The Trust Sponsored Professional Liability Insurance Program

We made a great policy even better

The American Psychological Association Insurance Trust (the Trust) is pleased to announce substantial improvements and coverage enhancements to your Trust Sponsored Professional Liability Insurance Policy... all at no cost to you. The policy enhancements became effective for policies issued or renewed on or after October 1, 2008.

We have prepared this document to help explain how these changes make your policy even better than it was before. If you have questions about the Trust Sponsored Professional Liability Insurance Program, please call us toll-free at 1-877-637-9700, or email us at policyinfo@apait.org.

INTRODUCTION:
The emergence of new areas of practice, new governmental regulations (e.g., the HIPAA Privacy Rule or Medicare and Medicaid regulations), and the increase in licensing board complaints has produced a new set of potential risks and necessitated additional protections for practicing psychologists. To address these new challenges, the Trust undertook a comprehensive review of current policy language. Based on the review, the Trust initiated a major rewrite of the Trust Sponsored Professional Liability Policy, including streamlined language to better communicate the benefits and features of your insurance.

We invite you to review the following questions and answers detailing some of the more important changes that are incorporated in the newly enhanced policy.

• What are the most significant additions and enhancements that will better protect you?
• Have any reimbursement limits increased?
• When do these new improvements become effective?
• Do the policy enhancements affect premiums?
• How do the policy enhancements help multidisciplinary or group practices?
• Do the renewal date and renewal process remain the same?
• What is different about reporting a claim?
• Will the ancillary benefits currently available in the Trust Sponsored Professional Liability Insurance Program continue to be available for insureds?
• Does your policy still include eligibility for the free "tail" if you retire, die, or become disabled?
• Will the Trust's Advocate 800 Risk Management Consultation Service continue to be available to Trust Insureds?
• Will you continue to offer my state-specific coverage?
• Did the Trust update the Researcher and Academician Professional Liability Policy?
• Did you update the Student Liability Policy?
• With new areas of coverage, how can I determine the limits on my policy?

Click here to download a PDF version of the document mailed to all insureds.

• Other Governmental Regulatory Body Defense Reimbursement:
  The new "Other Governmental Regulatory Body Defense Reimbursement" coverage reimburses up to $5,000 for the costs of defending an investigation for alleged violations of the HIPAA Privacy Rule as well as Medicare or Medicaid payment investigations. Higher reimbursement limits are available under this new coverage when you purchase the higher reimbursement limits for the Licensing Board Defense protection. The Other Governmental Regulatory Body Defense Reimbursement limit will automatically increase to $7,500 or $10,000 respectively when you increase your Licensing Board Defense protection to $25,000 or $50,000.
• Deposition Expense Reimbursement:
  This new "Deposition Expense Reimbursement" coverage will reimburse up to $5,000 for fees charged by the attorney you retain to represent you when you are subpoenaed to testify in a deposition. We recognize the potential risks psychologists face when required to give depositions. These risks can be mitigated through legal representation. This reimbursement will not apply if you are retained to provide testimony or you are a defendant in the legal proceeding. In cases where you are listed as a defendant in a legal proceeding, the Defense and Settlement section of the policy would apply.

• Licensing Board Defense Reimbursement:
  Many psychologists maintain their license long after they retire, leaving them subject to possible licensing board investigations. Your new policy will reimburse you for defense expenses if a licensing board investigates an event that occurred during your policy period. If you have an Occurrence policy or a Claims Made policy and obtain the Extended Reporting Period (i.e., a "tail"), you will now continue to have this coverage even after you retire.
• Record Retention:
  In many jurisdictions psychologists are required to maintain patient records many years after retirement. The Trust has enhanced your coverage for the retention, destruction, or release of records created while you were insured. If you have an Occurrence policy or a Claims Made policy and obtain the Extended Reporting Period (i.e., a "tail"), you will now continue to have this coverage even after you retire.

• Take 5% off for completing any four-hours of continuing education from an APA-approved continuing education sponsor; or
• Take 10% off for completing the Trust online Independent Study Program based on the new Trust risk management book, Assessing and Managing Risk in Psychological Practice: An Individualized Approach; or
• Take 15% off for two years by attending one of the live six-hour Trust Risk Management Workshops offered throughout the country.