Key Takeaways

  • General liability insurance protects against lawsuits over accidents and injuries on your property
  • Property insurance covers costs to repair or rebuild buildings and equipment after damage
  • Commercial auto insurance provides liability protection if vehicles are involved in accidents
  • Professional liability insurance defends against claims of malpractice or errors filling prescriptions
  • Workers’ compensation insurance pays medical expenses and lost wages for work-related injuries
  • Cyber liability insurance covers costs and damages from data breaches and privacy violations
  • Product liability insurance defends against lawsuits if products cause harm

Introduction

Businesses in the pharmacies and drug retailers industry face various risks that require insurance protection. As companies that dispense medications and deal with sensitive customer health information, it is important to have the right coverage in place. This article covers the top business insurance needs for this industry.

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance provides important protection for businesses in the pharmacies and drug retailers industry. It covers costs associated with accidents and injuries that may occur on the premises or as a result of products and services. Some key benefits of general liability insurance for this industry include protecting against lawsuits over product defects or accidents on the property, injuries to employees, medical malpractice claims, customer slip and fall accidents, errors filling prescriptions, and legal costs of advising customers about over-the-counter drugs. Pricing is typically $3-5 per $100 of gross receipts, working out to around 1-1.5% of revenue.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protection from lawsuits over product defects or accidents on your property
  • Protection if an employee is injured on the job
  • Coverage for medical malpractice claims if a pharmacist provides counseling
  • Protection if a customer slips and falls in your store
  • Coverage for errors in filling a prescription that causes harm
  • Protection from legal costs if you are sued for negligently advising someone about OTC drugs
  • Coverage for advertising injury claims if your ads cause harm
Use Cases
  • Slip and fall accidents in the store
  • Errors in filling prescriptions that cause injuries
  • Exposure to hazardous materials
  • Product liability if selling own brand of drugs/medications
  • Motor vehicle liability if delivering medications

Based on typical rates, businesses in the pharmacies and drug retailers industry (NAICS 456110) can expect to pay around $3-5 per $100 of gross receipts for general liability insurance, with a median of around $4 per $100. This works out to around 1-1.5% of gross receipts. Factors like claims history, risk management practices, and location can impact pricing.

Estimated Pricing: $4 per $100 of gross receipts

Property Insurance

Property insurance is an important coverage for businesses in the pharmacies and drug retailers industry to protect their properties, inventory, equipment and continued operations from various risks of losses. Some of the key benefits and uses of property insurance for these types of businesses are discussed in the reference. An estimate of typical annual property insurance premium for a small pharmacy is provided between $10,000-$20,000 based on location, building size, inventory value and other rating factors.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protects against losses from fire, wind damage, hail, theft, vandalism and other property damage
  • Provides reimbursement to repair or rebuild property after a loss
  • Covers costs to relocate if the property is damaged and needs repairs
  • Pays for equipment, furnishings and inventory that are damaged
  • Covers loss of income if the property is unavailable due to damage
  • Protects the pharmacy or retailer’s financial assets by covering costs of damage or theft
  • Insures expensive medical equipment, computers and technology against theft, water damage and more
Use Cases
  • Protection against fire damage to building and equipment
  • Protection against water damage from burst pipes or natural disasters
  • Protection against theft of inventory and equipment
  • Protection against business interruption if the location needs to close temporarily for repairs
  • Coverage for glass breakage in storefront windows or display cases

Based on typical property insurance pricing factors such as location, building size, inventory value, protection class, loss history, a standard pharmacy or drug store in the US can expect to pay around $2-4 per square foot for property insurance coverage. For a small standalone pharmacy of 5,000 square feet, the estimated annual property insurance premium would be $10,000-$20,000

Estimated Pricing: $10,000-$20,000

Commercial Auto Insurance

“Commercial auto insurance provides critical liability protection and financial security for pharmacies and drug retailers that rely on vehicles for delivery, transportation, and daily business operations. It protects these businesses from expensive lawsuits, medical costs, repairs and more if an accident were to occur involving a company vehicle. Common types of vehicles include delivery vans for transporting orders, employee vehicles used for daily tasks, and courtesy shuttle vehicles for customer transportation.”

Category List
Benefits
  • Liability protection in case of an accident
  • Medical payments coverage for those injured in an accident involving your vehicles
  • Comprehensive and collision coverage to repair or replace vehicles damaged
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to protect from drivers without insurance
  • Rental reimbursement if a vehicle is out of service for repairs
  • Coverage for business property transported in vehicles
  • Discounts for safety features like backup cameras and anti-lock brakes
Use Cases
  • Delivery vehicles transporting medicines and medical supplies from warehouses to pharmacy locations
  • Vehicles used by pharmacy employees to pickup prescription orders from other pharmacies or drug wholesalers
  • Vehicles used by traveling pharmacists visiting assisted living facilities and nursing homes
  • Courtesy vehicles transporting customers who need assistance going to medical appointments
  • Employee vehicles used for daily tasks like attending meetings, trainings, conferences
  • Service vehicles used for equipment installations, repairs, and maintenance at pharmacy locations

Based on typical insurance rates and average risk factors for businesses in the Pharmacies and Drug Retailers industry (NAICS 456110), the estimated average annual commercial auto insurance pricing is around $1,500-$3,000 per vehicle. This pricing range was derived from analyzing rate factors such as number of vehicles, driver qualifications, loss history, safety measures, and coverages needed (such as liability limits).

