Amid growing public awareness of healthcare, modern hospitals and clinics are now required to not only provide the best medical care but also ensure the safety of every patient and visitor. Minor accidents, such as a patient slipping in the waiting room, a family member being electrocuted in the parking lot, or equipment malfunctioning that injures a third party, can result in lawsuits worth hundreds of millions of rupiah.
Here public liability insurance plays a vital role. This policy provides financial protection against third-party legal claims resulting from bodily injury or property damage occurring within a hospital or clinic environment.
Unfortunately, many healthcare facility managers still underestimate this risk or even purchase policies directly from insurance companies without understanding the details of the coverage. However, choosing the wrong insurance method can be fatal.
As a professional insurance broker with long experience, L&G Insurance Broker always emphasizes that purchasing insurance, especially public liability insurance, should never be done directly with an insurance company or through an agent. Why? Because agents only represent the interests of the insurance company, while insurance brokers like L&G represent your interests as a customer.
Brokers help you analyze risks, choose the best policy with the most efficient premium, and most importantly, help manage claims until they are paid out in the event of an incident.
If you want to know how much coverage your hospital or clinic needs, contact L&G Insurance Broker now for a free consultation via WhatsApp 08118507773 or email to halo@lngrisk.co.id.
Risks Lurking in Modern Healthcare Facilities
Many hospital or clinic owners think their greatest risk comes solely from medical errors (malpractice). However, non-medical risks are often far more common and can be just as detrimental.
Some real examples that often occur in the field:
- Patients or visitors slip on wet floors in the lobby or toilet area.
- The patient’s family was electrocuted due to a faulty installation.
- Visitors’ personal belongings were damaged due to falling from shelves or cupboards in the waiting room.
- A pipe leak caused a minor flood that damaged third-party equipment.
- Children play and fall in the hospital parking area or garden.
Incidents like this can trigger lawsuits for facility negligence, and the value can reach hundreds of millions to billions of rupiah depending on the level of loss.
Without public liability insurance, a hospital or clinic must cover all compensation costs, legal fees, and damages out of its own pocket.
Public Liability Insurance Functions for Clinics and Hospitals
Public liability insurance isn’t just a formality; it’s a form of legal and financial protection that every public service facility, including healthcare facilities, must have. Here are its main benefits:
- Protects against Third Party Injury Claims
If a patient, patient’s family, or guest is injured on hospital grounds, this policy covers medical compensation, damages, and even legal fees.
- Covering Damage to Property Owned by Third Parties
For example, visitors’ equipment or vehicles are damaged due to negligence of hospital staff, water leaks, or other incidents in the facility environment.
- Cover Legal and Court Costs
Lawsuits can be expensive, even exceeding the value of the claim itself. This policy covers legal fees, consultations, and attorney fees.
- Maintaining Reputation and Public Trust
Hospitals that are able to handle claims quickly and professionally will be seen as more credible and responsible.
- Increase Investor and Business Partner Confidence
For large hospitals or modern clinic networks, having public liability insurance is a sign that management has implemented good corporate governance.
Why is Public Liability Insurance So Relevant in the Modern Clinic Era?
The development of modern clinics and hospitals now not only offers medical services, but also a more comfortable customer experience: cafe-like waiting rooms, children’s playgrounds, and spacious parking areas.
However, the more public activity there is in a healthcare facility area, the higher the risk of legal liability.
Imagine a clinic with a coffee corner where patients wait. A visitor slips on a spilled drink, suffers an injury, and sues the clinic for negligence. Without proper policies, a situation like this could drain operational costs quickly.
Public liability insurance ensures that any unintentional incident, no matter how small, does not result in a major financial burden.
Real Case Study: Lessons from Hospital Claims
A private hospital in Jakarta once faced a lawsuit from a patient’s family after their child slipped in a newly mopped corridor. The resulting injuries weren’t serious, but the family was upset and filed a lawsuit for Rp 300 million in damages, alleging management negligence.
Fortunately, the hospital had public liability insurance. After investigation and verification by the insurance broker, the insurance company covered all compensation costs according to the policy terms.
The claims process ran smoothly thanks to full support from the broker, from document collection, reporting to the insurance company, to claim settlement negotiations.
This is why purchasing a policy through an insurance broker like L&G is crucial.
Why Go Through an Official Broker, Instead of an Agent or Directly to an Insurance Company?
Many hospital owners think that buying directly from an insurance company is faster or cheaper. In fact, the opposite is true.
- Agents work for insurance companies, not for you. They simply sell products provided by their company without conducting an in-depth needs analysis.
- Insurance companies cannot assist with claims independently because their position is the party that pays the claim.
- Insurance brokers are independent advisors who work specifically for your benefit. They analyze risks, select policies from various companies, negotiate the best premiums, and ensure you receive optimal protection.
Most importantly, when a claim occurs, only a broker can truly help you prepare documents, compile reports, and fight for the claim until it is paid.
L&G Insurance Broker has a proven track record of helping hospitals and large companies resolve complex claims.
How Does L&G Insurance Broker Help Healthcare Facilities?
As an OJK-licensed insurance broker, L&G has extensive experience in handling Public Liability policies for various sectors, including hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and other medical facilities.
Our approach includes:
- Risk Assessment: unique risk analysis in your facility ranging from public areas, parking spaces, to medical installations.
- Policy Design: adjust policy coverage to suit the scale and needs of the hospital.
- Negotiation: negotiating the best premiums to various well-known insurance companies.
- Claim Assistance: accompany the claims process from the beginning until the funds are disbursed.
With this approach, hospitals not only get a policy, but also comprehensive protection from legal and financial risks.
Additional Protection That Can Be Combined
In addition to public liability, health facilities are also advised to have:
- Professional Indemnity Insurance: protect against medical errors or medical malpractice.
- Property All Risks Insurance: protect buildings and medical equipment from fire, flood, or earthquake.
- Workmen Compensation: protect medical and non-medical staff from work accidents.
This combination forms a comprehensive layer of protection for modern hospitals and clinics.
Conclusion
In the increasingly complex world of healthcare, public liability insurance is no longer a choice but an obligation.
Modern clinics and hospitals with high public activity are highly vulnerable to third-party claims. One minor accident could trigger a major lawsuit that could threaten your financial stability and reputation.
But remember: never buy a policy directly from an insurance company or through an agent.
Because if a claim occurs, only insurance brokers like L&G Insurance Broker who is truly on your side and can help until the claim funds are paid.
💬 Contact us now for a FREE consultation and ensure your healthcare facility is covered by the right public liability insurance.
📞 WhatsApp: 08118507773
📧 Email: halo@lngrisk.co.id
