In Need of Medical Malpractice Insurance in South Carolina?
If you are a physician needing medical malpractice coverage in South Carolina, MEDPLI will work for you as your only trusted broker. Use the information in this 2025 Buying Guide to get ready to discuss your medical malpractice insurance needs with a MEDPLI insurance broker. Get a quote.
South Carolina Medical Professional Liability Insurance Market Summary
Physicians in South Carolina have many options for obtaining medical malpractice insurance. Still, we recommend carriers rated “A” by A.M. Best because of their long-term financial solvency and a history of providing robust financial and legal support for South Carolina physicians.
Doctors in South Carolina have several good options for medical liability insurance. The best insurers in the state are:
Save time and effort by getting a wide range carrier quotes through MEDPLI as your single point of contact. You can get a quote through us today.
Malpractice Insurance Rates for South Carolina Doctors
South Carolina’s rates are moderate compared to the rest of the country and lower than those in some of its surrounding states. This information includes generally estimated premiums, which vary significantly based on practice location, medical/surgical specialty, and past claims history. Talk to a MEDPLI broker to get quotes tailored to your unique coverage needs.
| Specialty | Approximate Rate |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $13,000 |
| Cardiovascular Disease Minor Surgery | $17,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $24,000 |
| Family Practice No Surgery | $10,000 |
| General Surgery | $37,000 |
| Internal Medicine No Surgery | $11,000 |
| Gastroenterology No Surgery | $12,000 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology Major Surgery | $55,000 |
| Occupational Medicine | $7,000 |
| Ophthalmology No Surgery | $7,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery No Spine | $31,000 |
| Pathology No Surgery | $10,000 |
| Pediatrics No Surgery | $10,000 |
| Psychiatry | $7,000 |
| Radiology – Diagnostic | $13,000 |
Using the South Carolina limits of $1,000,000 Each Claim / $3,000,000 Aggregate per year in coverage (the most common limits of liability in South Carolina).
Each practice’s risk profile differs, and your rates could vary significantly. MEDPLI specializes in medical malpractice insurance and tail insurance coverage for South Carolina physicians and surgeons. To get estimates based on your specific scenario, request a personalized quote. Get a quote.
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for South Carolina Physicians
Here is a brief overview of the most common types of medical malpractice insurance for physicians in South Carolina:
1. Claims Made Insurance
Claims-made malpractice insurance provides coverage if the policy is in effect when the incident occurred AND when the claim is filed. If a claim is filed after the end of the policy date, the claim is NOT covered.
With a claims-made policy, you need tail malpractice insurance, a separately purchased insurance policy or endorsement, to ensure full protection. Learn more about claims-made insurance here.
2. Occurrence Insurance
Occurrence malpractice insurance covers incidents that occurred during the policy year, regardless of when a claim is reported to the carrier.
Occurrence policies are more costly at the start of the policy, but the rate stays the same for the length of the policy, and there is no need for tail coverage when the policy ends. Read more about occurrence insurance.
3. Tail Insurance
Since most malpractice insurance policies are underwritten on a claims-made basis, you will be exposed to a lawsuit if a former patient files a claim against you and you do not secure tail coverage. When preparing to leave your employer, you should seek tail coverage options with an independent broker like MEDPLI.
Tail insurance covers you for a specific time period. The new employer’s policy will not cover you for prior acts of a former practice hence tail coverage is needed. Read more about tail malpractice insurance for physicians.
Contact an experienced MEDPLI insurance broker who will help you find an excellent tail policy at a great price.
Telemedicine in South Carolina
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed healthcare providers into widespread use of telehealth, prompting Medicaid and private insurers to adjust policies to meet growing demand. While telehealth usage has stabilized since the pandemic, it remains significantly higher than in 2019, highlighting the value of a hybrid healthcare model.
