Coverage

RNAO's PLP

Discretionary Programs

Does it have a duty to defend?

Yes

No

Is there an insurance policy?

Yes

Discretionary programs do not have an insurance policy.
We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Does it cover the RN/NP regardless of when the claim is made?

Yes

RNAO's Governing Policies require the Association to provide Professional Liability Protection (PLP) to its members. Subject to the terms and conditions, there will always be coverage for claims regardless of when they are made.

If an RNAO RN or NP member leaves the association:

• The member will continue to be protected after they leave for nursing services rendered while they were an RNAO member and registered to practice with CNO, regardless of whether or not the RN or NP is an RNAO member at the time the claim is brought forth,
• The PLP product that will respond will be based on when the nursing service was rendered in that:
  • If the nursing service was rendered prior to November 1, 2015 CNPS will handle a resultant claim subject to their eligibility criteria
  • if the nursing service was rendered after November 1, 2015 RNAO PLP will handle a resultant claim subject to the terms of coverage.
• Thus, RNAO members benefit from coverage similar to an "occurrence form" policy even though RNAO's insurance policy is "claims made" because RNAO members are covered regardless of when the claim is made.

NPs that decide to join or re-join RNAO going forward are welcome to the association.  As soon as you join RNAO, the RNAO PLP will immediately be activated and provide you with protection.

Not guaranteed.

We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Does it fully satisfy the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)'s PLP requirement?

Yes

The term "indemnify" is not typically found in discretionary programs since only insurance policies indemnify.
We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Does it provide coverage for all areas of nursing practice?

Yes

Need to Inquire

We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

How accessible is it?

RNAO membership fee inclusive of PLP & HST for RNs & NPs =
Regular: $256.36
If an ONA member: $175.00
If retired or work less than 15 hrs/week: $87.83
RNAO membership provides many more benefits

Can range in price and the difference in cost can be significant versus RNAO membership which automatically includes PLP.

Does it provide coverage 24/7?

Yes

Coverage is 24/7: coverage is available in Canada for professional services that occur while on the job as well as after hours. Your insurance coverage remains even during a period of unemployment, provided the medical incident arose during the time of your CNO registration and RNAO membership.

Usually but assistance is discretionary. Thus, we recommend you request to see a written policy and review it carefully.

Is coverage portable?

Yes

Usually but assistance is discretionary.

We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Coverage extends to your role as an educator or as a member of a formal accreditation, standards review or similar professional board or committee, including as a director or officer of such board or committee.

Yes

Depends on scope of program. We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Coverage extends to your estate, heirs, and executors in the event of your death, incapacity, insolvency or bankruptcy.

Yes

Depends on scope of program. We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Protection against claims for professional negligence.

Yes

Usually but assistance is discretionary. We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Individual annual limit

Subject to the terms of coverage and policy aggregate limit, RNAO PLP provides $10,000,000 per claim for amounts that you become legally obligated to pay as a result of a professional liability claim arising from a covered medical incident. Covered legal fees in connection to your claim are also included.
No deductible is payable by the individual RN or NP in the defence and settlement of a covered claim.

Need to Inquire We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Duration of protection

RNAO's Governing Policies require the Association to provide Professional Liability Protection (PLP) to its members. Subject to the terms and conditions, there will always be coverage to claims arising from nursing services rendered while an RN/NP is/was an RNAO member and registered to practice with CNO.

Eligible claims may receive assistance if funds are available and the program extends the discretion to provide assistance.

Does it provide certificate of insurance?

Yes

Discretionary programs do not typically issue certificates of insurance as there is no insurance policy in force.

We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Coverage for criminal investigations

Yes

We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Coverage for statutory offences

Yes

We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Coverage for public inquiries, inquests, and fatality inquiries

Yes

We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Coverage for non-party proceedings

Yes

RNAO's PLP provides reimbursement up to $1,000,000 if you are required to attend a civil or criminal proceeding to provide evidence in your capacity as an RN or NP.

We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Do I have coverage outside of Ontario?

Yes

Coverage is nation-wide: coverage is available should you practise outside of the province of Ontario provided you continue to maintain your CNO registration to practise and RNAO membership.

We recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Legal advice, and professional risk prevention, early intervention and risk management relating to nursing practice

Yes

RNAO members have access to legal advice and professional risk prevention, early intervention and risk management relating to nursing practice.

