Nightlight Insurance Agency places malpractice coverage for physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners and PAs, therapists, med spas, and attorneys in Austin, San Antonio, and the surrounding counties. We are an independent agency. We shop your policy across the specialty markets that write professional liability for healthcare and legal practices in Texas, compare the policies side by side, and a named person handles your file from quote through renewal and any claim.
Most of our clients are established practices and firms that want more than a quote. They want someone who reads the policy, explains the options in plain language, and picks up the phone when something comes up. That is the kind of relationship we are set up for, and it is why most of our new clients come to us by referral.
Call or text (512) 488-3586, or start a quote online.
Who needs malpractice insurance in Texas
- Physicians and medical practices. Texas does not require it by statute, but hospitals, surgery centers, and most payer contracts do. Groups usually need a policy for the entity plus each provider.
- Dentists and dental practices. Nearly every dental board complaint starts as a patient dispute. A policy that covers board-complaint defense, not just lawsuits, matters here.
- Nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Your employer’s policy covers the employer. If you moonlight, work locum tenens, or move practices, you need your own.
- Therapists, counselors, and psychologists. LPCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, and psychologists. Telehealth across state lines changes what the policy has to cover.
- Med spas. Med spas sit between medical and cosmetic, and a general liability policy generally will not respond to a treatment claim.
- Attorneys and law firms. Legal malpractice (lawyers’ professional liability). If you have a bar-endorsed program quote, bring it; we will compare it against the open market.
What it covers
Malpractice insurance, also called professional liability or errors and omissions for licensed professionals, pays to defend you and pays what you owe if a client or patient claims your professional work caused them harm.
- Legal defense, including attorney fees, expert witnesses, and court costs
- Settlements and judgments up to the policy limit
- Licensing board and regulatory complaint defense, when the policy includes it
- Claims from work you did before the policy started, back to the retroactive date
- Tail coverage (an extended reporting period) when you retire, move, or close the practice
What it does not cover
This is where most people are surprised, so it is worth reading twice.
- Bodily injury or property damage from something other than your professional work. A patient who slips in your lobby is a general liability claim.
- Data breaches and ransomware. That is cyber liability, a separate policy. Read about cyber coverage.
- Intentional or criminal acts, and work done outside your license.
- Claims filed after the policy ends, unless you bought tail coverage.
- Claims from before your retroactive date.
- Employment disputes with your own staff. That is EPLI.
How we shop it
Most malpractice is claims-made. That means the policy in force when the claim is filed is the one that responds, not the one in force when the work was done. So when we compare policies for you, we look at more than the premium:
- Retroactive date, and whether a new carrier will match your old one
- Consent to settle: whether the carrier can settle without your agreement
- Defense costs inside or outside the limit
- Board complaint and disciplinary defense sub-limits
- Tail coverage cost and whether it is free on retirement, death, or disability
- Telehealth and multi-state coverage
To start, send us your current declarations page, your license number, your specialty, and your last five years of claims history. We usually have options back within a few business days.
Frequently asked questions
Is malpractice insurance required in Texas?
Not by state law for most professions. It is required by almost every hospital, surgery center, and insurance payer contract, and by many professional boards as a condition of certain licenses or privileges. In practice, nearly everyone who sees patients or clients needs it.
My employer covers me. Do I need my own policy?
Your employer’s policy protects the employer first. If your interests and theirs diverge in a claim, or you leave and a claim comes in later, their policy may not follow you. Nurse practitioners, PAs, and associates who moonlight or plan to move should carry their own.
What is tail coverage and when do I need it?
Tail coverage extends the time you can report a claim after a claims-made policy ends. You need it when you retire, change carriers without a matching retroactive date, or leave a practice that was covering you. Some carriers include it free after a set number of years or on retirement; others charge for it, and the cost varies widely by carrier. We check this before you sign.
What is the difference between claims-made and occurrence?
Claims-made covers claims filed while the policy is active, for work after the retroactive date. Occurrence covers work done while the policy was active, no matter when the claim is filed, and needs no tail. Occurrence costs more and is less common for medical and legal malpractice, but it is worth asking about.
Does malpractice cover a licensing board complaint?
Some policies do, some only as a small sub-limit, and some not at all. Board complaints are more common than lawsuits for dentists, therapists, and nurses, so we check this on every quote.
Why use an independent agent instead of the carrier’s website or an association program?
A direct quote shows you one carrier’s appetite. An association program is usually one carrier too. We compare several, including the association program if you have one, and we explain the differences in the policy language, not just the price. If a carrier declines you, we have somewhere else to go.
How much does malpractice insurance cost in Texas?
It depends on specialty, claims history, limits, and whether you are new to practice. Rather than quote a range that will not match your situation, we will give you real numbers from several carriers. Send us your declarations page and we will start.
Get a quote
Call or text (512) 488-3586, email brett@nightlightinsurance.com, or start your quote online. Tell us your profession and where you practice. We will tell you what we need and when to expect options.
Nightlight Insurance Agency, LLC. Texas Department of Insurance General Lines Agency License 2803067. Serving Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Leander, Pflugerville, Dripping Springs, Hays County, San Antonio, and Boerne.
