<PAGE>   1

                                                                  Exhibit 10.26


CARVILL REINSURANCE BROKERS
R.K. CARVILL & CO. LTD.
St. Helen's, 1 Undershaft
London EC3A8JT & at Lloyd's
Tel:  0171-9292800
Fax:  0171-9291604

27th September, 1996


Intermed Insurance Co
1903 E Battlefield
Springfield, Missouri  65804
USA

                       REINSURANCE COVER NOTE: 96/1212/RM

This is to certify that, in accordance with your instructions, we have effected
the following placement. Please examine this Cover Note carefully and advise us
immediately if it is in any way incorrect or does not otherwise meet your
requirements.


RESSURED:    INTERMED INSURANCE COMPANY and/or INTERLEX INSURANCE COMPANY
             1903 E. Battlefield
             Springfield, MO  65804
             U.S.A.             (NAIC Code 33367)

PERIOD:      Annual re-signing at 1st October, 1996, of continuous Contract
             commencing 1st February 1995, covering Awards Made against the
             Reassured on and after that date, arising out of policies issued
             by the Reassured on and after 1st January, 1977.

             Contract to be re-signed annually, but may be cancelled at any 1st
             October anniversary date, subject to at least 90 days prior notice.

             At the option of the Reassured, providing such option is
             exercised prior to anniversary date, the current period of this
             Contract may be extended at its anniversary date by 90 days, at
             pro rata additional premium: with reinstatement conditions
             remaining unchanged but to apply to entire extended period,
             reinstatement additional premium being based on final earned
             premium for entire extended period.

TYPE:        CATASTROPHE "AWARDS MADE" EXCESS OF LOSS REINSURANCE CONTRACT.



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CLASS:       Covering Medical Practitioners' Liability policies (including
             Dentists' Liability) and all other ancillary coverages as
             original, and Lawyers' Professional Liability policies and all
             other incurred  as a result of coverages as original; but only to
             indemnify that  portion of their the Reassured in respect of
             liability Ultimate  Net Loss relating to awards in excess of their
             original policy limit and/or relating to claims related
             extra-contractual obligations on such business.

TERRITORIAL
SCOPE:       As per the Reassured's original policies.

LIMIT:       Section (A)

             In respect of original losses to Intermed Insurance Company
             with claims made dates on or after 1st October, 1993:

             To pay up to US$5,000,000 Ultimate Net Loss each and every loss
             occurrence, excess of US$250,000 Ultimate Net Loss each and every
             loss occurrence, which in turn in excess of the Reassured's
             applicable reinsurance programme.

             Reinsurers hereon shall have the benefit of all recoveries under
             all Excess of Loss Contracts effected by the Reassured in respect
             of all original losses coming within the scope of this Section, as
             such Contracts apply to the limit of the original policy against
             which the Award is made: but only to the extent of the limits of
             the Reassured's applicable reinsurance programmes, whether
             commuted exhausted or otherwise, which for the purposes of this
             Section are deemed to be in full force.

Section (B)  In respect of original losses to Intermed Insurance Company with
             claims made dates prior to 1st October, 1993:

             To pay up to US$5,000,000 Ultimate Net Loss each and every loss
             occurrence, excess of US$250,000 Ultimate Net Loss each and every
             loss occurrence, which in turn in excess of the original policy
             limit issued by the Reassured.

Section (C)  In respect of original losses to Interlex Insurance Company with
             claims made dates on or after 1st July 1995:

             To pay up to US$5,000,000 Ultimate Net Loss each and every loss
             occurrence, excess of US$250,000 Ultimate Net Loss each and every
             loss occurrence, which in turn in excess of the Reassured's
             applicable reinsurance programme.



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                Reinsurers hereon shall have the benefit of all recoveries
                under all Excess of Loss Contracts effected by the Reassured
                in respect of all original losses coming within the scope of
                this Section, as such Contracts apply to the limit of the
                original policy against which the Award is made: but only to
                the extent of the limits of the Reassured's applicable
                reinsurance programmes, whether commuted exhausted or
                otherwise, which for the purposes of this Section are deemed to
                be in full force.

                However, the maximum limit recoverable hereunder in respect
                of Sections (A), (B) and (C) combined shall not exceed
                US$5,000,000 each and every loss occurrence.


CO-REINSURANCE
WARRANTY:       Warranted that the Reassured retain 10% of the premium and of
                any loss recoverable hereunder, net and unreinsured in any way.

REINSTATEMENT:  One full reinstatement at 100% additional premium (pro rata as
                to amount).

                Annual Minimum and Deposit Premium $160,000 payable quarterly
                in advance in equal installments.

                Adjustable within 60 days of the expiry hereof at 1.6% of the
                Reassured's subject matter Premium Income for the period
                hereon.

                For adjustment purposes hereon, the above rate is calculated
                on the sum of Intermed Insurance Company's Gross Net Earned
                Premium Income for original policies up to US$1,000,000 or so
                deemed, and Interlex Insurance Company's Gross Net Written
                Premium Income for original policies up to US$1,000,000 or so
                deemed, including Premium in respect of Defence Costs Allowance
                Rider on policy limits up to $1,000,000.

U. S. CLASS-
IFICATION:      U.S. Reinsurance

TAXES:          1% Federal Excise Tax where applicable

LOSS RESERVES:  Letter of Credit (Citibank NA Scheme) in respect of known and
                reported losses only, excluding any losses Incurred But Not
                Reported ("I.B.N.R"), or any application thereto, in compliance
                with Statutory/Regulatory requirements, as required by the
                Reassured from all Reinsurers hereon (including Lloyd's).

