Social Worker Insurance

Social Worker
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Why do social workers need insurance?

Whether engaged in outreach, healthcare, connecting clients with services, or teaching classes, you interact with vulnerable people in high-liability situations. Social worker insurance helps cover unexpected medical and legal bills so you can continue to serve your community with peace of mind.

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One application, multiple quotes

Insureon helps social workers compare small business insurance quotes from top U.S. insurance companies online.

Get several coverage options with one easy application.

What types of business insurance do social workers need?

These insurance policies cover common risks faced by social workers.

Professional liability insurance icon

Professional liability / medical malpractice

Professional liability insurance can cover lawsuits related to clinical social work mistakes or oversights, such as failing to notice a child is in danger. It's sometimes called malpractice insurance.

BEST FOR
  • Accusations of negligence
  • Oversights that result in client injury
  • Failure to provide promised services
General liability insurance icon

General liability insurance

A general liability insurance policy covers common third-party risks, including bodily injuries and property damage. For example, it will cover legal defense costs if a client trips on your front steps.

BEST FOR
  • Slip-and-fall accidents
  • Damaged client property
  • Libel and slander lawsuits
Business owner’s policy icon

Business owner’s policy

A business owner's policy, or BOP, is a cost-effective way for a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) to buy general liability insurance coverage and commercial property insurance together.

BEST FOR
  • Visitor injuries
  • Damage to client property
  • Damaged or stolen business property
Cyber insurance icon

Cyber insurance

Cyber liability insurance covers financial losses from cyberattacks and data breaches. It's recommended for therapy and counseling professionals that store personal information, like credit cards.

BEST FOR
  • Client notification expenses
  • Data breach investigations
  • Fraud monitoring services
Workers’ compensation insurance icon

Workers’ compensation insurance

Most states require workers' compensation for social services that have employees. It also protects policyholders from work injury costs that health insurance might deny.

BEST FOR
  • Employee medical expenses
  • Disability benefits
  • Lawsuits over employee injuries
Commercial auto insurance icon

Commercial auto insurance

Commercial auto insurance can pay for property damage and medical bills in an accident. It also covers car theft, weather damage, and vandalism.

BEST FOR
  • Physical damage and collision coverage
  • Injuries caused to another person
  • Repairs due to vandalism or weather
Looking for different coverage? See more policies.

How much does insurance cost for social work professionals?

Therapy and counseling professional calculating the cost of business insurance.

A social service business with fewer employees will pay less for commercial insurance than a larger company.

Factors that affect social work insurance costs include:

How do I get social worker insurance coverage?

It's easy to get social worker insurance policies if you have your company information on hand. Our application will ask for basic facts about your professional services business, such as revenue and number of employees. You can buy a policy online and get a certificate of insurance with Insureon in three easy steps:

  1. Complete a free online application.
  2. Compare insurance products and choose policies.
  3. Pay for your policy and download a certificate.

Insureon's licensed insurance agents work with top-rated AM Best providers to find the best liability insurance for social workers, whether you work independently or hire full- or part-time employees.

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FAQs about social worker insurance

Review answers to common questions about social worker liability insurance and more.

Are social workers required to carry medical malpractice / professional liability insurance?

Social workers aren't typically required by state law to carry medical malpractice insurance, also known as professional liability insurance or errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. However, many employers, including hospitals, healthcare networks, social service agencies, and private practices, require this coverage as a condition of employment or contracting.

Even when not required, carrying social worker malpractice insurance is a smart risk management strategy. This type of insurance helps protect against costly lawsuits related to professional negligence, such as a claim that a client was harmed due to a misdiagnosis, breach of confidentiality, or failure to provide appropriate care. Without malpractice coverage for counselors, a single lawsuit could result in significant financial loss and reputational damage.

What other business insurance policies do LCSWs need?

In addition to malpractice insurance/professional liability coverage, licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) should consider several other types of insurance to fully protect their practice and meet compliance requirements.

  • Telehealth insurance: If you offer virtual counseling or therapy sessions, you may need additional coverage to address the unique risks of telemedicine, such as licensing issues across state lines or technology failures.
  • License defense coverage: This coverage can help pay legal fees if a complaint is filed against your license with your state licensing board. It’s often included in or can be added as an endorsement to a professional liability policy.
  • Sexual misconduct coverage: While this coverage doesn’t protect against intentional wrongdoing, it may help cover attorney fees and other legal costs if you're falsely accused of inappropriate conduct with a client.
  • HIPAA coverage: This insurance protects your practice from the financial consequences of a HIPAA violation, such as failing to safeguard client health information.

Each of these policies works in tandem with your core LCSW liability insurance to help you manage risk, comply with healthcare regulations, and maintain your professional reputation.

How can social workers be held liable for negligence?

Social workers have a legal and ethical responsibility to provide a reasonable duty of care to their clients. This means providing the right type and quality of care based on the ethics and guidelines of your profession. When that duty is breached—either through action or inaction—and harm results, a social worker may be held liable for negligence or malpractice.

Examples of professional negligence in social work include:

  • Failing to recognize signs of abuse or neglect, such as not identifying when a child is in danger.
  • Sharing confidential records without proper consent, violating a client’s right to privacy.
  • Ignoring or mishandling suicidal ideation, which can lead to serious consequences or liability if a client's harmed.
  • Overlooking signs of substance use that could impact treatment or safety.
  • Inadequate documentation, which can hinder continuity of care or fail to support clinical decisions in legal situations.
  • Improper diagnosis or inappropriate treatment recommendations, especially when they lead to emotional or physical harm.

To reduce the risk of lawsuits, social workers should follow professional risk management strategies, such as maintaining detailed records, securing client consent, recognizing and addressing red flags promptly, and staying up to date with licensing requirements and best practices.

Above all, consistently adhering to the established standard of care in social work is key to protecting clients and your professional reputation.

How do occurrence and claims-made insurance policies differ?

The main difference between occurrence and claims-made insurance policies is when coverage is triggered.

An occurrence-based policy covers incidents that happen during the policy period, even if the claim is filed years later. This type of policy offers long-term protection for events that occurred while the policy was active, regardless of when the claim is reported.

A claims-made policy only covers claims that are both filed and reported while the policy is active. If the policy expires or is canceled, you typically won’t be covered unless you’ve purchased tail coverage to extend protection for late-reported claims.

This distinction matters when selecting coverage, as the type of policy can affect both the cost and how long you’re protected. For instance, malpractice/professional liability policies are claims-made , while policies like general liability and commercial auto are occurrence based.

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