Who we insure
Insurance for Medical and Healthcare Staffing Firms
Medical staffing agencies operate at the intersection of two complex industries: healthcare and employment. When the clinicians you place deliver care, your agency's name is attached to the outcome, whether the worker was your employee or an independent contractor.
This page is for
- Agencies placing clinicians in hospitals, home health agencies, long-term care facilities and other healthcare settings
- Per diem and local contract staffing
- Travel nursing agencies
- Travel allied health staffing agencies
Your risks
The risks we plan around
Negligent credentialing
Claims that your agency placed a worker without verifying a current license, certifications, disciplinary history or clinical competency, and a patient was harmed.
Negligent hiring and vicarious liability
Liability for placing a worker with a known history of problems, and for the clinical actions of workers your agency employs or controls.
Contractual liability
Indemnification clauses in client facility contracts shift significant liability to your agency.
Workers' comp for placed workers
Placed employees are your workers' comp obligation during assignments, with state-by-state rules. Washington coverage must come from the Department of Labor and Industries.
Independent contractors vs. employees
Several states, including California under AB5, can reclassify 1099 placements as employees, creating uninsured workers' comp and employment exposure.
Employment claims from placed workers
Discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, especially when a client facility asks you to remove a placed worker.
Recommended coverage
How we'd build your program
Every organization is different; this is where we start the conversation.
Professional Liability
EssentialThe most critical coverage: claims that a placed worker caused patient harm, including negligent credentialing.
General Liability
EssentialMost client facilities require it, often with minimum limits set in the staffing contract.
Workers' Compensation
EssentialRequired for employees on payroll, including placed workers during their assignments.
Claims from placed workers and internal staff, including client-driven removal requests.
Cyber Liability & HIPAA
Usually recommendedCredentialing files and personnel records; HIPAA obligations as a business associate of the facilities you staff.
Umbrella & Excess Liability
Usually recommendedHigher limits are often a contractual requirement with hospitals and larger health systems.
Contract requirements
What facilities and payers typically require
Requirements vary by contract. Paste yours into our checker and we'll compare it to your coverage.
- Professional liability: $1 million per occurrence / $3 million aggregate minimum
- General liability: $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate minimum
- Workers' compensation at statutory limits, with employer's liability of $500,000 to $1 million
- Umbrella or excess liability of $3 million to $10 million or more for larger health system contracts
- Additional insured status on general and professional liability
- Waiver of subrogation on workers' compensation
- Certificates of insurance before any worker is placed
FAQ
Medical Staffing insurance questions
How is medical staffing insurance different from home health care agency insurance?
Medical staffing agencies place licensed clinical professionals into facilities run by client organizations. That creates credentialing liability and contractual indemnification exposure that home health care agencies typically don't face to the same degree. Placed workers also generally work at higher clinical acuity, which affects professional liability premiums.
Does my professional liability policy cover negligent credentialing claims?
Most professional liability policies for medical staffing agencies cover negligent credentialing, but terms vary between carriers. Confirm it before a claim arises.
My placed workers carry their own malpractice insurance. Does my agency still need professional liability?
Yes. A placed worker's individual policy covers that worker's liability, not your agency's liability for negligent credentialing, negligent hiring or vicarious liability claims.
What is vicarious liability and how does it apply?
Vicarious liability holds your agency responsible for the actions of workers it employs or controls. Your exposure depends on how workers are classified and how much control your agency exercises over their work.
Do I need an umbrella policy?
Most hospitals and larger healthcare facilities require umbrella or excess liability coverage in staffing contracts, often with limits of $3 million to $10 million or more.
What is a waiver of subrogation and why do client facilities require it?
Your workers' compensation carrier gives up the right to recover from the client facility for claims paid to placed workers injured there. Facilities require it so your carrier can't pursue them.
Do you work with travel nursing agencies?
Yes. Travel nursing agencies face the same core exposures as other medical staffing agencies, plus the complexity of multi-state operations. Misty works with travel nursing and travel allied health staffing agencies and understands the coverage questions that come up in that market.
We have workers placed in Washington. Does our workers' comp cover them?
Not for Washington payroll. Washington is a monopolistic workers' compensation state, so all Washington workers' comp is purchased directly from the Department of Labor and Industries.
Get your quote in a few business days
Quotes in a few business days. Questions answered by Misty, not a call center.
Talk to Misty
Call or text Misty directly. You'll talk to the person who knows your account, not a call center.
- Call(435) 216-6749
- Text(435) 216-6749
- EmailMisty@snowcanyoninsurance.com
- HoursMon–Fri, 9am–5pm Mountain · Closed Sat–Sun
- MailPO Box 25, Santa Clara, UT 84765