will search out the right physiotherapist insurance for you specifically and make sure you are in full compliance with all regulations laid out by the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.

Tail insurance is mandatory with claims-made policies. A claims-made policy covers you for claims made during the policy period regardless of when the incident occurred. Without tail coverage, if you retire and cancel your policy but a former patient later alleges injury, you are not covered. Tail insurance provides an extended reporting period (ERP) for claims made after policy expiry. The College of Physiotherapists requires a minimum of 10 years.

When you are submitting a medical malpractice proposal form, you have a duty to disclose to the insurer every matter that you know (or could reasonably be expected to know) is relevant to the insurer’s decision of whether they are willing to accept the risk of the insurance. That includes information such as:

• Details about the nature of the business or professional activities you conduct
• Whether you or your employees have ever been subjected to disciplinary proceedings for professional misconduct
• Details of any claims of negligence or breach of professional duty that have been brought against you

That type of information is in addition to typical questions you would be asked during the quote application process for a business insurance policy, such as:

• Years of experience
• Professional certifications
• Past claims history
• Business location
• Number of employees
• Number of policies and coverage limits

It depends on your circumstances. If you work for a single employer and only at their location, you may be fully covered. If you freelance or work outside your employer's contract, you are not covered and need your own policy.

No — you are not required to buy physiotherapy insurance from a physiotherapy association in Canada. There may be better options elsewhere. A Morison broker can search for the ideal coverage package for your practice.