Usually available. To be certain, we recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

Business insurance

• Malpractice professional liability/Errors & Omissions insurance for business entities, partnerships, corporations
• Property and Commercial General Liability Insurance
• Employer Liability exposures for business entities
• Cyber Liability exposures for business entities

Yes

RNAO's NurseInsure has been helping RNAO members with their business needs for over 20 years.

Regarding cyber liability, all RNAO members have cyber liability protection (CLP) as an automatic membership benefit (see below).

Usually available. To be certain, we recommend you request to see a written policy and review this document carefully.

CLP – Cyber Liability Protection
All RN & NP members of RNAO receive Cyber Liability Protection (CLP) as an automatic membership benefit. Subject to the terms of coverage and policy aggregate limit, the program provides the following key coverage:

Coverage

RNAO's CLP

Other Programs

Third Party Protection -
Privacy, confidentiality and security liability           

Yes

RNAO's CLP provides protection  up to $25,000 for allegations of negligence due to a privacy and/or network security breach caused by an RNAO member.

Inquire

First Party Protection -
Cyber Extortion

Yes

RNAO's CLP provides reimbursement up to $25,000 to an RNAO member (with the insurer's prior written consent) on monies paid to terminate or end a security or privacy threat.

Inquire

First Party Protection -
Regulation Defence

Yes

RNAO's CLP provides up to $25,000 for regulatory liability expense (i.e. payment of fines, penalties, or compensatory damages) and regulatory defense expenses (legal fees incurred with insurer's prior written consent) in the event of a regulatory proceeding brought against an RNAO member by a regulatory authority alleging negligence due to a privacy and/or network security breach caused by an RNAO member.

Inquire

First Party Protection -
Notification Expenses

Yes

RNAO's CLP provides reimbursement up to $25,000 to an RNAO member on notification expenses such as legal, postage, and advertising when the insurer deems that payment of such expenses will mitigate a claim, or when incurred to comply with a legal or regulatory requirement to notify an individual as a direct result of a privacy breach.

Inquire

First- Party Protection -
Privacy Assistance Expenses

Yes

RNAO's CLP provides reimbursement up to $25,000 to an RNAO member on costs incurred in assisting an individual (including by providing credit file monitoring services and/or identity theft assistance) following a privacy breach.

Inquire

First Party Protection -
Crisis Management Expenses

Yes

RNAO's CLP provides reimbursement up to $25,000 to an RNAO member on costs incurred to protect or re-establish its reputation or public image to the extent that it is likely to be damaged, or has been damaged, as a direct result of a privacy and/or network security breach.

Inquire

LAP® – Legal Assistance Program
LAP® was established by RNAO in 1986 to assist RNAO members with certain legal problems, on a case-by-case basis, related to the professional practice of nursing (as recognized by CNO). For $64.57 per year, LAP provides financial support for access to legal counsel in a number of circumstances, including those highlighted below.
RNAO's LAP is a well established and well funded program. LAP is helping thousands of RNs and NPs during the most stressful times in their careers.

Coverage

RNAO's LAP

Other Programs

Complaints to CNO, CNO investigations and fitness-to-practise hearings

Yes

LAP provides financial support for access to legal counsel in College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) investigations and proceedings in relation to a members' professional practice as a result of a letter of complaint, report/self-report or other investigation.

Usually available

Need to know their level of experience.

Contract review &
Termination

Yes

LAP provides financial support for access to legal counsel in

• Employment contract review prior to accepting a non-unionized, administrative or managerial nursing position, and
• Other individual employment-related matters, such as: termination, WSIB claims and Human Rights claims.

Usually available

Employment relations advice, free information materials, educational presentations on legal issues

Yes

LAP provides participants with employment relations advice, free information materials, educational presentations on legal issues relevant to nursing practice.

Inquire

RNAO and external resources

Yes

LAP refers participants to RNAO and external resources which may be of assistance to members in their particular circumstances.

May not have access to RNAO's expertise and rich resources.

Coroner's Inquest

Yes

Members required to appear as a witness in a legal proceeding or involvement in a Coroner's Inquest, in relation to an incident(s) which occurred in the course of nursing practice.

Inquire