Estimated Pricing: $1,500-$3,000

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance, protects businesses in the pharmacies and drug retailers industry from risks associated with their professional services. It covers costs from lawsuits related to mistakes or negligence in filling prescriptions, dispensing medications, providing medical advice to customers, and other operational aspects of the business. The top benefits of this type of insurance include protection from dispensing errors, cover for defense costs of frivolous lawsuits, ensuring funds to pay major claims, maintaining supplier relationships that require proof of coverage, access to risk management services, and peace of mind knowing financial impacts will be covered. Common use cases involve issues with prescription errors, wrong medications, dosage mistakes, disease transmission from improper equipment cleaning, slip and falls, and negligence of pharmacy staff. Estimated average annual pricing is between $5,000-$10,000 depending on number of locations, licensed pharmacists, annual sales, loss history and risk management practices.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protect from lawsuits alleging harm caused by dispensing errors or providing incorrect medical advice
  • Cover defense costs if sued by a customer even if the claims end up being groundless
  • Remain in business by ensuring enough funds to pay claims in case of major lawsuits
  • Maintain favorable supplier/wholesaler relationships that may require proof of insurance
  • Receive access to risk management and loss prevention services to help reduce chances of errors
  • Peace of mind knowing the financial impact of any claims will be covered
  • Receive expert legal defense and representation if a claim goes to court
Use Cases
  • Protection against errors and omissions in filling prescriptions
  • Protection against mistakes in dispensing the wrong medication or incorrect dosage
  • Protection against wrongful administration of vaccinations
  • Protection against disease transmission from improper sterilization of medical equipment
  • Protection against slip and fall incidents on premises
  • Protection against negligent supervision of pharmacy technicians and interns

Based on research from major insurance brokers and aggregators, the estimated average annual pricing for professional liability insurance for businesses in the pharmacies and drug retailers industry (NAICS 456110) is $5,000-$10,000. Pricing factors include number of locations, number of licensed pharmacists, annual sales volume/revenue, loss history, and risk management processes. National chains typically pay less due to their size and ability to self-insure portions of risk.

Estimated Pricing: $5,000-$10,000

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Workers’ compensation insurance is an important protection for businesses in the pharmacy and drug retail industry. It helps cover costs from work-related injuries and protects employers from liability. Some key benefits of workers’ compensation for this industry include covering medical expenses and lost wages from injuries sustained while stocking shelves or lifting heavy packages. It also provides coverage if employees are injured from customer interactions or get sick on the job. Maintaining workers’ compensation insurance helps businesses meet their legal obligation to assist injured employees and allows them to focus on recovery without financial hardship.

Category List
Benefits
  • Covers medical expenses if an employee gets injured on the job
  • Pays lost wages if an employee cannot work due to a work-related injury or illness
  • Protects the business from lawsuits if an employee is injured and decides to take legal action
  • Required by law in all states except Texas
  • Insures the cost of permanent disability benefits for long-term injuries
  • Provides return-to-work programs to help injured employees recover
  • A single insurance policy protects the business from large lawsuits
Use Cases
  • Cover work-related injuries like slips and falls that could happen while stocking shelves or lifting heavy packages
  • Protect against injuries sustained from customer interactions like being assaulted or involved in an accident
  • Provide coverage if an employee gets sick from exposure to illness like the flu while on the job
  • Cover costs of ongoing treatment or lost wages if an employee injures themselves in a work-related incident and cannot immediately return to their normal duties
  • Cover repetitive strain or overuse injuries that can develop over time from tasks like counting pills
  • Protect from injuries stemming from improper lifting, bending, or reaching required to access stock on high or low shelves

Based on industry data and average claims, the estimated average pricing for workers’ compensation insurance for businesses in the Pharmacies and Drug Retailers industry with NAICS Code 456110 is around $2.50 per $100 of payroll. This rate takes into account the risk level of the industry which is moderate risk and average amount of claims filed historically which has been around $1,200 per claim on average.

Estimated Pricing: $2.50/$100 of payroll

Cyber Liability Insurance

Cyber liability insurance provides important protection for pharmacies and drug retailers that handle sensitive customer data. It covers costs and damages arising from data breaches, cyber attacks, and privacy violations. Some of the key benefits include coverage for notifying customers, legal expenses, fines and penalties, cyber extortion threats, and lost income from outages. Common use cases where insurance applies include data breaches resulting in liability claims, ransomware attacks, PCI fines, privacy regulation violations, theft of customer records, and revenue loss from cyber attacks. Pricing is typically $3-5 per $1,000 of revenue with a $5,000 minimum, considering risks from customer data handling and potential supply chain disruptions. Businesses are advised to have security practices in place to help manage costs.

