General Liability for Independent Contractors
Posted By: Lindsay on 2008-10-31
In Reply to:
I have just started a position for a company, and they require that I hold general liability insurance, but am a little lost as far as how to obtain that! Just wondering if anyone had any pointers for me.
Thank you in advance! :-)
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No More Independent Contractors
Has anyone heard that independent contractors are going to be a thing of the past within the next few months according to the IRS? I have been told need to be an employee or incorporate. Anyone have an incorporated small business from their home? Pluses or minuses? It is confusing. What about all other self-employed people in this country? It is the same thing:( So sad that government is taking over.
Independent contractors
I was wondering if someone could give me an opinion. I have had 2 ICs working for me for about 5 years. I have paid them by the line all the time a very good rate, which I cannot continue to do anymore. I still have to go over every bit of their work after all this time and there are still errors and I am so tired of this but have not had the chance to look for anyone new and don't have time right now to try training anyone new. Would it be unethical to pay them less per line or convert to a page rate that would be cheaper. I feel like I am throwing money out the window but until I find someone new I just have to do something short of getting rid of them. Is it unethical to just cut their line rate or pay by the page a cheaper rate.
Independent contractors
I let it go on so long because they were reliable which I needed. I am not curently set via digital, can only access through a C phone but that will be changing in the near future. It is the same account that they use, same doctors, good dictators, they just don't get it. Until I can replace them, I will adjust the pay rate.
RE: Independent contractors
YES I have gone over their quality of work issues for a long time and I have tried again and again to work with them and give them a chance but it is not working out. It is not just NOW that I am finding their work unacceptable. It has been for a long time. I am well aware that I have caused this issue to develop and imposed this on myself. I was just trying to work with them as they have been very reliable. I would not just purposely cut someone's pay for the fun of it without discussing it with them. I have also spent a lot of time mentoring them and trying to work with them and have pointed out their errors many times. I have spent a lot of time training them. Unfortunately, they both work a full time job elsewhere, thus I think that may be where the problem is. I have placed ads on occasion but I am limited with this call in dictation system that I have that can be only utilized via a C phone and there have been problems with people hearing the dictation. I will be changing over in the near future to another system. Any suggestions for good dictation systems that can be utilized via the Internet? The accounts that I have the doctors prefer a call in system just picking up the phone.
independent contractors are sometimes the worse - sm
I hired a courier service to run reports back and forth to the city for me. They informed me that their couriers were independent contractors. One of the independent contractors came to pick up the reports as scheduled on his route, came in to my apartment, locked the door behind him, and let's just say I was extremely lucky that the building maintenance guy was in the apartment next door and kicked in my door.
I contacted the courier service and the police, of course, only to find out that the guy had been arrested for rape and burglary.
So would you like to comment on that!?
What is the big deal anyways. You are getting a company computer and in some cases you have information on patient's insurance and social security numbers because of the platform you are using.
Scribes Data Canada Independent Contractors out there???
I have been working at home as an independent contractor for Scribes Data out of Ontario, Canada for the past three years and have loved working for them. I have worked my way to the top of the pay scale and am currently earning between $38-$40/hour. Recently I have been contacted twice by management asking me to consider becoming a full-time employee with benefits rather than an independent contractor. This would mean a dramatic decrease in pay... a $17,000/year base salary plus 60-70 cents/minute of dictation. For the last year I had been paid $1.60/minute of dictation, but just this past month they decreased that to $1.50/minute, stating that was more in line with their pay structure and that I would only be earing $1.60/minute on the radiology dictation I typed. And then a couple of weeks later they contacted me again statingn that I was no longer going to type any radiology dictation unless I was needed and then I would still only be paid the $1.50/minute.
This decrease in pay of 10 cents/minute does not really concern me, it just means I may have to work a littel longer than my normal 5 1/2 hours per day and I do not have a problem with that. My concern is that they are really going to push me to become an employee and just keep taking accounts away from me until I do just that.
Just wondering if there is anybody else out there who may be worried about the same thing.
no liability on IC's because MT's dont' have liability
-- the docs do. I have yet to hear of an MT in court because of what she transcribed...so don't worry about the liability. Big panty wadder coming from insurance companies.
I have current QA contractors.
It would be cheaper still yet to give them a good raise and let the offshore MTs do the work, or so it looks on paper.
Just weighs heavy on the mind.
Dictaphone contractors
Does anyone know who Dictaphone is contracting with to transcribe their accounts?
Sub Contractors or Employee
Does anyone know what the industry standard is on employees or sub-contractors in the medical transcription business?
