The Importance of Structure and Financial Stability
The doctors who are insured with NCMIC are members of the NCMIC Mutual Holding Company. The Holding Company board of directors consists solely of chiropractors. It's been that way from the beginning and ensures we keep the focus on chiropractic for the long term.
Posted in Policy Features on Thursday, August 16, 2018
As a member, you have voting rights and are eligible to receive premium dividends. In fact, NCMIC is the one and only chiropractic malpractice insurance provider to offer a premium dividend. Additionally, all aspects of our doctors’ coverage—from underwriting to customer service to claims—are handled by a chiropractic-focused company with chiropractic expertise.
In contrast, many other malpractice insurance providers are brokers, and how their doctors are treated is at the discretion of the companies that actually provide the coverage. These companies often focus on other professions—even having “medical” as part of their name. This raises the question of whether chiropractic is really their priority.
Additionally, a company’s financial stability is important because doctors need to know they can count on their malpractice insurer to be there when they need it. Not so long ago—in the 1990s—more than 20 chiropractic malpractice insurance carriers left the market.
Many of these companies entered the market with unrealistic business expectations. They left when a constellation of events, including higher claims and low investment earnings, caused them to jump ship.
In these types of situations, the company’s insured doctors are often left in coverage “limbo-land” without knowing who will answer their questions or defend them in a claim. In some instances, state regulators take over the plans, creating further uncertainty for the doctors.
In contrast, NCMIC has survived not only the turbulent 1990s but many other decades with financial ups and downs. We've thrived because of our 70+ years of chiropractic experience, excellent management and loyal customers.
Our longevity, solid financial ratings—"A" (Excellent) rating from industry analyst A.M. Best—and high customer retention rate are evidence of the company's stability and unparalleled commitment to protecting your good name and reputation.
Our doctors continue to benefit from the NCMIC policy as it is a comprehensive, scope-of-practice policy that is designed with the needs of the D.C. in mind. Coverage is offered in all 50 states and U.S. territories, ensuring access to quality malpractice insurance coverage for the nation’s chiropractors.
Impact for Doctors:
As a result of our stability and structure, NCMIC is able to:
- Invest in the profession and the future of chiropractic.
- Provide a top-notch defense to our doctors in a malpractice claim or board allegation. We don’t cut corners in our defense because we don’t have to.
- Support the latest scientific research on chiropractic care.
- Be here for the long haul.
- Provide premium dividends every year since 1996.