What is the Cost of Medical Liability and Malpractice Insurance in Pennsylvania?
What is the Cost of Medical Liability and Malpractice Insurance in Pennsylvania?
These rate estimates are for informational purposes only and are based on the PA primary coverage limits of $500,000 per claim and $1,500,000 aggregate, plus mandatory MCARE excess coverage.
Quotes require a completed application and underwriter approval. Contact us for a custom estimate if you don’t see your specialty.
Average Cost of Medical Malpractice Insurance
by Specialty in Pennsylvania
(2026 data, $500,000 / $1,500,000 primary limits with MCARE excess coverage)
| Specialty | 2026 Annual Premium |
2026 Tail Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $33,660 | $67,320 |
| Cardiovascular Disease– Minor Surgery | $26,520 | $53,040 |
| Dermatology– No Surgery | $9,180 | $18,360 |
| Emergency Medicine | $47,940 | $95,880 |
| Family Practice– No Surgery | $16,320 | $32,640 |
| Gastroenterology– No Surgery | $20,400 | $40,800 |
| General Practice– No Surgery | $16,320 |
$32,640 |
| General Surgery | $69,360 | $138,720 |
| Internal Medicine– No Surgery | $16,320 | $32,640 |
| Neurology– No Surgery | $17,340 | $34,680 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology– Major Surgery | $127,500 | $255,000 |
| Occupational Medicine | $10,200 | $20,400 |
| Ophthalmology– No Surgery | $9,180 | $18,360 |
| Orthopedic Surgery– No Spine | $66,300 | $132,600 |
| Pathology– No Surgery | $11,220 | $22,440 |
| Pediatrics– No Surgery | $16,320 | $32,640 |
| Pulmonary Disease– No Surgery | $23,460 | $46,920 |
| Psychiatry | $10,200 | $20,400 |
| Radiology – Diagnostic | $35,700 | $71,400 |
*Note: These rates are approximate, and each individual has unique factors that can affect their premium.
Have a question? Get fast answers from a U.S.-based MEDPLI agent. Call 1-800-969-1339 or email info@medpli.com.
Average Medical Malpractice Payouts in Pennsylvania From 2015-2024
In 2024, Pennsylvania physicians were held liable for 974 medical malpractice payouts.
- Average Payout: $534,843
- Total Payout: $520,937,250
(Source: National Practitioner Data Bank)
Professional Liability Insurance Options for Pennsylvania Physicians & Surgeons
Physicians in Pennsylvania can choose between these two primary types of medical malpractice insurance:
- Provides coverage for incidents that occurred during the policy period IF the claim is filed while the policy is still active. If a claim is filed after the policy ends, that claim is NOT covered.
- Typically, it offers lower premiums at the start of the policy, but rates increase yearly as the policy matures.
- Physicians must obtain tail insurance coverage when a claims-made policy ends to ensure protection against future claims related to incidents that occurred during the policy period. Tail insurance premiums require a one-time cash payment equal to approximately 200% of the claims-made policy’s annual premium.
- Provides coverage for incidents that occurred during the policy period, regardless of when a claim is reported to the carrier.
- Typically, it offers higher premiums at the start of the policy, but the rate remains constant throughout the policy’s duration.
- Physicians do not need tail coverage when an occurrence policy ends.
Rising Home Insurance Rates: The Hidden Impact on Medical Malpractice Costs
When flooding or severe storms hit Pennsylvania, the damage goes beyond the emotional distress and physical destruction – it ripples through the entire insurance industry, leading to rate increases across every sector as insurance companies attempt to manage the growing risk of frequent extreme weather events.
Why Are Insurance Rates Rising?
What Affects Medical Malpractice Insurance Costs in Pennsylvania?
Reinsurance providers now charge higher premiums and impose stricter payout conditions on professional liability insurance providers. In response, primary insurers increase premiums, including for medical malpractice policies for doctors and surgeons in Pennsylvania.