That cpl is for contractors working directly with doc.
I made 14 cpl (65 char including spaces) when I had my own account.
Liability
What company is this for?
What about liability???
Found a hard working young mom who desperately needs income. Told her I'd pay her $12/hr to help me get my home spring cleaned. But, I wonder about liability should she or her son (she needs to bring her 3 yr-old son with her) get hurt on my property. Or, heaven forbid, she stoops to the low road and scams me. I do not know her well and she seems relatively honest but I am paranoid.
Should I have her sign a waiver???
ESL's a liability?
Imagine if the messed-up phrase had been directly linked to some life-or-death decision, or an allergy to medication, peanuts, or whatever. Makes me wonder if hospitals & clinics have ever thought about the possibility legal trouble an ESL doctor can cause by not being able to speak clearly.
ICs and Liability
Does anybody know how liability is handled if a transcription mistake causes harm to a patient if the Transcriptionist is an "Independent Contractor?"
Is liability insurance one of the first things an IC must purchase? Does the MTSOs customer who hired the MTSO as an IC think it's a good idea to SUBcontract the transcription work to a subcontractor who may or may not be insured?
Speaking of ICs...I found the following link on the U. S. Department of Labor's website most interesting:
http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs13.pdf
It seems that a lot of transcription companies are illegally viewing employees as "independent contractors" when the criteria for such are not being met.
For example, if you hire an INDEPENDENT contractor to remodel your house, the contractor presents YOU with the contract, not the other way around. (Hint: The one who presents the contract must be the contractor!) The contractor presents you with the bill when the work is finished; you don't tell him what your "hourly rate" is.
You meet with him and come to an agreement as to price, what work you want done, and other things that both of you agree on.
However, you do NOT tell the contractor what tools they will use, what shifts they will work, or what equipment they will use to do the job. You can't say things like "I don't like DeWalt power tools. Go out and buy all Makita power tools if you're going to work on MY house."
Read what the U.S. Department of Labor says about Independent Contractors and how narrow that scope really is. Then, the next time a company hires you as an "independent contractor," act like it. Present them with YOUR contract and tell them what YOUR rate is. If they start talking about their cpl rate, then they're an employer, not your "customer." Remember, REAL ICs are the ones that bill for their work.
Virtually no liability as an MT...sm
you never hear about transcriptionists getting sued. You could just increase your homeowner's coverage to a 1 mil liability coverage - which would give you 1 mil liability for everything, not just getting sued as an MT. But I don't carry it and I don't know anyone who does. I have a small service and even when I sign contracts with hospitals that require vendors to carry insurance, they just write a line through that clause.
Liability Insurance
I carry a $1 million umbrella policy that covers basically anything that happens at my home or in my car, except weather and acts of God. This policy costs me $213 per year and I feel that it is well worth it.
somebody please help me liability insurance
i have a job offer that requires liability insurance. company is accuscribe. i have no idea where to go to get this insurance or how much it costs. i am really confused. somebody, please help me!
E & O Liability Insurance
E & O Liability insurance with AAMT runs $300 per year.
Do most IC's buy liability insurance?
I cannot afford to buy this insurance. Am I jeopradizing my home, etc.
I keep wondering if this career is worth it. I seem to put in so many long hours and do not get paid what I really put into it. On the other hand, I do get that freedom of completing the work when I choose and whether it is in my pj's or not.
Just wondering.
Not what I understand -- tax liability
It doesn't matter whether you get a refund it is what your tax liability is, I think you have to have had a liability of over the amount, or paid at least that much as taxes for the refund. If someone does not have enough withheld but still pays over $800 a year in taxes, they should get something. But if your tax liability goes down to zero, and you get EVERYTHING back that you have paid in plus more, then I do not think you would get anything. But again, I am no expert but what I heard is that you had to have paid at least that amount into as taxes after filing.
Oops, liability is his.
x
E&O Liability insurance
I realize many of us think we do not need this insurance. Unfortunately, a local area hospital thinks I do to work for them. Someone had told me they got this through their home owners policy. Any ideas on how to do that? I'm not a member of AAMT. I checked into it before, and it was rather expensive buying it outright from an insurance company. Thanks. I need to find more work and, unfortunately, this is what this hospital requires.
It has happened to most of us. I just wonder what liability ICs have regarding this. nm
That's not true. You do not need liability insurance SM
I went through a similar situation not too long ago. My lawyer informed me that I do not need this insurance. The dictating physician is responsible for the content of the dictated file and if he/she fails to read it/correct mistakes before signing off - he/she is the one that buys the farm, not the transcriptionist.
