FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
DISCLAIMER
This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute advice. If you are unsure what cover you need, please seek independent advice.
UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL INDEMNITY
Medical indemnity protects healthcare professionals (including consultants, surgeons, and specialists) if a patient brings a claim alleging negligence, error, or omission in their care. It covers both the cost of compensation (if awarded) and the legal expenses involved in defending the doctor. These claims can be financially significant and emotionally stressful. Indemnity ensures you’re not left personally exposed.
In the UK, all practicing healthcare professionals must have “adequate and appropriate” indemnity in place. NHS practitioners are covered by state-backed schemes for NHS work, but this doesn’t extend to private practice, medico-legal work, or Good Samaritan acts. If you undertake any of these, you need your own cover.
Occurrence-based cover protects you for any incident that happened while you were insured, no matter when the claim is made. If something happened in 2018 and a claim arises in 2025, you’re covered, provided you had an occurrence-based policy in place in 2018.
Claims-made cover protects you for claims first made and notified during your policy period, provided the work occurred after your retroactive date.
FMP policies are claims-made, which is standard for private practice. They’re flexible, with options for run-off or extended reporting to protect you long-term when you stop practicing.
FMP Policies are claims-made (the standard in private practice.)
A retroactive date is the earliest date from which your past work is covered by your current policy. For example, if your retroactive date is 1 January 2020, any claim relating to work before that date won’t be covered.
The key is continuity. If you keep claims-made cover active without gaps, your retroactive date remains in place and your entire practice history from that date is protected. If you let cover lapse or switch incorrectly, you risk losing protection for your earlier work.
Run-off cover (or extended reporting cover) protects you if a claim is made after you’ve stopped practicing. This could be due to retirement, moving abroad, or taking a career break.
Because claims can arise years after the original treatment, run-off ensures you remain protected even though you’re no longer paying for active cover. FMP offers flexible run-off and extended reporting options, and in some cases, these are provided free of charge if you’ve held cover for a qualifying period.
A “hammer clause” allows insurers to settle a claim against your wishes, which can leave you feeling powerless about your professional reputation. A no hammer clause is different: it means you remain involved in the decision-making, and we won’t force you into a settlement you don’t agree with.
This is particularly important in medical practice, where reputation matters as much as financial protection. With FMP, Clyde & Co will advise you and represent your interests, but you keep a meaningful say in how your case is resolved.
Yes. FMP policies include worldwide cover for Good Samaritan or voluntary medical acts, up to 30 days per year. This means you’re protected if you assist in an emergency abroad or volunteer with a medical charity, without needing separate insurance.
Switching from Another Provider
Medical Defence Organisations (MDOs) like the MDU, MPS, or MDDUS typically provide discretionary cover. That means they can decide whether or not to support you if a claim arises — there’s no legal obligation.
FMP provides regulated insurance underwritten at Lloyd’s of London. This is a contractual product, not discretionary. Your rights and obligations are clearly stated in the policy, claims must be handled according to FCA rules, and you benefit from the financial strength of Lloyd’s of London. Many healthcare professionals switch for this certainty and transparency.
Yes. Many healthcare professionals move from MDOs to regulated insurance. The key is to avoid any gap in protection. At FMP, we review your practice history and set a retroactive date to ensure your past work remains covered going forward.
For healthcare professionals switching from an MDO, this is often the first time their indemnity is contractual rather than discretionary, which gives much greater peace of mind. In some cases, arranging run-off cover with the MDO may also be advisable — our team can help you assess the options.
Yes. Many healthcare professionals often switch insurers and the process is straightforward. If you already have claims-made cover with another insurer, you simply disclose your current retroactive date and claims history. We then carry that retroactive date forward, so your past work continues to be covered.
Healthcare professionals often switch insurers to access better terms — for example, FMP offers nil excess, no hammer clause, and unlimited defence costs, which may not be standard elsewhere.
Handled correctly, switching will not affect your past cover.
✓ If you’re moving from another insurer, your retroactive date transfers across.
✓ If you’re moving from an MDO, we can usually match cover contractually so your past work is protected going forward.
The only real risk comes from allowing a gap in cover, which can reset your retroactive date and leave previous years uncovered.
The main reasons doctors move to FMP are:
✓ Greater certainty compared to discretionary schemes.
✓ Specialist defence by Clyde & Co.
✓ Features such as nil excess, no hammer clause, and flexible leave cover.
✓ Underwritten by Lloyd’s of London under FCA oversight, which ensure strength and accountability.
fmp cover
Our standard policy provides up to £10 million of malpractice cover. Sub-limits apply for review boards, medico-legal work, and Good Samaritan activities. This level of cover meets or exceeds requirements set by private hospitals and regulators.
No. Unlike many insurers, FMP policies have nil excess, meaning you don’t have to contribute to the cost of a claim. This encourages early notification and removes financial barriers to reporting incidents.
Yes. Defence costs include representation at GMC proceedings if they could lead to a claim. Having Clyde & Co at your side gives you access to some of the strongest medical malpractice defence lawyers in the world.
Yes. We include cover for medico-legal reports and expert witness work, subject to defined sub-limits. This is especially relevant for consultants who develop portfolio careers beyond clinical work.
Yes. Our policies offer flexibility if you take leave, ensuring you maintain continuous protection without unnecessary cost.
Yes, up to £25,000. This protects you against accidental breaches of patient data, loss of documents, or transmission of computer viruses. While it doesn’t replace full cyber insurance, it provides important baseline protection.
Like all insurance, our policies contain exclusions. Common exclusions include obstetrics, organ transplants, experimental treatments, criminal acts, and NHS work (which is covered by the state scheme). The full list of exclusions is in your policy wording.
payments & practicalities
Yes. Through premium finance, you can spread the cost of your cover into monthly instalments instead of paying upfront. This helps smooth cash flow for consultants, GPs and other private specialists.
If you cancel mid-term and haven’t notified a claim, you may receive a pro-rata refund (minus administration fees). If a claim or circumstance has already been notified, the full premium remains due. This reflects the fact that indemnity protects your past work as well as your current practice.
You may need run-off cover to remain protected. FMP offers flexible run-off and extended reporting options, and in some cases (such as retirement after long-term cover), these can be provided free of charge.
Yes. Our secure application platform allows you to apply and purchase cover in minutes. Once approved, you receive instant confirmation of protection.
Regulation & Claims
FMP is a trading name of First Medical Protection Limited (FRN 1039975). First Medical Protection Limited is an Appointed Representative of Bridge Specialty International Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 305827).
Our policies are underwritten at Lloyd’s of London, with Carbon Syndicate 4747 as lead underwriter. Lloyd’s of London has centuries of experience and strong financial security.
Being a Managing General Agent (MGA) at Lloyd’s means we’re not just a middleman. We have the authority to underwrite, issue cover, and handle claims directly. That gives you faster decisions, more tailored terms, and the confidence that you’re speaking to the people who shape your cover.
Clyde & Co, a leading international law firm with specialist medical malpractice expertise, manages all claims. This means you have top-tier legal defence from the start.
You should notify a claim or circumstance as soon as possible, using the contact details provided in your policy documents. Early notification allows your legal team to investigate fully and protect your rights under the policy.
No. We arrange medical indemnity insurance products but do not provide advice on their suitability. If you are unsure what level of cover is appropriate, you should seek independent advice.
Complaints can be raised using the procedure outlined in your policy wording. They are handled according to FCA rules and Lloyd’s of London complaint procedures, giving you clear escalation routes if needed.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
We’re here to help. If you’d like to discuss your situation or get started with cover, you can apply online in minutes or speak directly with our team.