Ophthalmologist Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages an ophthalmologist business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for ophthalmology practices, including cataract and retina care. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual procedures, settings, and providers.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Professional Liability | Covers each ophthalmologist for surgery, injection, and diagnosis claims. | Core | |
| Medical Board / License Defense | Covers board actions that arise without a patient claim, like a wrong-lens implant. | Core | |
| Entity / ASC Professional Liability | Covers the practice and any owned ASC with separate limits. | Core | |
| Cyber / Privacy Liability | Covers patient records and imaging systems. | Core | |
| Commercial Property & Equipment Breakdown | Covers lasers, phaco machines, and imaging. | Prevalent | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers techs and office staff. | Prevalent | |
| Products Liability | Needed if you run an optical shop. | Prevalent | |
| Employment Practices Liability | Covers claims from staff. | Prevalent | |
| Regulatory / Billing E&O | Covers drug and injection billing audits. | Situational | |
| Spoilage | Covers costly injectable drugs lost to refrigeration failure. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by ophthalmologists is medical board defense. OMIC reports a wrong-power lens case where the board imposed a fine, CME, and community service with no patient claim at all, and malpractice policies respond to damage claims, not board actions. Board defense is often a low sublimit or optional. High-volume cataract and injection practices should carry meaningful license defense limits.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your ophthalmologist coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Ophthalmologist Insurance · Ophthalmologist Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does an ophthalmologist business need?
The core coverages for an ophthalmologist business are Medical Professional Liability, Medical Board / License Defense, Entity / ASC Professional Liability, Cyber / Privacy Liability. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my ophthalmologist coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.