In other words, error and omission insurance is a crock.
Professional Liability INsurance?
Does anyone have this through AAMT? If so, how much did you pay for it? If not, are there other options out there? I'm looking into errors and omissions and I read about this, and think it would probably be just what I am looking for, but I am curious about the price before I pay for an AAMT membership! Thanks.
I was deposed regarding a liability case
Patient only had a diagnostic test done where I worked. Family claimed it was from an accident. Insurance company bucked it saying it was congenital. My employer had to sue the family for nonpayment and because of that, the family's lawyer got a subpeona to have a disposition. I wasn't upset because I knew I had nothing to offer. The family's lawyer arranged to have it done where I worked (I was in charge of records Quality Assurance and for sending accounts to collections). The family's lawyer asked his mundane questions. The insurance company's lawyer kept trying to get me to say the ordering doctor ordered an unnecessary test. He finally asked me directly if I thought it was an unnecessary test. I looked him straight in the eyes and told him that I was not qualified to answer that as I did not have a medical degree and had no qualfication to state any test, procedure, etc., was every medically necessary. If he wanted a medical opinion, he would have to pay someone who was qualified to answer the question. He turned red and ended the whole thing.
What a total waste of time. 
Liability Insurance Rates? Does
anyone have a rough guesstimate of how much this could run an IC? I have been to various websites and got to an actual policy application form, but they only specify a cost of around $84 to $100, but don't say if that's monthly, quarterly, annually, etc. Anyone have an idea? Thanks!
Yes, sorry, the errors and omissions liability
insurance. I have not heard of it before, but there is a company recommended on company board and they require all IC's to have this type of insurance plan within 30 days of hire. The policy was very evasive to me, and I could only see the figure of $84, which I am guessing now might even be weekly? I think I'll forget about that company...
Do any of you ICs out there carry your own liability insurance if
you are working for an MTSO? I do not carry this insurance and was looking for what you all can advise me. Thanks.
Does anyone have liability insurance? What can you tell me about it? Wondering if I (am IC) need i
x
who will provide IC liability insurance when state farm does not?
I want to be an IC, but in calling my insurance company they do not cover liability insurance for anything to do with medical......Does anyone know who I could contact?
Independent MT
I don't know if this is really where to post this, but I'm not a new MT. I have been doing this for almost 3 years. I have been working for companies and want to get my own doctors. Any ideas on how to advertise? I was thinking of mailing flyers, but am not really that creative and don't really know what to put on there. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks!
I am independent, and believe it or not have a
family and taking a vacation for about 9 days this year. You were saying what could you do and if you still have burn out after a week when coming back to work, we all come back to work, would you be happy to return and no work?? I just said if not happy about returning and you have family and life and burnt out when returning, then you already have my answer. Work, take vacation, return to more work, family still there OR take vacation, do not return to work and stay home with family. Simple, the way I see it.
I would say no, you are an independent
contractor, not an employee. Minimum wage only applies to employees.
those of you that have independent health
insurance, what companies are the policies with? i've done the quote thing with a couple online services that quote several companies, but i've heard of very few of the companies that reply. does anyone have mega? or heard of nase?? or even which companies to avoid would be extremely appreciated. (i'm in indiana with 1 child). TIA!!!!
Independent contractor here (sm)
How about you?
I use an independent tax service myself.
He charges by the form and I have the usual business use of home and other deductions. It has never been more than $200. I can do it myself, but I like the fact that he guarantees if there are any questions or audits HE WILL represent me and be present for any questions. He has some sort of extra certification but I would have to pull out the old papers I have to know exactly what they were.
independent consultant
good morning! Someone had posted information about a good consultant for an independent MT business. Would you be so kind to e-mail me the information. I have been looking into starting my own business and would love to get off on the right track. I know some people don't work with contracts but I would like to cover myself. Plus I think its just good to have one. I feel its just like opening any other type of business and it would be good to know there is someone to talk with about it. Once again, thank you for your time. 
Independent Contractor
This is the form that all ICs have to use for their taxes and I can't find the answer anywhere. .Thanks.
I am independent but when I started this job
was told to choose the hrs and days I would work. I wanted to work there so I have set hours, not a 24 TAT at all.
New independent, need information
Started this year as independent. Tried to reach tax person, not there. Now when I send in my federal taxes, are social security taxes paid out of that or am I supposed to send those somewhere else? Thanks.
