The Importance of Malpractice Insurance For Medical Students

Medical malpractice insurance is an important part of a medical student’s curriculum. Some schools do have their own malpractice insurance that will cover students, but typically when a student is applying to med schools in the United States, more than likely the school will request proof of having a malpractice insurance policy before enrolling in classes.  

Medical malpractice insurance for students can be purchased for short-term coverage.  Insurance is usually required to qualify for the state board license exam, so students can purchase a policy for one or two months to fulfill that requisite.  Also, many universities will not provide coverage for visiting students, so if a med student from another country plans to do an internship in the U.S. for a few months, they can purchase a short-term policy through a broker based in the United States.  There are a few companies that do offer policies to international medical students.

For many medical students saving money is a top priority. Many insurance carriers do offer discounts on premiums.  Students can also receive a discount if they recently graduated from medical school.  An insurance broker or agent can better assess your situation and research which providers do offer these types of discounts.

There has been a great deal of debate regarding whether or not a med student should be responsible for malpractice.  Of course as a medical student you have a supervisor who oversees your duties and is responsible for your actions, but students can still be held liable if an error occurs with a patient.  Although it is a rare occurrence, a patient does have a right to name a student in a malpractice claim. This is why having a malpractice insurance policy is vital - especially for students who are still learning all the different aspects of providing medical care.  

So many students want to work in the medical industry but are worried about the high cost of malpractice insurance.  This should not be something that stops you from a rewarding career and helping so many people.  There are many resources available to help you reach your goals and dreams.