Indemnity Insurance Friend or Foe; 

Medicos  Legal Action Group (MLAG) started  in  2012  has  its  main  focus  towards  creating  a  robust  organization  with  sufficient  resources  to engage  with  the  Government  on  issues  which  adversely  affect  medical  profession. Filing  RTI  applications, making  representations and  filing  Writ petitions  and  PILs  is  our  main  work. We  also  help  individual  doctors  with  their  legal  problems whether  or  not  they  are  our  members.

Even  though  it  is  not  our  primary  work we  also   today  provide  indemnity  insurance  to  about 750  of  our  members  through  United  India  Insurance Co  ltd. All  insurers  try  to  wriggle  out  of  their  liability  through  one  loophole  or  the  other and  our  expertise  helps  doctors  because  we  negotiate  as  a  group  with  the  insurers  in  case  of  problems.  

A  number  of  private  companies  have  also  entered  the  field  offering  stupendous  discounts even 5-10 percent  more  than  what  we  have  negotiated. Since  MLAG  is  a  non  profit  making  organization  we  transfer  all  the  financial  benefits  we  receive  from  the  Insurance Company  to  our  doctor  members. Our  focus at  MLAG  is  to  provide  better  services  rather  than  cheaper  insurance. The  membership  fee paid  by  doctors  helps  us  sustain  office  staff  and  have  regular  in house  legal  support.

Medical  Associations and organizations  which  are  making  agreements  with  private  for  profit  Companies  need  to  be  extra  vigilant. Yearly  change  of  leadership  in  associations  and  frequent  change  of  corporate  staff in  these  companies  creates  a  problem  regarding  continuity  of services. Indemnity  insurance  is  something  which  needs  to  be  looked  after  professionally  for  decades  and  this  factor  is  something  doctors  should  keep  in  mind when taking  insurance. Besides MLAG  there  are other  medicolegal  organizations  in  the  country  who  offer  indemnity  insurance  to  their  members like  AMC  in  Mumbai and  IMLEA. The  point  is  ; Indemnity Insurance should  be  taken  seriously  and  should  not  be  delegated  to  those  with no  knowledge  of  the  intricacies  and  pitfalls  of  the  same.  

With  CPA  2019  coming  into  play, in  another  5  years,  no  Insurance  Company  will  be  able  to  afford  the  business  of  Indemnity  Insurance  in  India.  Increasing number  of  claims  and  increasing  amount  of  compensations  being  awarded  will  make  this  unviable  at  current  rates. As  doctors  we  need  to  be  vigilant lest  be  become  a  victim  of  the  current  medico legal scenario. Wherever  you  take  your  policy Please  check  in  your policy;

1)  Correct Name of Doctor and Hospital with correct mobile number and address

2)  AOA; AOY whether  it  is  1;1  or  1;2  or  1;4

3)  Retroactive date

4)  Procedure  to  renew  lapsed  policy due to delay in premium

5)  Unqualified  attendant cover

6)  Whether legal  help  is  provided to doctor or to defend Insurance Company 

7)  Whether  they  pay  for  out of court settlement

8)  Whether  Plastic Surgery only is covered or is cosmetic surgery also covered

9)  Whether they will pay for interim payments to be deposited before appeal

10)Whether  it  is  claim  made based policy  or  an  event based  policy

11) Whether  you  need  Error & Omission policy over and above  the  Professional Indemnity Insurance.

Dr  Neeraj  Nagpal 

Convenor,Medicos  Legal  Action  Group,   Managing Director MLAG  Indemnity,  

Ex  President  IMA  Chandigarh

Director Hope Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Clinic,

SCO  1066-67 Aerodale  Market, New Sunny  Enclave Sector  123 Mohali 140301  

09316517176  , 9814013735

0172; 2707935, 2706024,  MLAG Toll Free No 18008917671

HOPE CLINICS ;9465109935, 9478082176

email; hopeclinics@yahoo.com, hopeclinics@gmail.com mlagindemnity@gmail.com

For  Contributions; "Medicos  Legal  Action Group"  Ac  No 499601010036479  IFSC  code  UBIN0549967 Union  Bank Sector  35 C Chandigarh;  PAN  Number AADTM4605N GST  No 04AADTM4605N1ZI

Website; http://www.mlag.in

you can also follow  us  at https://www.facebook.com/medicoslegalactiongroup