In Need of Medical Malpractice Insurance in Massachusetts?
If you are a physician needing medical malpractice coverage in Massachusetts, MEDPLI will work for you as your only trusted broker.
Use the information in this 2024 Buying Guide to get ready to discuss your medical malpractice insurance needs with a MEDPLI insurance broker. Get a quote.
Massachusetts Medical Professional Liability Insurance Market Summary
Physicians in Massachusetts have many options for obtaining medical malpractice insurance, but 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 Massachusetts physicians.
Some of the top-rated medical malpractice insurance companies serving Massachusetts physicians include:
Malpractice Insurance Rates for Massachusetts Doctors
This information includes general estimated premiums which can vary greatly based on many factors, such as 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 Claims Made Rate | Approximate Tail Rate | Approximate Occurrence Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $25,000 | $40,000 | $28,000 |
| Cardiovascular Disease Minor Surgery | $29,000 | $48,000 | $32,800 |
| Emergency Medicine | $38,000 | $66,000 | $43,600 |
| Family Practice No Surgery | $23,000 | $36,000 | $25,600 |
| General Surgery | $51,000 | $92,000 | $59,200 |
| Internal Medicine No Surgery | $23,000 | $36,000 | $125,600 |
| Neurology No Surgery | $27,000 | $44,000 | $30,400 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology Major Surgery | $81,000 | $152,000 | $95,200 |
| Occupational Medicine | $17,000 | $24,000 | $18,400 |
| Ophthalmology No Surgery | $18,000 | $26,000 | $19,600 |
| Orthopedic Surgery No Spine | $45,000 | $80,000 | $52,000 |
| Pathology No Surgery | $21,000 | $32,000 | $23,200 |
| Pediatrics No Surgery | $20,000 | $30,000 | $22,000 |
| Psychiatry | $18,000 | $26,000 | $19,600 |
*Using the MA standard limits of $1,000,000 Each Claim / $3,000,000 Aggregate per year in coverage
Each practice risk profile is different, and your rates could vary significantly. MEDPLI specializes in medical malpractice insurance and tail insurance coverage for Massachusetts physicians and surgeons. To get estimates based on your specific scenario, reach out for a personalized quote. Get a quote.
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for Massachusetts Physicians
Here is a brief overview of the most common types of medical malpractice insurance for physicians in Massachusetts:
1. Claims-Made Insurance
Claims-made malpractice insurance provides coverage if the policy is in effect both when the incident took place 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, which is a separately purchased insurance policy or endorsement, to make sure you have full protection.
Learn more about claims-made insurance here.
2. Occurrence Insurance
Occurrence malpractice insurance provides coverage for 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 you are 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 is not going to cover you for prior acts of a former practice, hence tail coverage is needed.
Read more about tail malpractice insurance for physicians.
Reach out to an experienced MEDPLI insurance broker who will work for you to find a tail policy at a great price.
Telemedicine in Massachusetts
Physicians must be licensed to practice in Massachusetts in order to provide telehealth services in the state. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, temporary legislation was quickly passed that allowed safe access to quality healthcare through telehealth services, including requiring all commercial insurers and the Group Insurance Commission to:
- Cover medically necessary telehealth services in the same manner they cover in-person services.
- Impose no restrictions on the technology used to deliver telemedicine.
- Reimburse telemedicine services at the same rate as face to face visits.
In January 2021, through the passage of “An Act Promoting a Resilient Health Care System that Puts Patients First”, Massachusetts expanded the emergency orders to require that insurers provide coverage for health care services that are delivered via telehealth, provided the services would have been covered if they were performed in-person and the services are an appropriate use of telehealth. The law also lifted restrictions on the settings where telehealth services can be provided, giving patients more choice in where and how to obtain virtual care. Telehealth continues to be an accepted and well-received mode of patient care in the state.
Doctors that take care of patients via telehealth are subject to the same liabilities as with in-person treatment. Reach out to a MEDPLI insurance broker to make sure your existing medical malpractice policy extends coverage to perform telehealth services in Massachusetts.
Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims
The statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Massachusetts can be complex and can vary from case to case. Consulting with MEDPLI insurance brokers who understand the ins and outs of this system is an important part of protecting your medical practice with strong medical malpractice insurance coverage.
Medical Malpractice Insurance Outcomes in Massachusetts
The total malpractice payout in Massachusetts was $97,640,000 as of 9/30/2023 (Source: National Practitioner Data Bank).
Closing Remarks
Massachusetts is home to numerous medical centers and several top hospitals in the nation, including Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Also, the top 4 of the 10 highest paid jobs in Massachusetts are in the medical field, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that surgeons, OB/GYNs, anesthesiologists, and family medicine physicians are the highest paid professions in the state.
Still, physicians practicing in Massachusetts must battle with expensive premiums for medical malpractice insurance, and some argue that further tort reform is needed to retain top medical talent. Most of all, the state’s physicians need strong medical malpractice coverage to protect against severe financial loss in case of a liability lawsuit.