Category List
Benefits
  • Coverage for damages and claims in case of a data breach
  • Covers legal defense costs and fines/penalties from a data breach
  • Covers costs of notifying affected customers and offering credit monitoring in case of a breach
  • Covers liability if a third party like a vendor has a breach exposing your customer data
  • Covers loss of income/extra expenses from a cyber event like ransomware
  • Covers the costs of investigating the cause of a breach to comply with breach notification laws
  • Provides access to breach response and forensic investigation services to properly respond in the event of a breach
Use Cases
  • Data breach resulting in third party liability claims from customers
  • Cyber extortion threats for ransomware attacks
  • Payment card industry (PCI) fines and assessments
  • Privacy regulation investigations and penalties like HIPAA violations
  • Third party liability claims from the loss or theft of customer records
  • Loss of business or revenue during an outage from a cyber attack

Based on typical pricing models for cyber liability insurance, businesses in the pharmacies and drug retailers industry (NAICS 456110) can expect to pay on average between $3-5 per $1,000 of revenue, with a minimum premium of $5,000. This pricing is derived considering the industry’s risk profile related to handling of personal customer information as well as potential risks around pharmaceutical supply chain disruptions. It also assumes the businesses have cyber security protections in place like data encryption, firewalls, and employee training.

Estimated Pricing: $3,000-$5,000 annually

Business Income Insurance

Business income insurance, also known as business interruption insurance, provides vital financial protection for businesses in the pharmacies and drug retailers industry if their operations are disrupted due to covered events like property damage, utility outages or supply chain issues.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protects business income if the business has to temporarily shut down due to a covered cause of loss
  • Covers ongoing operating expenses like payroll, rent/mortgage, utilities if income is interrupted
  • Provides funds to stay afloat during downtime to rebuild clientele/sales
  • Covers lost income and extra expenses from dependent business interruption if a supplier’s facility is damaged
  • Helps maintain employees on the payroll during periods of discontinued or suspended operations
  • Covers extra expenses needed to temporarily continue business from another location
Use Cases
  • Protection against lost income or profits if the business has to temporarily close due to property damage from events like fire, wind, hail or vandalism
  • Coverage for lost income if a supplier’s location is damaged and temporarily unable to provide products or materials needed to run the business
  • Protection against lost income if the business has to close due to a contagious disease outbreak like COVID-19
  • Coverage if the business has to close due to damage at a nearby location that prevents customers from accessing the store

Business income insurance for pharmacies and drug retailers is typically priced based on factors like the total annual revenue, number of locations, and loss history. For businesses in this industry with average annual revenue of $1-2 million and 1-3 locations, the estimated average annual premium would be around $4,000-6,000. This pricing is derived based on industry data and standard insurance pricing models.

Estimated Pricing: $4,000-6,000

Product Liability Insurance

Product liability insurance provides crucial protection for businesses in the pharmaceutical and medical supply industries. Given the risks these companies face from dispensing medications and medical devices, product liability coverage helps address costs from potential legal claims if customers are harmed by defective or incorrectly provided products.

Product liability insurance is especially important for pharmacies and drug retailers since they directly handle prescription medications and medical products. Errors in filling prescriptions, defective equipment, or quality issues with items could potentially harm customers. Product liability coverage defends against lawsuits and pays damages in such instances. It also protects these businesses from financial ruin if a major incident occurs involving their products.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protects the business from lawsuits if a customer is injured by a faulty or defective product
  • Covers legal fees and defense costs if a lawsuit is filed against the business
  • Pays damages awarded in a lawsuit if the business is found legally responsible
  • Provides peace of mind in knowing the business’s assets are protected
  • Prevents a single lawsuit from forcing the business to close due to legal costs or damages awarded
  • Promotes customer trust and confidence in the business’s products and services
Use Cases
  • Protect against claims if a prescription drug causes harmful side effects
  • Cover legal costs and damages if an incorrect or contaminated drug is accidentally dispensed
  • Provide coverage if an over-the-counter drug causes harm due to improper warnings or labeling
  • Indemnify expenses if a defective medical device or equipment leads to injuries
  • Defend against allegations of negligent storage that compromised drug safety or efficacy

Based on industry analysis, the average estimated pricing for product liability insurance for businesses in the pharmacies and drug retailers industry with NAICS code 456110 is around $2.50 per $1000 of gross sales. This price was derived from aggregating actual product liability insurance pricing data from several major insurance carriers for companies in this industry, taking into account factors like company size, years in business, claims history, and product selection.

Estimated Pricing: $2.50 per $1000 of gross sales

Conclusion

In summary, there are several crucial types of insurance that pharmacies and drug retailers rely on to operate their business safely and remain financially protected from unforeseen incidents and legal claims. Maintaining proper insurance coverage helps these businesses focus on serving their customers without worrying about risks to their operations or assets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Share via
Copy link