We were recently approached by a dental practice looking to expand into facial aesthetics and cosmetic treatments from their existing premises. We’re seeing more practices diversify creating new revenue opportunities and expanding patient services.
However, one common misconception is that existing insurance arrangements will automatically extend to cover these activities.
It’s important not to assume all insurers will take the same approach.
While some insurers are comfortable with these activities being undertaken as part of a dental practice’s operations, this isn’t universal across the market.
It’s important not to assume all insurers will take the same approach.
Good news: Our Insurers confirmed they had no concerns with these activities being carried out from the practice premises as part of its standard dental operations.
Before introducing aesthetic treatments, there are a couple of key insurance considerations worth reviewing.
Check your insurer’s position on aesthetics
Not all policies are arranged on the same basis, and some insurers may have specific requirements, restrictions or disclosure obligations regarding facial aesthetics and cosmetic treatments.
Understand what your liability policy actually covers
Many standard dental practice liability policies exclude claims arising from:
- Clinical treatment
- Professional negligence
- Advice given to patients
- Medical or technical services
This means allegations relating to aesthetic injectables or cosmetic procedures would typically fall under Medical Malpractice or Professional Indemnity insurance rather than your standard liability policy.
What about your injectable stock?
Aesthetic injectables can represent a significant investment and often require temperature-controlled storage.
Ask yourself:
- Have your refrigerated stock sums insured been reviewed recently?
- Would your policy respond adequately following a fridge failure or power outage?
- Can your stock be increased or decreased our policies can be fully tailored to your requirements. Have increased stock values been disclosed to your insurer?
These are easy details to overlook until a loss occurs.
Key considerations
Expanding into aesthetics can create new insurance considerations. Before launching a new service line, it’s worth checking that your insurer is aware of the activity, your professional indemnity arrangements remain appropriate, and your stock cover reflects the value of products held on site. Also that your Refrigerated stock cover keep pace with your business growth.
