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Professional indemnity insurance

In order to practise osteopathy lawfully in the UK, osteopaths must acquire professional indemnity insurance with a minimum cover of £5 million.

You should seek advice from an insurance intermediary to obtain insurance that is suitable for your needs and complies with The General Osteopathic Council (Indemnity Arrangements) Rules Order of Council 2015. There is a list of some insurance intermediaries at the bottom of this page.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you hold continuous professional indemnity insurance cover at all times that meets the General Osteopathic Council (Indemnity Arrangements) Rules Order of Council 2015.

If your practising status changes, for example to non-practising, practising overseas or if you are intending to return to practice, you must contact the General Osteopathic Council so that your registration status can be updated on the Register.

You should also contact your insurance provider immediately to advise them of any change in your registration status so that they can arrange run-off cover insurance if you become non-practising or if you are going overseas, or to reinstate full insurance cover when you return to practice in the UK.

Note that you also need to ensure that the place you work is covered by adequate Public Liability Insurance – see the Osteopathic Practice Standards, Theme C: Safety and quality in practice, C5.3.

Issues to consider when taking out an insurance policy

Before taking out a new policy, or renewing an existing policy, you may wish to consider the following:

  • You should ensure that your policy has an indemnity level appropriate to the level of risk associated with your practice. The minimum indemnity cover is £5 million, to cover the risks set out in The General Osteopathic Council (Indemnity Arrangements) Rules Order of Council 2015.
  • You should ensure that you are happy that the provision(s) for run-off cover in your chosen policy are sufficient for your requirements. Run-off cover means that, if a claim is made retrospectively, you are still covered by insurance.
  • You should ensure that you are comfortable with any exclusions stated in your chosen policy, and speak to your insurer if you think any exclusion sits uncomfortably with your practice as an osteopath.
  • You should ensure that you understand the definitions of terms contained in your chosen policy, and speak to your insurer if you are unsure about a particular definition.
  • You should ensure that your chosen policy has adequate cover for legal liability attributed to partners, co-directors, and associates or agents who work with or for you.
  • If you are supplying products or are involved in the manufacture of products to individuals or companies either in the UK or abroad, you should bring this to your insurer's attention, to ensure that your policy has adequate provision and/or you are aware of any product liability thresholds above which cover is not provided.
  • If you are registered with another healthcare regulatory body, your insurance cover for that particular profession may cover your practice as an osteopath. You should ensure that your insurance or indemnity provides you with suitable cover.
  • You also need to ensure that the place/s that you work are covered by public liability insurance (whether or not you are yourself the policy holder).

Insurance intermediaries

Insurance intermediaries who provide insurance for osteopaths include the companies listed below:

 
 Indemnity insurance companies

Company

Telephone

 Website

Balens Insurance Brokers

01684 893 006

www.balens.co.uk  

BGi.UK

 01367 246 130

www.bgi.uk.com

Institute of Osteopathy

 01582 488 455

www.iosteopathy.org

Howden Insurance Brokers

 020 7623 3806

www.howdengroup.com

Towergate Caring Professions Division

 01438 739 839

 www.towergateinsurance.co.uk

Guidance note: Insurance requirements for osteopaths

This guidance provides information about the insurance requirements for osteopaths and those intending to register as osteopaths with the General Osteopathic Council.

Read guidance