Our Mission
The Washington Joint Underwriting Association (JUA) for Midwives & Birthing Centers exists to ensure that licensed midwives and freestanding birth centers in Washington State have access to essential professional liability insurance. Our mission is to protect the public by supporting a stable, sustainable midwifery workforce through responsible insurance coverage and risk management resources.
Our Purpose
The JUA was created to fill a critical gap in the insurance market by providing liability coverage for eligible midwives and birth centers when commercial insurers were unwilling or unable to offer it. We help ensure that licensed providers can continue to offer safe, community-based care throughout Washington.
Established Under Washington State Law
The JUA was created by the Washington State Legislature in the 1990s and is governed by RCW 48.87, which authorizes the formation of a joint underwriting association when liability insurance is not reasonably available through the private market. The JUA is not a private insurer, but a nonprofit mechanism that pools risk among member insurers authorized to do business in Washington.
Who We Serve
The Washington State JUA offers affordable professional liability coverage to:
✓ Licensed Midwives in WA
✓ Certified nurse-midwives in community settings
✓ freestanding birth centers licensed in WA
