Malpractice (Student) | Professional Liability Insurance Coverage for Student Volunteer Activities | University's Insurance Program Qualifications | Medical Students in the MD Program

Malpractice Insurance (Student)

The University, in conjunction with the Insurance Division of the State Treasurer’s Office, currently maintains two (2) programs of malpractice insurance providing coverage to properly enrolled students; one commercial insurance policy and one offered through self-insurance. The Risk Management Division also independently maintains a third malpractice program for Dental School students.

Eligible students participating in approved clinical courses in human genetics, medical technology, nursing, pathology, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician’s assistant, and social work are enrolled in a blanket insurance policy for all USM schools managed by the Insurance Division of the State Treasurer’s Office.

The following summary provides important program information:

1. Each school's eligible program submits in late summer the estimated number of students who will be participating in clinical programs. The combined estimate for all University schools is submitted by the Risk Management Division to the Insurance Division of the State Treasurer's Office.
2. A listing of each program's participating facilities is submitted to the Risk Management Division in the late summer. This listing includes the facility name, address, phone number, and contact person as well as which program is providing the students. After these listings are submitted to the insurance division, the insurance broker/agent will issue a certificate of coverage to each listed facility.
3. Faculty engaged in actual clinical instruction are also covered under this policy.
4. Coverage is currently provided under a "claims made" policy with $1,000,000/ $3,000,000 in limits, with higher limits set by statute for the state of Virginia only.
5. Students are billed through student accounting (financial services) each semester for their portion of the premium based upon their enrollment in designated clinical courses. Eligible enrolled students participating in the clinical programs in the dental school (including dental hygienist) are covered under a separate commercial policy that covers the operation of the entire clinical operation. The program highlights are listed below:
6. All students properly enrolled in an eligible clinical course are covered under this blanket policy.
7. All faculty who are registered to instruct in the clinical program are also covered.
8. Coverage is under a "claims made" policy.
9. Students are billed through student accounting (financial services) for their premium based upon the program and year in which they are enrolled.

Students are billed through Student Accounting (Financial Services) for their premium.

• A statement of coverage can be requested for any non-UMB facility in which an eligible student is participating in a clinical program.

Professional Liability Insurance Coverage For Student Volunteer Activities

The campus, schools, and individuals on campus have been receiving an increasing number of requests for “volunteers” to assist with community outreach and volunteer events, such as requests for health aides at marathons or walks, and to give flu shots at campus or community events. These requests may be promoted through campus email or bulletin-boards by UMB or school leadership, by student groups, or by others.

It is important for students, faculty, and staff to know that the professional liability insurance provided to UMB students is intended to cover only formal experiential training activities that are part of the curriculum and are organized and conducted under the supervision of the school.  Students and University personnel should not assume that the same professional liability insurance provides coverage for volunteer or community outreach activities.

A school or program may determine that a specific volunteer or community outreach activity qualifies as a “formal experiential training activity that is part of the curriculum, organized and conducted under the supervision of the school.”  However, such a determination must be made in advance and a specific list of qualifying criteria must be reviewed and approved before the activity may be qualified for coverage.

The criteria are designed to ensure that UMB student volunteer activities comply with the terms imposed by each insurance company as a condition of providing professional liability insurance to UMB students. In each case, the school or program must keep in its files documentation showing that a designee of the dean determined in advance that minimum criteria were met, risks were appropriately assessed, and school oversight and control of the volunteer event was meaningful and adequate to manage risks arising from UMB student participation.

Each school or program must submit a quarterly report of all approved student volunteer activities to the Risk Management Division. The reports will be used to analyze risks and assist UMB insurers in determining future premium calculations.

Community Outreach - Student Activity Form[CB1] 

These guidelines address professional liability insurance coverage for UMB students only. Determining if UMB faculty and staff are properly licensed and insured for volunteer activities requires a different analysis and is not addressed under these guidelines.

Any questions regarding these programs should be directed to the Risk Management Division at 410-706-4781 or UMBRiskManagement@umaryland.edu.

Proof of Liability Insurance - Students

The University of Maryland, Baltimore maintains a number of different programs to provide professional liability insurance coverage for its students while in clinical settings as part of their academic programs. As a result, the method for future employers or academic institutions to verify coverage and learn of claims histories for former University students varies depending on a former student’s school and specific academic program.

Please be advised that your request cannot be processed until you graduate. Requests made before your graduation date will be held until such time.

The University’s insurance program provides professional liability coverage for the following students:

Allied Health Students in these programs:

Medical Students in the MD Program

Procedure for Requesting Proof of Insurance / Claims History:

All requests for proof of insurance and/or claims history require a form of request providing basic information, listed here, along with an enrollment verification from the Office of the Registrar. It is preferred to use the University's form (link below)‌‌. If the form provided by an employer or academic institution is used, the graduate must verify that the form includes all required information, and append additional pages as required if the form is not as comprehensive as the University’s form.

Forms must be signed by the graduate. If the name of the graduate is not the name that appears in current University records, evidence of change of name (e.g., copy of marriage license) must be provided. 

Required Information:

• Full name of the graduate (include maiden and/or married name).
• Current address, phone number, and email address.
• School and program attended, degree obtained, and years enrolled at school.
• Where information is to be sent, and whether the recipient will accept a facsimile or email. Information must be sent directly to the requesting employer or academic institution. 
• Whether the graduate wishes to receive a copy of the mailing to the requesting employer or academic institution.
• Graduate’s statement that the University and the State of Maryland are authorized to release the information requested, and held harmless from any liability as a result of releasing the information.
• Enrollment verification from the Office of the Registrar.

Procedure for Allied Health Program Graduates and Dental School Graduates:

The employer or academic/research institution must request the information in writing and submit a request signed by the graduate or the University's Request for Verification of Insurance and/or Claims History Form can be used. 

The request should be faxed to the Risk Management Division at the address below. The graduate must accompany the request with an enrollment verification from the Office of the Registrar. The graduate can request a copy of the enrollment verification to be sent directly to the Risk Management Division, 220 N. Arch Street, 14th Floor (03-143), Baltimore, MD 21201. Requests cannot be processed without an enrollment verification. The Risk Management Division will review the request for completeness and forward it to the appropriate insurance carrier for processing. The entire procedure can take up to 21 days. It takes longer if paperwork is incomplete or incorrect.

Release forms must be signed by graduates and must contain all requested information or they will be returned for completion.

Medical Students:

The employer or academic/research institution must request the information in writing and submit a form signed by the graduate. The form should be sent via email to Maryland Medicine Comprehensive Insurance Program (MMCIP), PhysicianUnderwriting@mmcip.umm.edu.