Doula Insurance

Here are some of the factors that determine insurance premiums for doulas during the underwriting process:

• Services offered. To evaluate your risks, insurance providers will look at the services you offer, such as support during home births, lactation consulting, or postpartum care.
• Business property and equipment. It'll cost more to insure an office and valuable equipment than basic supplies brought to clients' homes.
• Number of employees. A larger workforce brings a higher risk of accidents and lawsuits, which raises the cost of workers' compensation, general liability, and similar policies.
• Annual revenue. Increased business revenue is associated with higher risks and more frequent claims, which results in higher insurance costs.
• Business location. Crime rates, population density, healthcare costs, property values, and other regional factors affect how much you pay for business insurance.
• Policy limits and deductibles. Policies with higher limits cost more but cover more expensive claims. Choosing a higher deductible can lower your premium, but your insurance won't activate until you pay the full amount.
• Claims history. A doula who has filed an insurance claim in the past will pay more for insurance than one with a clean history of claims.

Doulas don't always need insurance to operate legally, but there are some situations that require it.

Here are the insurance policies that are sometimes required by law:

• Workers' compensation insurance is required in most states, including New York and California, as soon as you hire your first employee. It pays for medical treatment if an employee is injured on the job and provides them with disability benefits while they're recovering.
• Commercial auto insurance covers accidents involving business vehicles. Almost every state requires this coverage for vehicles owned by a business.
• General liability insurance and professional liability insurance aren't typically required by law, but some states, such as Colorado and Maryland, require liability coverage in order to bill Medicaid. More often, healthcare networks, training organizations, and doula agencies will require liability coverage.

Insureon's licensed agents can help you find the right coverage to comply with state laws, contracts, and other insurance requirements.

Tail coverage provides protection for incidents that happen while a professional liability / malpractice policy is active, but are reported after the policy period ends.

For example, if a postpartum doula tells a mother that her depression is a normal part of giving birth, they could be sued months later when the mother is diagnosed with a serious postpartum mood disorder (PPMD) or experiences a breakdown.

Since medical malpractice claims can arise months or even years later, tail coverage ensures doulas remain protected against lawsuits for patient care they performed in the past.

Doulas and midwives both support mothers and provide assistance before, during, and after a birth, but there are important differences between their roles:

• A doula provides non-medical assistance with breathing, relaxation, labor, lactation, and similar support—but they do not provide medical care or deliver babies.
• A midwife is a trained medical professional who delivers babies in hospitals and birth centers, provided there are no complications. They can administer medications, perform screenings and tests, and conduct physical assessments.

While doulas focus on the overall well-being of the mother and child, midwives perform medical procedures in addition to the support they provide. Because they serve different roles, they often work alongside each other in hospitals and homes to provide comprehensive emotional and clinical support.

Doulas often buy these coverages as part of a risk management strategy to protect their practice and career:

• Telehealth coverage adds protection to your malpractice insurance for liability claims arising from telemedicine or virtual patient services.
• License defense coverage pays for legal fees and other costs if you face an investigation or malpractice lawsuit that could affect your status as a doula or other certified birth worker. It's often available as an add-on to your professional liability policy.
• Needlestick or occupational accident insurance (OAI) protects against injuries from needles or sharps, as well as exposure to blood and other bodily fluids.
• HIPAA defense coverage covers legal proceedings, fines, and penalties related to HIPAA violations, and can typically be added to malpractice insurance for doulas.

These additional coverages help ensure you’re protected against less common, but potentially costly, risks in your practice.

Here are several steps that doulas can take to keep insurance costs low:

• Shop around. Insurance carriers often sell similar policies at different rates. To find a good price, compare insurance rates from trusted carriers with Insureon's easy online application.
• Bundle policies. Doulas can often bundle general liability with commercial property insurance in a business owner's policy, or purchase general liability and professional liability insurance together at a lower cost than buying the policies separately.
• Manage your risks. Childbirth is risky, but you can reduce the chance of a lawsuit with proper documentation, clear communication, liability waivers, and other risk management techniques.
• Pay the annual premium. You can choose to pay your premium once a month or once a year. Insurers offer a discount when you pay the full annual amount instead of monthly payments.
• Work with an agent. Insureon's licensed agents can help you find coverage that fits your risks and your budget, without any extra add-ons you don't need.
• Keep continuous coverage. Stopping and starting coverage is a red flag for insurers, and may end up costing more in the long run.
• Choose higher deductibles or lower limits. Policies with higher deductibles and lower limits cost less, but make sure you can easily afford the deductible, as it must be paid in full before you can collect on a claim.