Roo + AVMA PLIT: Do I need Liability Insurance as a Relief Veterinarian?

UPDATE 11/4/24: Article updated to include the latest AVMA PLIT rates for 2025.

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The thing about professional liability coverage is, “You never realize you need it, until you need it,” says Roo Veterinarian Dr. Sidrah Nisar. While liability insurance isn’t technically required to work Roo shifts, some hospitals will ask for proof of insurance, and we HIGHLY recommend it. We also highly recommend getting veterinary license defense coverage as board complaints are on the rise.  

When you work as an independent contractor, you’re not covered under a hospital’s liability policy, and Roo doesn’t currently provide coverage either. You’re responsible for getting your own professional liability insurance coverage to protect yourself from lawsuits and your own veterinary license defense coverage to protect your license. 

Even if you have a full-time position at an animal hospital that provides this coverage for their W2 employees, it’s recommended that all DVMs carry personal liability insurance and license defense coverage to protect yourself and your license if a claim arises. 

To help you find the best possible coverage at affordable rates, Roo has partnered with the AVMA Professional Liability Insurance Trust (PLIT) to give you easy access to plans we love: 

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“I decided to choose AVMA PLIT because they seemed to be the most popular in the vet med community… I don't mess around when it comes to liability insurance and wanted to go with the most recognized name.”
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- Dr. Sidrah Nisar, Roo Vet since 2023

What AVMA PLIT plan does Roo recommend, and what does it cost? 

Roo Lead Veterinarian Dr. Andrew Findlaytor recommends insuring yourself with the highest possible coverage limits for your area of practice. For most Roo veterinarians, that’s Class 4, Small Animal Exclusive with coverage limits of $1 million per claim and $3 million annually. Currently, this plan costs $434 for the entire year, including both professional liability for $285 and license defense coverage for $149. To put that total in perspective, that’s around one third of the average Roo shift payout (currently $1,278 as of the most recent update of this article). 

This plan gives you an extra $900,000 of coverage, ten times the amount of the next best plan, for just an additional $57 per year, which we feel is worth it even if you don’t end up needing it. Insurance is about peace of mind, and that’s a small price to protect your financial well-being.   

The above plans include $100,000 of coverage for Veterinary License Defense, which protects you from board complaints against your license and can be added to plans separately at your discretion. You can increase this limit for a higher premium if you’d like additional protection here.   

It’s worth noting you’ll have to hold an active AVMA membership to be eligible for PLIT coverage, which costs around $370 a year. This membership comes with a variety of professional benefits, and both your AVMA Membership and the cost of your PLIT Coverage can be written off on your independent contractor taxes as professional expenses, so you’ll get some of this money back.  

All in, you’re looking at $771 a year — before tax discounts — for both AVMA membership and incredible professional liability and license defense coverage you can trust, all for less than the payout of an averageRoo shift!  

In the end, it’s up to you how much coverage you need to feel comfortable as well as the price points and coverage levels that make the most sense for your budget. Roo recommends getting professional liability coverage at a minimum because we view it as the most important protection to have as an independent contractor.

What is professional liability insurance, and why do I need it?  

Professional liability insurance protects your finances from malpractice lawsuits — whether the claim is true or unfounded, you’ll still need to pay for a defense. If you’re accused of making a medical error, your PLIT plan kicks in to defend you in court, paying for any legal defense costs and covering any damages you’re found legally responsible for. 

The sad truth is that we live in a very litigious society. When something bad happens to a pet, owners can become very upset and may be looking for someone to blame whether you’re at fault or not.

As a relief veterinarian, you may face additional risks: You won’t necessarily have a personal relationship with your clients to fall back on. There’s more opportunities for miscommunication, which increases the risk of lawsuits.  

Protect yourself.

If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation where you need to make a claim, Dr. Nisar explains it’s fairly easy: “They first and foremost ensure you have coverage at the time in question. They will simply forward you some paperwork and once that is filled out, a claim professional is assigned to you and you go from there.” An attorney will be provided if the case moves forward to trial. 

What is a veterinary license defense policy, and why do I need it?

Similarly, veterinary license defense coverage protects your DVM license if someone makes a complaint to your local state veterinary medical board. Again, whether the claim is true or unfounded, you’ll still need to pay for and provide a defense.  

AVMA PLIT plans include optional add-ons for veterinary license defense coverage (included in the above pricing table), which Roo also highly recommends. Just $142 a year covers you for up to $100,000 — once again a small price to pay for peace of mind.

If a client doesn’t like something that happened to their animal, they can register a complaint to your state board without needing to make a case. When you go before the board to defend yourself, you want a legal defense team with you. This is your license and your livelihood you’re defending. That’s something your AVMA plan can provide if you opt to include additional VLD coverage. 

What is not covered by professional liability insurance?

Professional liability insurance only covers medical errors or allegations of negligence. It does not cover business risk or non-medical errors. For that, you’ll need General Liability Insurance, which covers claims related to normal business operations. 

For additional protection, you may want to set up a limited liability company (LLC), which can protect your personal assets if you get sued. This is different from a S-Corp / Sole Proprietorship, which offers tax benefits. We dive deeper into this distinction in our article on relief veterinarian taxes.   

Liability coverage also does not protect you from workplace injury, such as animal bites and scratches. If the injury is so bad it affects your ability to work, you’ll need workers compensation coverage. 

Every plan may have additional exclusions, so be sure to read the fine print of your coverage carefully and make sure you understand what protections it provides. For example, PLIT plans do not include coverage for malpractice or negligence that occurs while a veterinarian is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

What makes AVMA PLIT plans special 

AVMA PLIT plans are backed by the AVMA, which means they have veterinarians’ best interests in mind. 

For example, while many companies may use generic lawyers for their clients’ legal defense, the PLIT program utilizes lawyers skilled in handling animal healthcare lawsuits. Since they represent veterinarians all the time, this will give you a serious leg up in court. Per Dr. Findlaytor, “They’re the best we got, by far!” 

Furthermore, AVMA PLIT plans include a “Consent to Settle Clause,” which means they require your consent to settle a case on your behalf and move forward with negotiating a settlement. Other insurance providers may settle to save money on a claim, which could damage your professional reputation if it involves accepting fault when there was no issue. Sometimes, you may even have to pay the difference if you choose not to settle. Yikes, and also — not cool.  

Additionally, the PLIT has on staff Trust Veterinarians who review all claims before they go to the insurance carrier. This means actual medical expertise is accounted for in every decision.

Your PLIT coverage follows you wherever you go!

Your AVMA PLIT plan isn’t just for relief work — it protects you anywhere you’re licensed to practice medicine! If you take on additional volunteer work, consult, or give a speech at a conference you’re covered under your PLIT plan.

Professional liability insurance and Roo

I think we’ve made a pretty good case on why professional liability coverage is important. While it’s not a requirement to work shifts through Roo, you really don’t want to be without, especially as an independent contractor. We’ve also heard that some hospitals will ask to see proof of liability insurance prior to you working your shift. 

Thankfully, we’ve partnered with the AVMA PLIT to get all Roo Relief Veterinarians high quality coverage you can trust — provided by veterinarians, for veterinarians so you know your best interests will always be kept at heart.    

“Regardless of who you choose,” says Dr. Nisar, “DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH because ultimately it is your own license at stake.”  

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Disclaimer

The advice provided here is for informational purposes only, and you should always do your own research and check with insurance or tax professionals for up-to-date information that applies specifically to you.