Top 4 Medical Malpractice Insurance Carriers in Louisiana
We recommend carriers with an A.M. Best rating of “A” or higher. An A-rating indicates financial strength, long-term solvency, and an established history of protecting Louisiana physicians.
- LAMMICO
- MedPro
- Coverys
- ProAssurance
2025 Louisiana Malpractice Insurance Rates by Specialty
These rate estimates are for informational purposes only and are based on the LA standard limits of $100,000 each claim / $300,000 aggregate per year in coverage. The Louisiana Patient’s Compensation Fund (PCH) surcharge is in addition to these estimates.
Quotes require a completed application and approval from the underwriter. Contact us for a custom estimate if you don’t see your specialty.
| Specialty | 2025 Annual Premium |
2025 Tail Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| Cardiovascular Disease– Minor Surgery | $17,000 | $34,000 |
| Dermatology– No Surgery | $7,000 | $14,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $27,000 | $54,000 |
| Family Practice– No Surgery | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Gastroenterology– No Surgery | $14,000 | $28,000 |
| General Practice– No Surgery | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| General Surgery | $38,000 | $76,000 |
| Internal Medicine– No Surgery | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Neurology– No Surgery | $13,000 | $26,000 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology– Major Surgery | $65,000 | $130,000 |
| Occupational Medicine | $7,000 | $14,000 |
| Ophthalmology– No Surgery | $7,000 | $14,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery– No Spine | $35,000 | $70,000 |
| Pathology– No Surgery | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Pediatrics– No Surgery | $11,000 | $22,000 |
| Pulmonary Disease– No Surgery | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Psychiatry | $7,000 | $14,000 |
| Radiology – Diagnostic | $16,000 | $32,000 |
Louisiana Medical Malpractice Payouts From 2015-2024
The Hidden Link Between Weather Disasters and Rising Malpractice Insurance Rates
When hurricanes, floods, and other severe weather events hit, the damage isn’t just physical; it drives up insurance costs statewide. As extreme weather events become more frequent, insurers are raising rates to cover the growing risks. But the impact goes beyond homeowners insurance; businesses, especially medical professionals, also feel the squeeze.
Why Are Insurance Rates Rising?
How Louisiana’s Medical Malpractice Rates Are Impacted
Reinsurance providers now charge higher premiums and impose stricter payout conditions. In response, primary insurers, including those offering medical malpractice coverage in Louisiana, increase premiums.
While Louisiana has seen less substantial malpractice premium increases than other states, as homeowners insurance costs continue to climb and reinsurers distribute those risks across markets, Louisiana physicians should brace for potential future increases in malpractice premiums.
Severe weather isn’t just a coastal problem; it’s reshaping insurance costs for everyone.
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for Louisiana Physicians
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for Louisiana Physicians
Doctors in Louisiana 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 has ended, 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 to the expiring carrier equal to approximately 200% of the claims-made policy’s annual premium.
- Louisiana physicians may purchase nose coverage, or prior acts coverage, instead of tail coverage. Nose coverage can be purchased through a new carrier to protect physicians from claims that occurred before the effective date of the new policy, back to a specified date.
- Provides coverage for incidents that occurred during the policy period, regardless of when a claim is reported to the carrier.
- Typically, it offers more costly premiums at the start of the policy, but the rate stays constant throughout the policy’s duration.
- Physicians do not need tail coverage when an occurrence policy ends.
In 2024, Louisiana physicians were held liable for 216 medical malpractice payouts.
- Average Payout: $276,296
- Total Payout: $59,680,000
(Source: National Practitioner Data Bank)
Does Louisiana Have Damage Caps for Medical Malpractice Lawsuits?
The Louisiana Medical Malpractice Act (LMMA), passed in 1975, set a total damage cap for economic and non-economic damages of $500,000. Unlike other states, Louisiana has not adjusted this cap for inflation.
The LMMA also created the Patient’s Compensation Fund (PCF), a state-managed liability program. PCF-qualified physicians are only personally liable for $100,000 per claim; the Fund covers the remainder up to the $500,000 cap.
Key Rules & Exceptions
- To qualify for PCF assistance, physicians must carry at least $100,000 in primary coverage and pay the PRF surcharge.
- Future medical care costs are excluded from the cap and are paid separately by the PCF.
- Physicians not enrolled in the PCF are not protected by the cap and are subject to unlimited liability.
- Most cases must undergo a medical review panel, which consists of three healthcare providers and one attorney. This step helps screen out meritless claims.
Louisiana Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims
Under Louisiana RS 9:5628; patients have 1 year from the date of the alleged act, or its discovery, to file their claim.
The law also includes a statute of repose:
- No claim can be filed more than 3 years after the alleged act, regardless of when it was discovered.
- No exceptions are made for minors or those with disabilities.
- These deadlines apply to all healthcare providers, whether or not they’re PCF-qualified.
Important Note:
The statute is paused (tolled) during the medical review panel process and resumes 90 days after the panel issues its opinion.
Is Louisiana a Physician-Friendly Place to Practice?
Louisiana was ranked #13 on Becker’s Hospital Review’s 15 best states for physicians in 2025 list, and it offers physicians some big advantages, including:
But it’s not all smooth sailing.
Louisiana consistently ranks among the states with the most malpractice cases, high physician burnout, and rising premiums, all contributing to worsening doctor shortages.
To navigate these challenges, Louisiana doctors benefit from working with a knowledgeable malpractice insurance broker to manage rising costs. MEDPLI helps physicians find the right coverage at the best possible rate, bringing peace of mind through malpractice market uncertainty.
Louisiana Doctors 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, Louisiana physicians:
MEDPLI helps doctors in every specialty.
Whether you’re an Otolaryngologist in New Orleans or a Psychiatrist in Bastrop, MEDPLI will find you premier coverage at a competitive rate.
Call 800-969-1339 or Request a Quote.