Introduced in 2023 and signed in 2024, South Carolina enacted the Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act, which updated telemedicine laws. Key changes include:
- Defining telehealth practices
- Expanding access to controlled substances
- Establishing practice standards
- Increasing access to care
- Reducing regulatory barriers
These reforms provide patients with more efficient, flexible, and cost-effective healthcare options, especially in rural South Carolina areas where in-person medical providers are less accessible.
Tort Reform in South Carolina
South Carolina’s efforts to reform its medical liability system began in 1976 with the establishment of the South Carolina Medical Malpractice Patient Compensation Fund, followed by The South Carolina Tort Reform Act of 2005. More recently, tort reform has become a key topic among state politicians, leading to various bills for additional changes.
- Non-economic damage caps were set at $350,000 with some exceptions provided for gross negligence or destruction of medical records.
- Plaintiffs are required to serve a Notice of Intent to File Suit to all potential defendants.
- Plaintiffs must file an “affidavit of an expert witness” specifying the negligent act(s) signed by an expert who meets the court-outlined standards of a qualified professional.
- Parties involved in a potential medical malpractice lawsuit must participate in mediation to try and resolve the dispute before the suit is filed.
- In instances where non-economic damages are awarded, punitive damages cannot exceed the greater of three times the amount awarded to each claimant or $500,000.
- Joint and several liability does not apply for a defendant whose conduct is determined to be less than fifty percent of the total fault.
In 2023, South Carolina considered several tort reform bills, including Bill 87, Bill 3046, and Senate Bill 533. These are all intended to balance the interests of plaintiffs and defendants and promote fairness and efficiency in the legal system.
South Carolina’s Damage Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
In 2005, South Carolina joined several other states by passing the South Carolina Noneconomic Damage Awards Act, which set limits on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. These damages include losses such as emotional distress, pain and suffering, depression, and anxiety.
South Carolina’s medical malpractice damage caps are as follows:
- A $350,000 cap on non-economic damages per claimant against a single healthcare provider or institution.
- If multiple defendants are involved, total non-economic damages are capped at $1.05 million, but no defendant can be required to pay more than $350,000.
- There are no caps on economic damages, which cover costs like medical bills, funeral expenses, and lost wages.
- The maximum for punitive damages is $500,000 or three times the economic damage award, whichever is higher.
- For government-affiliated hospitals, the pain and suffering cap is $300,000.
Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims
The major guidelines regarding the state’s medical malpractice statute of limitations are as follows:
- An individual in South Carolina must file a medical malpractice claim within three years of the procedure that caused the injury.
- If the injury is not discovered within the three-year deadline, the claim must be filed within three years of the discovery (or when it should have been found), with no more than six years passing from when the injury was caused.
- In cases where a foreign object was left in the body, a medical malpractice claim must be filed within two years of the date of discovery, and the six-year deadline does not apply.
- In cases of wrongful death, the majority of claims need to be filed within three years of the death of the deceased person.
- Claims filed by or on behalf of minors must be filed within seven years after the date of injury or up until their 19th birthday.
Medical Malpractice Insurance Outcomes in South Carolina for 2023
The total medical malpractice payout in South Carolina for 2023 was $52,092,500.
Closing Remarks
South Carolina presents numerous career opportunities for medical providers, but like many Southern states, it faces a growing physician shortage.
Historically, the state had only one medical school, and efforts to attract out-of-state doctors have had mixed results. Additionally, physicians today work fewer hours than in previous generations, and over a third of South Carolina’s practicing doctors are nearing retirement, with 65% expected to retire in the next decade.
According to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, every county in the state is classified as medically underserved. Areas like Oconee, Anderson, Laurens, Pickens, and Spartanburg notably need primary care doctors. Even major medical hubs such as Greenville are experiencing shortages in critical specialties, including endocrinology, neurology, rheumatology, and psychiatry.
At MEDPLI, we support doctors across all specialties. Whether you’re a plastic surgeon in Charleston, a radiologist in Columbia, or a urologist in Mount Pleasant, we help you secure the medical malpractice insurance you need. For coverage from an A-rated carrier, request a quote today.
