Risk Management Corner!

Frequent Questions

Did you know?

Use extra caution when withdrawing from the care of a patient who falls under a category protected by law. These may be disabled patients, or patients of certain races, religions, etc. This does not mean that you cannot withdraw from the care of a protected patient. It does mean that you cannot refuse to treat a patient solely because of their disability, race, religion, etc.

I want to save money on my premium. How do I get a quote?

DDI insurance is available to all Illinois physicians on a DIRECT basis, meaning we do not work with insurance brokers. We pass the 10% commission saving on to you in the form of a premium reduction. To get a quote, call us at 630-547-9800 or apply online where you will have the option of completing the brief application online. If you do not apply online, you can send your application to us by:

• E-mail to: sales@ddiimail.com
• Fax to: 866.422.2300

Getting a quote is a long process, right?

No. Our short application takes less than 5 minutes to complete and we will provide you with a binding quote within 48 hours of receipt of a completed application.

I want to be insured with Doctors Direct, but my renewal isn’t for another 6 months. Should I switch now or wait until the renewal date?

Switch now! You will still save money. Here’s how:
If you switch from your current carrier to Doctors Direct, your current carrier will charge you a cancellation fee equal to 10% of the “unearned” premium – essentially, 10% of the premium not yet paid to the carrier for the rest of the year. Since your premium savings with Doctors Direct will be significantly more than this cancellation fee, you will save money by switching now.
As an example, if your current policy runs from January 1 of this year to January 1 of next year, and you decide to switch to Doctors Direct on July 1, then the first six months of the year was “earned” premium and the last six months will be “unearned” premium. You will pay a penalty of 10% on the “unearned” premium to your current carrier. That is:

• Current annual premium = $30,000
• Switch mid-term: July 1
• Thus, “unearned” premium = $15,000
• Cancellation fee = 10% x $15,000
• Total cancellation fee = $1,500

If your premium savings from Doctors Direct is more than $1,500, then you will save more money by switching now rather than waiting for your renewal date.

• Doctors Direct annual estimated premium savings = 15% x $30,000 = $4,500
• Thus, net savings by switching to Doctors Direct now = Savings – current carrier’s cancellation fee
• Doctors Direct savings ($4,500) – cancellation fee ($1,500) = $3,000

Your quote is much less than my current premium. Are you just trying to get me to switch, only to raise my rates next year?

No. This is not a bait-and-switch scheme. Our premiums are closely regulated by the Illinois Department of Insurance and are actuarially sound. Your low rate from Doctors Direct is a result of our DIRECT distribution model and our fair assessment of your risk. Our company’s profitability is a result of strict underwriting – only choosing the best risks combined with aggressive and prudent claims management.

Ok, lets save money now. How do I cancel my policy with my current carrier?

Simple. We will provide you with a letter template that you may put on your own office letterhead or stationery and send to your current insurance carrier.

My insurance agent/broker will give me a quote from Doctors Direct anyway, right?

No. The only way in which you will be able to get a quote is directly from us. We are the only 100% direct writer of medical malpractice insurance company in Illinois. We do not use independent agents/brokers; and they do not have access to sell our insurance policies.

Do I have access to the management team?

Yes! We are accessible online 24/7/365 and our management team is reachable via cell phone morning, noon, and night for any issue. Our customers and their satisfaction is our #1 priority, and it is our philosophy to be totally accessible to all of our clients regardless of the day or the hour.

How is DDI capitalized?

Doctors Direct is a stock insurance company with a non-assessable insurance policy. Policyholders will never be required to contribute capital to the company. Doctors Direct is funded with the support of its private investors, many of whom are also policyholders of the Company. Our strong balance sheet and the commitment from our investors provides DDI with the ability to raise additional capital to support responsible growth. Doctors Direct enjoys a strong financial position.

Could your policyholders be assessed?

No! While some companies may entice you with an unrealistically low rate and later “assess” you for more money, we do not and will not. The premium we charge for this year’s policy is the only premium that will ever be charged for that policy. Policyholders do not have any personal liability in terms of a future assessment.

What specialties and territories does DDI insure?

DDI insures select surgical specialists and other physicians throughout the state of Illinois. Certain procedures and practice elements are subject to additional underwriting review. However, DDI insures all of the traditional aspects of medicine.

Do you have reinsurance?

Yes. Doctors Direct Insurance Company has reinsurance coverage in place that adds even greater financial stability to the company.

Are your reinsurers rated?

Yes. Doctors Direct Insurance Company has a reinsurance treaty with a panel of international insurers including Lloyd’s of London and Bermuda-based companies, all of which have an A.M. Best Financial Stability rating of A (Excellent).

Can I finance my insurance premium?

Yes, DDI offers direct premium financing for its insureds. 0% financing is available for all financed premiums. For more information contact our Billing Team at billing@ddiimail.com

How do I make changes to my coverage?

You can easily make changes to your policy by contacting our Underwriting Team directly. To reach our Underwriters, e-mail
uw@ddiimail.com
or call (630) 574-9800

How do I get a certificate of insurance?

You can get a certificate of insurance in one of two ways:
•  By calling DDI directly at (630) 574-9800
•  By emailing DDI directly at uw@ddiimail.com

POLICY QUESTIONS:

What is a “claims made” policy?

