Florida Health Professionals Legal Expense Insurance, Inc. (FHPLEI), a Jacksonville-based legal expense insurance company, recently received approval from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) to begin offering its medical malpractice legal defense insurance product to group practices.

“Doctors aren’t the only ones getting sued,” says Charles S. O’Lessker, President of FHPLEI. “Plaintiffs are looking for every available dollar and as a result, will name the staff and the corporation itself in a lawsuit. This is especially true in light of the recent passage of Amendments 3, 7 and 8.”

According to O’Lessker, the group product is tailored to the specific needs of the practice. “The group will determine how much coverage they feel is necessary for their specialty and previous claims history.” They will be able to have a “bucket” of money available for the legal fees and expenses associated with representation of their licensed and/or certified employees/staff in malpractice cases.

The OIR also approved FHPLEI’s interest-free premium financing option. “We want to make our products as affordable as possible,” says O’Lessker. “We certainly understand that doctors are being squeezed tighter everyday with increasing business expenses and decreasing insurance reimbursement.