What happens if a PA stops paying their claims-based malpractice insurance premium?

When a physician assistant (PA) stops paying their claims-based malpractice insurance premium, the correct outcome is that coverage is permanently lost. Malpractice insurance is essential for protecting healthcare providers against potential claims for negligence or other legal issues arising from their practice. Continuing to pay premiums is crucial for maintaining active coverage, as most malpractice insurance policies operate on an annual basis, meaning that if premium payments are not made, the policy can lapse.

Once a policy lapses due to non-payment, the PA loses the protection that the insurance provides. This means they would not be covered for any claims arising after the policy has lapsed, and they would be held personally responsible for any legal issues that may surface related to their professional duties. In contrast, claims for incidents that occurred while the policy was active would generally still be covered under the prior claims-made policy for a specified time frame, often referred to as the "tail" coverage period. However, once the premium is not paid and the policy is considered inactive, the PA would not have ongoing coverage for future incidents or claims.