New Jersey physicians insured through The Doctors Company (TDC) may get a break on their renewal. The Doctors Company has filed a rate decrease for its physicians and surgeons professional liability program in New Jersey, effective October 1, 2026, for both new and renewal business.

Why the Rates Are Dropping

The Doctors Company based the filing on New Jersey claims experience from 2011 through 2024. That review pointed to better loss dynamics than the carrier had previously priced in, enough to support a nearly 30% indicated decrease before landing on the final -25.1% figure.

Rate cuts of this size are unusual in medical malpractice. Premiums in this line tend to move in cycles, often trending up as claims costs and reinsurance pricing rise. 

A double-digit decrease from a major carrier is a signal that New Jersey’s loss environment has improved. And it’s not just a one-off pricing move.

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What’s Changing for New Jersey Physicians

The filing brings an overall rate impact of -25.1% across The Doctors Company’s New Jersey program. A few numbers worth knowing:

  • Rate changes across specialties range from -45.9% to -22.7%
  • Most physicians will land at the low end of that range, around a -22.7% reduction
  • The change is projected to reduce written premium by roughly $553,758 across a book of about $2.2 million and 133 policyholders

What It Means for the Medical Malpractice Market Going Forward

Here is where things get more interesting. With ProAssurance now under its umbrella, The Doctors Company has one less major competitor in the market, which means physicians have one fewer independent option to choose from when shopping for coverage. 

That shift alone makes The Doctors Company a stronger, more dominant player nationally, which can be a good thing for access to coverage, but is not a home-run choice. You will still benefit from comparing rates and coverage with other industry leaders. 

If you were with ProAssurance, keep an eye on your renewal. For years, ProAssurance kept its premiums lower than what its claims payouts actually justified, a gap that wasn’t sustainable in the long term. Now that ProAssurance’s book of business is part of The Doctors Company, expect rates on former ProAssurance policies to be adjusted to support the actual risk. When that renewal notice comes, it may be worth shopping around rather than assuming the current rate will hold.

Keep in mind that rates across the industry have been gradually ticking up. As long as carriers and physicians continue pushing back on claims where no wrongdoing occurred, rather than settling reflexively, that discipline should help keep rates from climbing sharply. 

Time will tell exactly how pricing shakes out on former ProAssurance policies, but a dramatic spike isn’t expected.

What This Means If You’re Insured in New Jersey

If you’re already with The Doctors Company in New Jersey, this reduction should show up automatically at your next renewal on or after October 1, 2026. No action needed.

If you’re not with The Doctors Company, or you haven’t checked your rate against the market recently, this is a good moment to do that. Remember, one carrier’s rate decrease doesn’t mean it’s the best rate available to you. 

Every carrier prices specialty, claims history, and location differently, and a physician who’s a great fit for The Doctors Company might get a better number somewhere else, or vice versa. The only way to know is to compare quotes side by side.

A trusted broker like MEDPLI can help.

Compare Rates and Find the Best Fit

MEDPLI works with The Doctors Company and a panel of other A-rated carriers. So instead of taking one company’s word that you’re getting a good deal, we can actually check it against what else is out there for your specialty and coverage needs. 

If you’re a New Jersey physician with a renewal coming up, it costs nothing to find out where you stand.

Request a New Jersey malpractice insurance quote comparison from MEDPLI.

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Max Schloemann

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. Contact Max for malpractice insurance questions.

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