President's Letter

Dear Doctor,


At Gulf Atlantic, we are proud of our heritage of helping physicians navigate through troubled times. Formed in the malpractice crisis of the 70's, and reinvented in the malpractice crisis of the early 2000's, the Gulf Atlantic team knows that one thing is certain in this world — uncertainty.

Gulf Atlantic created the first and largest legal defense insurance program for physicians in 2003. At the time, everyone used the slightly pejorative term "Going Bare", as if a physician without insurance was as unprotected as a person without clothing. Actually, physicians who carefully consider their liability exposure, who choose to make decisions alone whether to settle or defend the claim and who pay a judgment out of their own pockets, are self insurers. They are not unprotected, they've just chosen a different, and in many cases more efficient, method of financial protection against lawsuits – just as many Fortune 500 companies do.

When you, a colleague or your medical group decide to take the step to become a self insurer, Gulf Atlantic wants to help you do so effectively and efficiently. We think the key to any insurance operation, whether as a self insurer or as an insurance company, is the ability to mount a vigorous and effective defense.

A Gulf Atlantic Legal Defense insurance policy ensures that when the time comes, you'll be able to mount that defense. Gulf Atlantic's panel of attorneys includes most of the law firms in Florida specializing in medical malpractice defense. Ask a malpractice defense lawyer about us. Most will know of us, and we think all who do will say good things about us.

And with our new coverage options, you'll be better able to customize your legal defense policy to meet your needs. We now offer, in addition to our standard policy, which provides broad defense cost coverage with $100,000 per claim and $200,000 annual aggregate limits of liability, the following:

  • Additional per claim and annual aggregate defense cost limits of liability in increments of $25,000, up to an additional $100,000.
  • Separate group and corporate coverages. Corporate entities may choose shared limits or separate limits.
  • Medical groups may purchase group policies having shared limits of liability and reduced aggregate limits of liability, customized to the size of the group, which further reduce the cost of coverage.

And, most importantly, we have adjusted our rate structure to make our rates more competitive in most practice areas. So, if you've been self insuring without having prepared for the costs of defending the claim, or if you're thinking about self insuring, now's the time to consider defense-cost coverage through Gulf Atlantic. And if you've considered us before but decided not to use Gulf Atlantic as a part of your self insurance strategy, please look again. We think you'll be pleased with our new rate structure and available coverage options.

We're not only the first company to provide this valuable coverage in Florida, we're the best. Protect yourself. Provide some certainty in uncertain times. Join other proud self insurers who have done the same. Call us today, or download an application for coverage to receive a free quote.

Sincerely,

George V. Matlock, President