Medical Professional Coverage Costs Under Scrutiny
Medical Professional Coverage Costs Under Scrutiny
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Amid rising concerns, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has flagged the escalating expenses associated with indemnity insurance premiums as a serious issue that demands attention.
Following a heated discussion at a recent national conference held on the Gold Coast, the AMA and its New South Wales branch convened with a number of medical defence organisations to tackle this pressing matter.
During these meetings, participants delved into changes in healthcare delivery and the evolving scopes of medical practice-factors contributing significantly to the rising costs within the medical indemnity sector.
According to a statement published on the AMA’s website, the Medical Defence Organisations (MDOs), which largely operate as member-based mutual entities, acknowledged the industry's growing unease. They shared global insurance market trends and emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication and collaborative efforts with the AMA to address systemic policy issues. Despite the need for cooperation, the constraints of competition law were noted as a limiting factor.
The organizations represented at the meeting included key industry players such as Avant, MDA National, Medical Indemnity Protection Society, MIGA, and Tego.
In its latest report, Avant informed Insurance News that their average rate increments have managed to remain below inflation for several renewal periods. Nevertheless, certain specialized fields have experienced sharp double-digit rate hikes due to specific claim frequencies and severities, affecting less than 1% of their membership.
Berkley Insurance Australia (BIA) has announced the launch of a combined professional indemnity (PI) and public liability (PL) insurance product, set to be available from June 1 through the Steadfast Client Trading Platform (SCTP). This initiative aims to simplify the insurance process for brokers and their clients by offering a unified policy that addresses both professional and public liability risks. - read more
Sterling Insurance has successfully secured a new professional indemnity (PI) binding authority with Lloyd's, a move that promises to provide Australian brokers with greater control over product offerings and pricing structures. This development is part of Sterling's ongoing commitment to delivering tailored insurance solutions that meet the specific needs of niche and complex risk sectors. - read more
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released its latest National Claims and Policies Database, providing valuable insights into the professional indemnity (PI) insurance sector for the 2022 underwriting year. The data indicates that PI claims payments for non-facility business remained relatively stable at $1.111 billion, a slight increase from $1.109 billion in the previous year. - read more
In April 2024, Markel, a US-based specialty insurer, unveiled a suite of professional indemnity (PI) insurance products specifically designed for the Australian market. These offerings cater to professionals in accounting, construction, design and construct, insurance, media, and miscellaneous sectors. - read more
In November 2024, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) directed Pacific International Insurance to increase its prudential capital requirement by $10 million. This action was taken in response to identified deficiencies in the insurer's oversight and control of its binder arrangements with intermediary partners. - read more