Are You 'Dopesick'? Opioid Coverage Update

Claims arising from the scourge of opioid addiction have continued to mount and only increase in complexity. As the targets of these claims have spread beyond the major pharmaceutical companies to pharmacies, individual physicians, and others, the challenges presented by these claims for insurers have grown exponentially. Government entities are now frequently the plaintiffs in these battles, and the result is that both the defense and indemnity costs associated with these claims have reached staggering proportions. Insurers have resisted these claims, spawning a plethora of coverage litigation in state and federal courts across the United States. The claims raise fundamental questions of policy interpretation, including whether these claims constitute an “occurrence,” as well as the applicability of numerous exclusions. This program will explore the latest developments in these coverage battles from a national perspective, including tips for insurers on how to effectively control the costs associated with these claims. The program will also encompass an overview of where the underlying tort litigation stands.