CLAIMS
ARRANGEMENTS:   Individual loss advices and settlements


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GENERAL
CONDlTIONS:     Ultimate Net Loss Clause:

                (1)  excluding all loss adjustment expenses and costs
                     incurred up to the time an award is made. However
                     such expenses and costs (net of all amounts recoverable
                     from more specific Reinsurances) shall be included within
                     and have first priority in contributing:

                     a)   Where the applicable underlying Reinsurances provide
                          for pro-rata costs in addition, to the Reassured's
                          applicable retention of US$250,000 for Sections (A)
                          or (B) or (C) hereon only, but;

                     b)   Where the applicable underlying Reinsurances are on
                          a costs-inclusive basis, to the retentions and
                          limits of the said underlying reinsurances and
                          thereafter to the Reassured's applicable retention
                          of US$250,000 for Sections (A) or (B) or (C) hereon
                          only.

                (2)  including, once an award is made, all further expenses
                     and costs/appeal costs for excess of original policy
                     limits and/or extra-contractual obligations awards, net
                     of all amounts recoverable from more specific Reinsurers.

                Reassured's co-reinsurances in their applicable underlying
                reinsurance programme to be disregarded for the purpose of
                determining the Ultimate Net Loss hereunder

                Second Generation Awards Clause.
                Insolvency Clause.
                Errors and Omissions Clause.
                Amendments and Alterations Clause.
                Currency Clause (U.S. Dollars only)
                Access to Records Clause.
                Arbitration Clause.
                Service of Suit Clause (U.S.A. - NMA 1998).
                Insolvency Funds Exclusion Clause.
                Nuclear Incident Exclusion Clause - Liability - Reinsurance
                U.S.A.
                Confidentiality Clause.
                Carvill Intermediary Clause.

                Several Liability Notice
                The subscribing reinsurers' obligations under contracts of
                reinsurance to which they subscribe are several and not joint
                and are limited solely to the extent of their individual
                subscriptions. The subscribing reinsurers are not responsible
                for the subscription of any co-subscribing reinsurer who for



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                any reason does not satisfy all or part of its obligations. -
                Ref: LSW 1001 (Reinsurance).

WORDING:        To be agreed by Underwriters.

INFORMATION:    In years immediately prior to 1st October, 1993 Intermed
                purchased a layer of $2million xs $1million (Claims Made Basis)
                covering Clash and ECO/XPL. Recoveries, if applicable, to inure
                to benefit of Section B.

HEREON:         100.00% of 90.00% of the above LIMIT and PREMIUM.

EFFECTED WITH:  Security as per Schedule A attached hereto.

                R.K. CARVILL & COMPANY LIM1TED



                                  Director


E. & O.E.



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Attaching to and forming part of Cover Note Number: 96/1212/RM


100.00%  LLOYD'S UNDERWR1TERS
         London, England.

100.00% OF 90.00%

The breakdown of Lloyd's Syndicates is as follows:


<TABLE>

Share    Syndicate No.  Pseudonym  NAIC Id.No.
<S>            <C>           <C>   <C>
7.50%          435           DPM   AA 1126435
9.36%          1007          SVH   AA 1127007
3.75%          623           AFB   AA 1126623
3.75%          623           AFB   AA 1126623
7.49%          672           IAM   AA 1126672
7.49%          190           FRW   AA 1126190
5.62%          219           RAE   AA 1126219
5.62%          205           HGJ   AA 1126205
2.09%          1027          MFN   AA 1127027
0.91%          2027          MFN   AA 1128027
5.62%          362           WEH   AA 1126362
2.62%          470           GNR   AA 1126470
1.26%          376           JHV   AA 1126376
0.24%          2376          JHV   AA 1128376
3.39%          861           MEB   AA 1126861
1.10%          1209          MEB   AA 1127209
1.80%          1212          SJB   AA 1127212
2.70%          1212          SJB   AA 1127212
2.22%          1003          SJC   AA 1127003
0.78%          2003          SJC   AA 1128003
0.75%          727           SAM   AA 1126727
0.56%          990           BAR   AA 1126990
0.56%          991           AEG   AA 1126991
0.33%          724           SAH   AA 1126724
0.61%          2724          SAH   AA 1128724
1.03%          227           ROS   AA 1126227
0.09%          2227          CMP   AA 1128227
0.94%          1096          RAS   AA 1127096
0.75%          314           CFP   AA 1126314
1.12%          529           HLM   AA 1126529
0.94%          51            ANT   AA 1126051
0.56%          122           RJH   AA 1126122
0.75%          958           GSC   AA 1126958
1.87%          510           RJK   AA 1126510
0.46%          590           COX   AA 1126590
0.10%          2591          COX   AA 1128591
</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
<S>            <C>           <C>   <C>
0.75%          484           JSM   AA 1126484
0.75%          47            JRR   AA 1126047
0.50%          947           CBK   AA 1126947
0.12%          2947          CBK   AA 1128947
0.25%          923           FCD   AA 1126923
0.06%          2923          FCD   AA 1128923
1.12%          183           DFB   AA 1126183
1.87%          1047          RGW   AA 1127047
0.75%          780           BFC   AA 1126780
0.37%          114           DER   AA 1126114
1.87%          79            PJE   AA 1126079
1.12%          204           FLD   AA 1126204
1.12%          ll41          JEM   AA 1127141
2.62%          1215          BHB   AA 1127215
-------
100.00%  of 90.00%

</TABLE>