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Opening a Practice

Starting your own practice is a major milestone. It’s exciting, empowering — and filled with new responsibilities.

From securing the right liability coverage to protecting your physical space, team, and long-term investment, we guide you through every step. Our goal is simple: to help you build on a strong foundation with protection designed for physician-owned practices.

family-practice

Insurance coverage designed for practice owners:

Opening a practice requires more than just one policy. It involves significant risk exposure — from professional liability and regulatory compliance to financial policies and staffing. Careful planning is essential to reduce liability and protect your career and assets. This page connects you to foundational resources that support risk mitigation, operational readiness, and informed decisions around coverage and practice insurance needs as you build your practice.

How much does insurance for a practice owner cost?

Costs vary based on several factors, including:

  • Your specialty and scope of services
  • Practice size and number of providers
  • Location
  • Claims history
  • Property value and equipment inventory
  • Benefits offerings for employee

Because every practice is different, coverage should be tailored — not templated. We’ll help you design a cost-effective insurance program that balances comprehensive protection with smart financial planning.

If you are wondering where to start see our timeline outlining what type of coverages you will want to obtain at each stage from planning to opening your doors and celebrating your milestones and anniversaries. We will be happy to work with you to help you structure a comprehensive insurance program that protects both your clinical work and your business operations.

See our insurance practice checklist below.

See coverage timeline 

Where can I find general resources and support on opening, owning, and operating a practice?

The Massachusetts Medical Society’s Practice Ownership and Operations resource hub provides comprehensive tools and guidance for physicians and health care professionals launching or managing a medical practice. It includes practical resources — from start-up tips and hiring best practices to compliance checklists and an insurance planning checklist — designed to help new practice owners navigate the many operational, legal, and business considerations that come with private practice ownership.

See more

 

COVERAGE FOR EACH STAGE OF OPENING AND RUNNING A PRACTICE

Before You Open

Foundational protection required to legally and safely operate.

1

Medical Professional Liability (MPL)

Secure coverage for patient care exposure. We’ll help you evaluate claims-made vs. occurrence policies with our premium carriers and coordinate prior acts (nose) or tail coverage as you and your team transition.

2

Workers’ Compensation Insurance


Mandatory in some states including Massachusetts — even if you have no employees. Ensures compliance and protects against workplace injury exposure.

3

Business & Commercial Coverage

Establish general liability and core business protections before seeing your first patient.

4

Medical Office Policy (Property & Liability)

Protect your leased space, build-outs, furnishings, and equipment from damage, theft, or interruption. This is a tailored package also known as a physicians office policy or business office policy.

5

ERISA & Fidelity Bonds

Required if establishing retirement or profit-sharing plans for your practice.

At Launch

Protection for day-to-day operations and early-stage exposure.

1

Cyber Liability & Data Breach Protection

Safeguard protected health information (PHI) and prepare for breach response obligations.

2

Billing Errors & Omissions

Coverage for administrative and billing-related allegations, including fraud and abuse claims.

3

Other Professional Liability Coverage

Extend protection to nurse practitioners, telemedicine, research, expert witness work, and other specialized services.

As You Grow

Expanded protection as your team and complexity increase.

1

Employment Practices Liability (EPLI)


Protection against claims involving wrongful termination, harassment, or discrimination.

2

Commercial Umbrella / Excess Liability


Adds an additional layer of protection above primary liability limits.

3

Other Professional Liability Coverage

Directors & Officers (D&O) Liability
protects practice leaders and board members from governance-related allegations.

4

Errors & Omissions (Administrative Liability)


Addresses risk areas such as credentialing, peer review, utilization review, and vicarious liability.

Long-Term Stability & Continuity

Protecting the practice — and the people behind it.

1

Employee Health & Benefits


Attract and retain top talent with competitive health, dental, disability, and ancillary benefits.

2

Group Life & Disability Insurance


Provide financial security for physicians and staff.

3

Life Insurance & Key Person Coverage

Supports buy-sell agreements, succession planning, and practice perpetuation.

4

Long-Term Care Insurance

Voluntary coverage for extended care needs.

5

Personal Insurance Solutions

Coordinate homeowners, auto, personal umbrella, and related coverage to complement your professional risk strategy.

6

Voluntary Employee Benefits


Offer additional accident and illness coverage options to strengthen your benefits package.

7

Office Overhead Expense Insurance


Helps maintain operations if a physician owner becomes disabled.

Physicians Insurance, now Actuate Insurance, is great at the one-on-one personal touch. They genuinely look out for you, they know the medical side and they help you, because insurance is not simple.

CFO for a teaching hospital and regional medical center

Our Product Offerings

Request a Free, No-Obligation Quote Today

Is it time to examine your current policy? Remember, what you don’t know can hurt you.

The simplest way to mitigate risk is through thorough preparation. At Actuate Insurance, we are best placed to help enhance your preparedness.

With our extensive experience and deep industry knowledge, we are confident in our ability to tailor a competitively priced insurance program that addresses your unique needs.

Simply complete the form to request a free, no-obligation quote, and we will contact you to discuss your options.

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Disclaimer: Our online inquiry forms are to provide current and prospective clients an indication of premium only. Insurance coverage cannot be bound or changed via submission of this online form/inquiry provided on this site or otherwise, email, voicemail, or facsimile. No binder, insurance policy change, addition, and/or deletion to insurance coverage will go into effect unless and until confirmed directly by a licensed agent.

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