It depends on the veterinary association(s) you are comparing. Some veterinary associations, as a tool to keep costs low and retain members, partner with the insurer to reduce the hourly rate paid to attorney's and expert witnesses who defend and represent their members. In some cases the hourly rate of these programs can be as low as $150 per hour, which for an attorney is nothing.

Luckily, for the time being, animals are still viewed as personal property in the eyes of the law. So, from strictly a clinical perspective, a lack of legal performance of a veterinary association program policy may seem underwhelming, and it is, if the subject is confined to damages to the pet (personal property), the overall cost may be negligible. However, when it comes to defending your license, especially over a bogus allegation, poor legal representation is not a good member benefit.

Conversely, coverage from a business owner policy almost certainly is going to be stronger; however, not all insurers who provide veterinary professional liability in a Business-Owner Policy offer License Defense coverage. So, when considering having veterinary professional liability included in your business policy, always make sure it comes with License Defense.

We do not offer veterinary professional in a business policy without license defense, except in cases where the owner is not a DVM, nor has a partner that is a DVM. Such is the case and a reality in states like Georgia, South Carolina and Florida to name a few. If a non-DVM owns a veterinary hospital 100%, there is no license to defend as any associate vets working there can always get their own policy through an association.