Why Product Liability Coverage Matters in MedTech | Lynn Carney, Medmarc | MTW North America 2026

Why It Matters

Adequate product‑liability insurance prevents costly trial delays and protects innovators as AI and new device categories reshape risk landscapes, making specialized coverage a strategic imperative for medtech startups and investors.

Key Takeaways

• MedMark created after 1979 liability crisis, now insures all device types.
• Startups often overlook product liability, causing trial delays and extra costs.
• AI‑enabled devices raise new underwriting challenges requiring historic claims data.
• MedMark offers true worldwide defense, unlike competitors requiring U.S. repatriation.
• New professional‑liability product targets lab‑kit makers, launching within 18 months.

Summary

The interview at MedTech World highlighted why product‑liability coverage is essential for medical‑device companies and introduced MedMark’s niche role as a specialist insurer. Founded after the 1979 U.S. liability crisis, MedMark evolved from an offshore captive to a domestic insurer that underwrites everything from adhesive bandages to artificial hearts. Key insights included the misconception among early‑stage firms that general liability covers product risk, leading to costly trial delays when coverage is secured too late. The discussion also explored how AI‑driven devices create new underwriting complexities, prompting reliance on 47 years of claims data and a dedicated chief underwriting officer to price emerging risks. Lynn Carney cited concrete examples: a startup’s expensive pediatric trial stalled because liability premiums weren’t budgeted, and MedMark’s ability to defend claims worldwide without forcing a return to the United States. The firm’s community engagement—free webinars, conference sponsorships, and a global defense network—reinforces its position as the industry’s go‑to expert. Looking ahead, MedMark plans to launch a professional‑liability product for lab‑kit manufacturers within the next 12‑18 months, expanding its portfolio and addressing a growing segment of the medtech ecosystem.

Original Description

Lynn Carney, Director of Agency and Alliances at Medmarc, joins Logan Plaster in the Media Lounge at MedTech World North America 2026 to discuss product liability insurance, risk management, and the challenges facing MedTech startups as they bring new technologies to market.

With nearly five decades of experience supporting the medical device industry, Medmarc works with companies ranging from early-stage innovators to established global manufacturers, helping them navigate liability risks throughout the product lifecycle.

In this interview, Lynn discusses:

• Common mistakes startups make when planning clinical trials

• The importance of budgeting for insurance early in the development process

• Emerging trends across the MedTech industry

• How insurers evaluate innovative and AI-enabled technologies

• Leveraging decades of claims data to assess risk

• The value of industry events and ecosystem partnerships

Recorded at MedTech World North America, held at the Hilton West Palm Beach, Florida, from 11–13 May 2026.

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