Severe weather isn’t just a coastal problem—it reshapes the insurance landscape for everyone.
Reinsurance providers now charge higher premiums and impose stricter payout conditions on professional liability insurance providers. In response, primary insurers increase premiums, including for medical malpractice policies for doctors and surgeons in Pennsylvania.
Severe weather isn’t just a coastal problem—it reshapes the insurance landscape for everyone.
Does Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Damage Caps?
In Pennsylvania, economic and non-economic damages for medical malpractice claims are not subject to damage caps. However, punitive damages must not exceed 200% of compensatory damages (except in cases alleging intentional misconduct) and must be at least $100,000.
State law also dictates that punitive damages be allocated as follows:
- 75% to the Plaintiff
- 25% to the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Fund (MCARE)
What Is the Pennsylvania Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice?
According to Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, injury and wrongful death actions must commence within 2 years from when the malpractice was discovered, or should have been discovered.
Pennsylvania’s medical malpractice statute of limitations exceptions:
- Fraudulent concealment
- Foreign object(s) left in the plaintiff’s body
- Injured minors can file a claim up until their 20th birthday
In 2019, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that a statute of repose is unconstitutional, violating the “open courts” provision of the Pennsylvania Constitution. As a result, the state no longer enforces an absolute deadline for filing a medical malpractice claim.
- Fraudulent concealment
- Foreign object(s) left in the plaintiff’s body
- Injured minors can file a claim up until their 20th birthday
In 2019, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that a statute of repose is unconstitutional, violating the “open courts” provision of the Pennsylvania Constitution. As a result, the state no longer enforces an absolute deadline for filing a medical malpractice claim.
Canceled or Non-Renewed? MEDPLI Is Your Best Ally.
Pennsylvania Physicians & Surgeons Partner with MEDPLI
We exclusively broker medical malpractice insurance, focusing daily on making the professional liability process less burdensome and expensive for doctors.
With MEDPLI, Pennsylvania physicians:
Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Insurance FAQ
Premiums in Pennsylvania vary quite a bit. The cost depends on your specialty, where you practice, your claims history, and whether you choose a claims-made or occurrence policy.
High-risk specialties like OB-GYN, neurosurgery, and orthopedics usually pay the most, while primary care and psychiatry are generally on the lower end. Pennsylvania also requires MCARE excess coverage, so that is part of the overall protection physicians must carry.
MEDPLI helps by pulling customized quotes from multiple carriers so physicians can compare real numbers and find the most competitive rate for their needs.
Yes. Pennsylvania requires physicians to carry a private primary malpractice insurance policy and additional excess coverage through the MCARE Fund. Your private carrier provides the main layer of protection, and MCARE adds the mandatory excess limits on top of it.
MEDPLI guides physicians through both requirements and helps ensure everything meets state regulations.
It is important to choose a carrier with strong financial ratings, a reliable history of defending Pennsylvania physicians, and competitive premium options. You should also look at policy features such as consent-to-settle language, prior acts coverage, and tail options. MEDPLI walks physicians through these details so they can choose a carrier that fits their specialty, practice structure, and long-term goals.
Get Your Quote for Medical Malpractice Insurance in Pennsylvania
Whether you’re an Orthopedic Surgeon in Philly or a Radiologist in Scranton, MEDPLI will find you premier coverage at a competitive rate.
Call 800-969-1339 or Request a Quote.
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About the Author
Max Schloemann is a medical malpractice insurance broker helping physicians and surgeons secure Medical Professional Liability coverage. A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Southern Illinois University’s College of Business, he was named Outstanding Management Senior.
Max began his career in 2008 at an industry-leading firm and founded MEDPLI in 2017 to guide private practice doctors and physicians in transition through the complexities of malpractice insurance.
Outside of work, Max, his wife Kristen (a Physician Assistant), and their four kids enjoy the outdoors and attending the kids’ sporting events. For malpractice insurance questions, you can contact Max here.
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