Q: Does my PPIA policy provide consent to settle?
A: Yes.  PPIA will not settle a case without your consent.  PPIA does not add surcharges or require you to waive your right of consent, nor does your policy contain a “hammer clause” like other insurance companies.

Q:  Is PPIA owned and controlled by physicians?
A: PPIA is owned and managed by Missouri physicians – like you.  PPIA’s Board of Directors is composed of nine physicians and three “lay” persons.  The lay persons are administrators of physicians groups and an attorney that represents a physicians group.  PPIA’s President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer are physicians, concerned with the same issues that concern you.  PPIA’s Board of Directors represent physicians from all geographic areas of the State.

Q:  Does PPIA reinsurance protect the Association?
A: Yes.  PPIA has maintained reinsurance since 2005.  PPIA reinsurance is provided by PIPCO-SPC and reinsures all claims that exceed $500,000 up to policy limits.  Reinsurance simply provides insurance for insurance companies, protecting members from the possibility of an assessment.

Q:  Does PPIA offer free extended reporting?
A: Yes.  If you are a member of PPIA for a period of three years, and become disabled, die, or retire (no further medical practice) PPIA will provide free insurance coverage for you for the period of time that you were insured with the Association.

Q:  Can I purchase extended reporting coverage if my practice changes?
A: Yes.  A member may purchase extended reporting coverage for the period of time that the physician was insured by the Association.  The extended reporting coverage may be purchased for a period of two, three or five years, or indefinite coverage for physicians who have medical specialties that have extended statute of limitations.

Q:  Who will defend me if I am sued for medical malpractice?
A: PPIA will provide legal defense of your claim utilizing the highest quality legal defense.  PPIA uses regional defense of your claim to assure that your legal counsel will understand the regional differences in juries and judges.  A complete listing of the PPIA Defense team may be viewed our website.

Q:  Can I choose my own attorney to defend me if I am sued for medical malpractice?
A: No.  PPIA will assign your case to one of the proven defense attorneys that are part of the PPIA defense team.  Within the team, however, you may express your preference, and PPIA will consider your preference.

Q:  As an administrator for a physician group, do I have to have the physicians complete renewal applications each year?
A: No.  PPIA offers automatic renewal to its members.  Unless your practice has changes (hours, specialty, location, claims, etc.) PPIA will auto-renew the policy, thus reducing non-productive time within the medical practice.

Q:  Does PPIA primarily insure medical specialties that are higher risk for claims?
A: No.  PPIA’s members are evenly distributed among all classes of specialties, with no one class disproportionably weighted.