“Claims made” relates to the way that DDI provides coverage for claims against its insureds. Specifically, a “claims made policy” covers you, as the physician, for any claim that is made during the annual period in which you are insured by DDI related to treatment that you provided to a patient on or after your retroactive date.

What is an “incident sensitive trigger”?

At DDI, we consider a claim to have been reported as soon as an insured reports the medical incident that could give rise to a claim. We feel that this policy for handling claims favors our doctors because the early reporting of medical incidents can often serve to defuse potentially volatile situations. In addition, the advice of our team of attorneys and risk management experts may help you avoid a lawsuit with early intervention.

How does a “consent to settle” policy differ from a “hammer”?

DDI is truly a collaborative effort of insurance and medical professionals. In light of this, we feel that a “hammer clause” – one where an insurance company can exercise its right to settle without asking for the permission of the doctor—is unfair and displays a lack of trust in its insureds. Rather, our policy includes “consent to settle” language that requires DDI to obtain consent of the doctor before agreeing to offer any reasonable settlement.

What is a “tail” and how do I qualify for one?

A “tail” – or extended reporting period coverage – is coverage that extends past the date on which your final policy period ends. There are numerous ways that you can qualify for or obtain a “tail.”
Doctors can purchase a “tail” at the end of their policy period with DDI.
Doctors can earn a “free tail” when they turn 55 years old and have been insured by DDI for five consecutive years.
“Free tails” are also offered in the event of death or total disability.

Are separate limits available for my corporation?

Yes. Doctors Direct Insurance Company does offer separate limits for the insured’s corporation.

How are legal costs and other claims expenses handled?

In addition to the policy limit, all legal costs and claims expenses are fully paid by Doctors Direct Insurance Company.

Do you cover “prior acts”?

Yes. Doctors Direct Insurance will provide “prior acts coverage”. With prior acts coverage, we cover all incidents that occur after your retroactive date and that are reported to us while your policy is in force.

Do you provide “tail” coverage?

Yes. Doctors Direct Insurance offers an “Extended Reporting Period Endorsement”, which is commonly referred to as “tail” coverage. If this coverage is in place, then all claims that occurred after your retroactive date are covered, regardless of when the claim is reported to us.

Do you offer free tail coverage?

Yes. There will be no charge for an Extended Reporting Period Endorsement should any of the following events occur while the policyholder or insured physician is actively insured with us:

  1. Death of the insured physician
  2. Insured physician becomes disabled and cannot continue the practice of medicine
  3. Insured physician fully retires from the practice of medicine at any age and has been continuously insured by us for the five years preceding retirement.

When might I be forced to purchase tail coverage?

The most common reason requiring you to purchase tail coverage is when you join or leave a group. Many group contracts demand that when you join the group, you do so without any prior-acts exposure; which means you must buy a tail policy from the existing carrier if you want your prior coverage to remain in place. Conversely, if you leave a group you are often required to purchase a tail policy from the group’s insurer to satisfy the group’s concern about completing your coverage during the time you were practicing with them.

Do you offer additional discounts for physicians with favorable claims histories?

Yes. Claims Free Discounts are provided based on the number of years you have not been involved in a claim or lawsuit. This discount may be combined with other discounts.

Do you offer coverage for my Locum Tenens practice?

Yes. If temporary coverage is required for a physician providing substitute coverage for an insured, locum tenens coverage may be added to the insured’s policy by endorsement. Coverage under this rule is in effect for up to 180 days.

CLAIMS QUESTIONS:

Do you defend frivolous claims?

Yes, aggressively!
We fully investigate and develop a litigation strategy within 90 days of receipt of the letter announcing the “Notice of Intent to Initiate Litigation” against one of our insureds. With the full involvement of the doctor, our experienced claims staff will assemble a winning plan utilizing the best defense attorneys and clinical experts. If there is a problem with the clinical management of a claim, then early resolution will be the goal; but if the allegations of negligence are defensible, then we will provide an aggressive defense of this frivolous litigation.

How do I report a claim or a medical incident?

You can report a claim 24 hours a day by emailing us at claims@ddiimail.com
You can write to us at:
Doctors Direct Insurance
Attn: Claims Department
1140 West Lake St #500Oak Park, IL 60301

Who handles claims at DDI?

Doctors Direct employs a team of claims professionals and has an outstanding panel of qualified defense lawyers.

What defense attorneys do you use?

The Doctors Direct Insurance Company claims team has over 40 years of experience in handling thousands of medical malpractice claims. We are very familiar with the law firms who have specialized over the decades in representing physicians in this type of litigation. Rather than using a defined list of attorneys to whom we limit ourselves, we prefer to customize the defense team for each and every claim and wish to have your input on who is the best defense attorney for you in your particular case. In all cases however, you can rest assured that you will have the optimum defense team.

Are there risks in proactively reporting a medical incident?

Not with Doctors Direct. Proactively reporting an adverse event or outcome to DDI is without consequence. We will determine whether to open a file and assign an attorney to your defense based on the seriousness of the event. The advice of our team of attorneys or risk management experts may help you avoid a lawsuit. However, 90% of reported incidents never turn into claims, and Doctors Direct does not consider incidents when determining whether to renew a physician’s coverage.

Latest News