You know about the part about independent but
i have set hours and I do not care and I work them, but I have done this work, as stated above, for 30 years and I love the hospital I have worked for for about 20, my work is like taking candy from a baby, know so well and the $$$$ is there for me because of this. I do not care, even if independent, to work anywhere else, very satisfied. I have noticed with being independent when I want to take a vacation, days off, just tell, but if they want me to work another day for say a day off fine with me too.
IC = independent contractor
I think you meant employee not IC as a subcontractor and IC are the same.
Independent Contractor
In the contract I was considered an Independent Contractor, so labor laws, etc. do not apply to me. According to the PA Labor and Industry Board my only option is to take them to small claims court in PA, and I live in CA, so that would be difficult and costly at best... I just mean there are restrictions that apply to me because of my Independent contractor status...
Independent contractor
I am hesitant to take that giant leap into being totally an IC. I have an IC position now and my boss has offered it to me FT and he lets you work as much as you want. Basially I try to keep somewhat of a decent schedule. I also work for a large outsource company. I can make more money as an IC and have checked on a zillion insurance companies, all about the same. I have never been without health insurance doing transcription and that is what scares me especially since I am older.
One friend has quit this company that we work for already. It is such a struggle to get line count especially since they do not pay for "S".
Do any of you IC people that might work for a smaller outsouce company regret being an IC? I know that one has to be organized and set aside money for taxes but I feel that mentally I would be happier if I would just take the dive. I have worked this PT position for 4 years and the boss is great to work for and he tells you all of the time he appreciates your work which one very seldom hears and he also has good bonus money for working holidays if you want and even gets you a Xmas gift which is very nice and he really is thoughtful and I know we make him lots of money, but he is lucky to have dedicated girls too.
I am thinking that I need the mental change and I will be doing the work type I love to do and that is OPs. I have just lost my drive, motivation of going to work everyday for this national company and I just cannot seem to get beyond that barrier no matter how much I have tried. We run out of work, too many people on accounts, then have to sit and wait. My time is valuable just like theirs. My doc wanted to put me on Lexapro and I took three and then I got to thinking I am not going to let my old hospital drive me crazy and depressed and I quit taking the Lexapro. I need to focus on another goal right now. I feel like Eagle Eyes are watching me all of the time. The only thing holding me back is I have medical insurance with this other place but since being there I have only reached the 800 lines a day goal a few times and it took me about 10 hours to do that which is awful. It seems like you type forever and get nowhere. I have lost my speed and I very seldom get to do OPs anymore. I used to do 30 a day at least.
I want to enjoy life a little more and there are other jobs out there that do pay much better than I am making taxes or no taxes to fool with. I have done this type of work for 29 years and maybe I am at that burnout point and just need a fresh change. I really think I need a fresh start so to speak. Thanks for letting me vent. Any feedback will be helpful. I do not have any small children, all grown so I am very very flexible.
Is it worth being an IC, bottom line????
Independent contractor
I have worked for this PT company for 4 years and he has always paid on time, never a problem with paycheck and I personally knew him when he was a salesman for Lanier, so I am comfortable with him.
It is a big step to take and he a 5-year contract with hospital so there is plenty of work. I am a pretty organized person, but if it was not for that darn insurance. Someone told me that the company that I am working for FT will have open enrollment in November and they are changing to a new insurance but you have to be producing 1000 lines a day to qualify. With their platform it takes around a 10-hour work day just to get to the 800 lines. That is what we all thought, 800--no problem. Boy did we have a rude awakening, everyone is struggling. It basically boils down to how much of a hassle for doing own taxes very peace of mind and get back to what I really like to do without someone "dinging for every little comma, semicolon, hyphen and incorrect verbage. I am a good MT but here lately I am beginning to doubt just about everything I type and I am always having my head in the BOS. I have been doing this for 29 years, but I do feel like I am just coming out of English class and just a newbie which is not a good feeling at my age and exp. I want to like to do my job but right now not feeling that. Thanks for input all.
Independent ICs set their own rates.
You risk losing accounts when you raise your rate, but you're the only one who can negotiate that.
independent contractor
It's like being self-employed. You don't get taxes deducted from your paycheck. You have to do it yourself. You are also supposed to be able to set your own hours, although some companies still make you work a shift.
So, if you hire an independent contractor to sm
paint your house, do you do a criminal background check on that person. It's the same thing. Independent contractors are just that.
If you are an independent contractor, you are not an employee so the
rule of thumb is that pay should be made to the employee within 30 days from the date of resignation. If, however, you signed a contract that says specifically that half of you pay can be held until say equipment is returned, etc., then you may have to abide by that. The company may just want to make sure they get their equipment back.
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