by Sponsored Content: Risk Strategies
By Kyle Wallace, Managing Director, Risk Strategies, & Herb Ford, Vice President, Business Development, Risk Strategies
As dental practices grow, so does the complexity of managing liability. With hundreds of malpractice claims filed against dental professionals each year, rising litigation costs and evolving insurance networks are prompting many practices to reevaluate how they manage risk and coverage.
Group policies offer a streamlined approach—one tailored plan that covers owners, associate dentists, hygienists, and clinical staff. This bundled strategy simplifies liability management, minimizes overhead, and supports long-term growth.
Here are four ways group malpractice insurance can strengthen your practice financially, operationally, and strategically.
1. Cost savings that scale with your practice
Group coverage often results in meaningful financial advantages. Instead of paying separate premiums for each provider, practices pay a single, consolidated rate—typically lower on a per-provider basis. Associates who don’t practice elsewhere can cancel their individual policies, eliminating redundancy and reducing overall spend.
For example, when a five-dentist practice transitions from individual policies to a group malpractice plan, they not only reduce overall premium costs but also simplify administrative tasks—freeing up time and resources for patient care and growth.
Over time, practices with low claims histories may also qualify for discounted premiums, further enhancing long-term savings.
2. Broader, more consistent protection
Group policies go beyond individual coverage to protect the practice entity itself. This includes:
- Entity-level coverage: Group policies safeguard the business even when it’s the sole named defendant in a malpractice case. This closes a major gap found in individual policies, which may only cover the entity if it’s listed as an additional insured alongside a provider.
- Vicarious liability: Covers risks associated with contracted specialists like orthodontists or oral surgeons.
- Staff inclusion: Hygienists and assistants are covered, reducing gaps in protection.
Consider a scenario where a dental office contracts a temporary endodontist for complex root canal cases. If a patient files a lawsuit citing poor treatment outcomes, a group policy ensures the practice is covered and avoids the fragmented defense that can result from multiple insurers handling the same incident.
Group coverage ensures a unified defense strategy, minimizing confusion and conflict during claims resolution.
3. Streamlined policy management
Managing multiple malpractice policies can be time-consuming and error prone. Group coverage simplifies the process by centralizing oversight. Renewals, certificates, and compliance become easier to manage, and onboarding new hires is far more efficient.
Just as important, group coverage provides reliability. You won’t be caught off guard by a lapsed associate policy or an exclusion that leaves your practice exposed. Instead, you maintain control and clarity over your malpractice protection—allowing your team to stay focused on delivering exceptional care and scaling your practice with confidence.
4. A Competitive edge in recruiting and retention
Offering group malpractice insurance is a smart investment that strengthens your practice’s legal and professional foundation. Associates benefit from financial relief, no longer needing to secure their own coverage. It also signals a strong commitment to legal and professional protection, enhancing trust and loyalty across your team.
In a competitive hiring market, this kind of coverage can help attract and retain top talent. It’s a tangible benefit that supports your team and strengthens your employer brand, especially for practices looking to scale or expand.
A smarter way to protect what you’re building
Beyond risk management, a unified malpractice policy helps build a resilient, scalable practice. As your team grows and services evolve, consistent coverage prevents gaps and conflicting claims processes. If your practice still relies on individual malpractice policies, now is a good time to reassess. A tailored group policy can reduce costs, improve oversight, and reinforce your leadership—while keeping your practice aligned for future growth.
Call to action:
Work with an insurance advisor at Risk Strategies who understands dental practice risks and can help you find a policy tailored to your needs. Connect with advisor today.
About the authors
Kyle Wallace has over 35 years of experience in the insurance industry. The last 25 have been spent working exclusively with dentists of all specialties and dental practices of all sizes. Kyle is recognized in the dental community as an authority on dental practice risk management and malpractice claims prevention.
Herb Ford specializes in advising dental practices and dental service organizations (DSO) on how to protect their dental practice and organization. He does this by creating comprehensive insurance programs that protect them against known and unknown risks.
