Westwood Insurance Group
Empowering commercial agents to protect their healthcare and senior living clients against risks that could threaten their survival
why westwood insurance?
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Amazing support
We are with you at every step in the process, helping you craft the application and ensuring you have the best supporting information. -
Decades of experience
We've built solid relationships with our insurance carriers, giving us access to provide superior coverage so your clients get the best solutions. -
Dedication to excellence
We go the extra mile to ensure you get the best outcome for your clients from affordable insurance premiums to speedy settlements and support in the event of litigation.
Contact Westwood
helping you serve your clients
Working with Westwood Insurance Group, agents are able to provide specialty advice and products for a range of medical, social services and senior living clients, including: physical therapy clinics, youth services, hmp medical supply companies, and adult day care centers. We can also provide you with the best coverage for employees, like workers compensation insurance for adult day care workers, medical personnel services employees and even medical directorss.
Medical professionals including phlebotomists, x-ray technicians, Physicians, Anesthesiologists, Cardiologists, Chiropractors, Dermatologists, Podiatrists, Radiologists, Surgeons and even hard to insure professionals like OB/GYNs rely on Westwood Insurance for the most suitable coverage at the best price.
assisting the healthcare and senior living industries
Westwood Insurance Group is a leader in providing comprehensive insurance solutions to the healthcare and senior living sectors, with specialized expertise in medical malpractice, general liability, sexual abuse and molestation (SAM) insurance, and cyber liability insurance. Our deep understanding of the complexities faced by healthcare professionals enables us to craft tailored policies that safeguard against the unique risks in this industry. With years of experience, we help our clients navigate these challenges with confidence, ensuring they are well-protected against potential claims and liabilities.
Westwood Insurance Group also has extensive experience in developing and managing captive programs for senior living and healthcare facilities. These customized insurance solutions are designed to help organizations better control their insurance costs while maintaining the highest levels of coverage. Our team works closely with each client to establish and grow their captive programs, ensuring long-term success and financial stability in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
My Insurance agency has done business with Westwood for over 10 years and always found them to be professional...
Shira Abrams
02 May, 2024
I’ve worked with Michael Richards and his team now for many years and I can unequivocally say that they are by far the...
Joe Roth
11 June, 2023
Westwood Insurance Group, with Dale and Liz are a pleasure to work with in helping solve for my insured’s insurance needs...
Greg Cullom
08 Nov, 2023
Laura has been a great contact for us over at the Westwood Insurance Group. She is extremely communicative...
Hayley Shryock
30 June, 2023
Kathy Natale
25 Sept, 2024
Dealing with an Insurance Broker FAQ's
What are the advantages of dealing with an insurance broker?
Commercial insurance brokers like Westwood play a crucial role in supporting you even after a policy has been bound. Our ongoing assistance ensures that you are adequately protected and can navigate any issues or changes that arise during the policy period. Here’s how we help you post-binding:
- Policy Management and Administration: We assist with documentation and record keeping, ensure that all your policy documents are properly filed and accessible and manage renewals and amendments.
- Assistance with Filing Claims: We act as your advocate, assisting you with filing claims, ensuring that all necessary documentation is provided and that the process is initiated promptly.
- Risk Management and Loss Prevention: We assess your risk exposures and advise you on strategies to mitigate these risks.
- Advice on Regulatory Changes: We keep you informed about changes in insurance regulations and industry standards that could impact your coverage.
- Client Education: We strive to educate you on the intricacies of your insurance policies, helping you understand coverage limits, exclusions, and obligations.
- Premium Optimization: We work to optimize insurance costs for you by negotiating competitive premiums and exploring alternative coverage options that offer better value.
- Emergency Response: In the event of a crisis, such as a natural disaster or significant business disruption, we assist you in mobilizing resources, filing claims quickly, and accessing emergency funding.
Can I deal directly with the insurance company?
You can buy insurance directly from some insurance companies, but here is why you probably shouldn’t:
- Your options are limited as many insurers only deal with appointed brokers and will not sell retail. Finding the best policy becomes difficult with so few options.
- Westwood Insurance deal with a large number of insurance companies (at the moment we are appointed to represent almost 100 different companies. Although many of them offer similar products, like Professional and General Liability, they all have particular “appetites.” Some prefer doctors with certain specializations, some prefer certain US geographic locations. Some prefer small facilities, some prefer larger facilities. They all tend to have a niche they are comfortable with.
- If you buy insurance from a company that doesn’t really favor your profession or type of facility, you will pay higher premium than you would from one who prefers your specialization or facility type.
- The appetites of insurance companies change. They could move away from insuring your specialization or geographic location and change higher premiums to continue your insurance. We monitor the changing appetites of insurance companies and advise you of changes, so you can continue to enjoy reasonable prices.
- You don’t save money by going direct. Insurance companies will charge you the same amount as you will pay when Westwood or our agents manage your insurance. You can read our compensation disclosure here.
I've been offered really cheap insurance. Is there anything I should be aware of?
Medical professionals and facility managers should exercise caution when offered low-cost medical malpractice insurance. Sometimes, a low premium can indicate important coverages are missing or limited.
Here is a list of potential issues and things to be aware of:
- Coverage Limits: Lower-cost policies may come with lower coverage limits, potentially leaving you under-insured in the event of a large claim.
- Exclusions: Ensure that the policy doesn’t exclude vital coverages. Common exclusions might involve certain procedures, treatments, or patient populations.
- Defense Costs: Determine if defense costs are inside or outside the limits of liability. If they are inside the limits, it means that legal fees and other defense expenses will reduce the available policy limits for any settlements or judgments.
- Tail Coverage: Sometimes called “extended reporting” provisions, this covers incidents that happened during the policy period but are reported after the policy ends. Ensure it’s available, if you’re considering a claims-made policy.
- Consent to Settle: Check if the policy allows the insurer to settle a claim without your consent. Some professionals prefer having a say in whether or not a claim is settled.
- Deductible: This is the amount you have to pay before the insurance begins to cover a claim. A lower-cost policy might have a higher excess, meaning you pay more out-of-pocket in the event of a claim.
- Geographic Limitations: Make sure the policy covers you in all the locations and settings in which you practice.
- Telemedicine: If you provide remote consultations or services, ensure telemedicine is covered, as not all policies automatically include this.
- Affiliated Providers: If you work with or supervise other medical professionals, ensure they are covered or be aware of the limits to their coverage.
- Licensing Issues: Some low-cost policies might only provide coverage if you’re sued, but won’t cover expenses related to licensing board investigations or actions.
- Cancellation: Check the policy’s cancellation clauses. Some low-cost policies might have strict cancellation terms or might not return a prorated premium if you cancel mid-term.
- Financial Strength of the Insurer: A lower premium might be a sign that the insurer isn’t financially robust. Check ratings from agencies like A.M. Best to ensure your insurer has the financial strength to pay out claims.
- Claim Services: Investigate the insurer’s track record in terms of handling and settling claims. A cheaper policy might mean less support during the claims process.
- Retroactive Date: For claims-made policies, be aware of the retroactive date. If you change insurers, a new retroactive date might mean you aren’t covered for previous incidents.
- Endorsements & Riders: A basic, lower cost policy might need additional endorsements or riders to provide the comprehensive coverage you need.
- Group Policy vs. Individual Policy: Sometimes a group policy can cost less, but make sure you understand the shared limits and potential downsides of being grouped with others.
When considering medical malpractice insurance, it’s essential to consult with a knowledgeable broker or agenty, to ensure that you’re getting the coverage that suits your needs and adequately protects you from potential liabilities.