A: Every decision made at HU is focused on what is best for our physician owner-policyholders. Each owner has equal voting rights on important issues such as rate setting and board membership. Any excess premium above losses is returned to owner-policyholders in the form of dividends or reduced premiums (subject to state regulatory approval).

A: HU is capitalized using a 1:1 (one to one) ratio of premium dollar to capitalization dollar. HU exceeds industry benchmarks for most important ratios and equals or outperforms the composite numbers of medical professional liability companies rated A or higher by A.M. Best in 2008.

In addition to our solid capitalization model, HU has secured high quality reinsurance to protect from catastrophic losses using only "A" rated, or better, reinsurance companies.

A: HU's owner-policyholders have complete autonomy in the nomination and election of their board representatives. Each year, every owner-policyholder is given the opportunity to nominate and vote for the leadership of their choice. Typically, one-third of the board will come up for re-election each year.

A: HU's board of directors-doctors just like you-will review premium recommendations from our independent actuaries. These recommendations are based specifically on loss experience. After a review of the data, your elected colleagues will select the rates to be approved by the Office of Insurance Regulation. Should loss experience prove to be better than expected, excess premiums are returned to owner-policyholders (with the approval of the Board and the Office of Insurance Regulation).

Even with capital contributions, which make our doctors owners of HU, The Company has competitive rates and in many cases is less than what our doctors were paying with our competitors.

A: There are basically two ways to build an insurance company - directly or through the use of qualified agents. It has been our experience that both distribution models develop similar costs. Unlike other lines of insurance, the sale of professional liability protection is not a process that can be automated.

It takes time and complete communication to tell the HU story and to help a doctor/group through the underwriting process. To develop a successful direct sales department that could properly serve physicians throughout the state, HU would have to hire well qualified staff and spend a great deal more money on such things as marketing, advertisement, travel and entertainment (all costs currently borne to a large extent by our appointed agents). Our time and energy would be spent working to take business away from well qualified agents - a potentially costly battle.

We have been able to quickly and cost effectively provide superior service to doctors throughout the state by carefully selecting agents that 1. are highly experienced in medical malpractice insurance, and 2. have a demonstrated history of putting their doctors/clients interests ahead of their own.

A: "Non-assessable" means that HU's physician policyholders will not be "assessed" to pay additional premium dollars if losses are greater than expected. To protect against extraordinary losses, HU has secured high quality reinsurance.

A: Any excess premium dollars may be returned to owner-policyholders in the form of a cash dividend payment or a reduction in future premiums. State insurance regulators must approve any dividend payment or premium reduction.

A: A tail insurance policy is additional insurance coverage that covers any claims made after a claims-made policy expires or is cancelled. Since most healthcare providers carry claims made insurance policies, tail insurance provides important protection against claims that could be made months or even years after care was provided to a patient.

A: HU provides free tail coverage to retiring owner-policyholders who have been a policyholder for at least five consecutive years. Tail coverage is also free for owner-policyholders with an active policy who become disabled or deceased.

A: Prior acts, or nose insurance coverage, protects a doctor from a prior act (treatment rendered to a patient), but not reported as a claim until after the doctor's previous policy expires or was terminated. HU offers prior act coverage to owner-policyholders who meet our underwriting criteria to purchase this coverage.

A: Yes

A: There are serverals way to get an application processed with HU

     1.  Complete our user-friendly online application

     2.  Contact HU's Underwriting department 1-888-434-3299

     3.  Have your insurance agent contact us

     4.  Contact Us

A: HU follows the national standard for medical professional liability insurance and offers claims-made policies.

A: In KYio, HU offers annual limits of $1 million with up to $2 million available. Additional limits and specific needs of large medical groups will be considered upon request. Aggregate Limits are availiable.

A. Yes. HU accepts applications from qualified physicians from any specialty and any part of the state.  Appropriate premiums are charged for each specialty.  The objective is to apply a downward pressure on rates by insuring good doctors and defending them aggressively, regardless of specialty or location.

A: Yes; however we do not offer separate limits for ancillary personnel.

A: Insurance coverage does not become effective until both capital and premium are paid. In some situations, a physician will make the capital contribution first to establish ownership in HU. He or she may make the premium payment at a later date when ready for coverage to commence. There are several pre-approved financing options available.