Top 6 Medical Malpractice Insurance Carriers in Maine
We recommend carriers with an AM Best “A” or higher rating. An A-rating indicates financial strength, long-term solvency, and an established history of protecting Maine physicians.
- The Doctors Co
- Medical Protective
- Medical Mutual of Maine
- ProAssurance
- Coverys
- AMS RRG
2025 Maine Malpractice Insurance Rates by Specialty
These rate estimates are for informational purposes only and are based on the ME standard limits of $1,000,000 per claim / $3,000,000 aggregate per year in coverage.
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 | $28,000 | $56,000 |
| Cardiovascular Disease– Minor Surgery | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| Dermatology– No Surgery | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $28,000 | $56,000 |
| Family Practice– No Surgery | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Gastroenterology– No Surgery | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| General Practice– No Surgery | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| General Surgery | $45,000 | $90,000 |
| Internal Medicine– No Surgery | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Neurology– No Surgery | $14,000 | $28,000 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology– Major Surgery | $65,000 | $130,000 |
| Occupational Medicine | $9,000 | $18,000 |
| Ophthalmology– No Surgery | $9,000 | $18,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery– No Spine | $45,000 | $90,000 |
| Pathology– No Surgery | $9,000 | $18,000 |
| Pediatrics– No Surgery | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Pulmonary Disease– No Surgery | $17,000 | $34,000 |
| Psychiatry | $9,000 | $18,000 |
| Radiology – Diagnostic | $28,000 | $56,000 |
Maine Medical Malpractice Payouts From 2015-2024
The Hidden Link Between Weather Disasters and Rising Malpractice Insurance Rates
When flooding, ice storms, 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 Maine’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 Maine, increase premiums.
While Maine is currently experiencing less substantial growth than in previous years, as homeowners insurance costs continue to climb and reinsurers distribute those risks across markets, Maine 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 Maine Physicians
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for Maine Physicians
Depending on the carrier, doctors in Maine can typically 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.
- Maine 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, Maine physicians were held liable for 34 medical malpractice payouts.
- Average Payout: $418,186
- Total Payout: $14,218,350
(Source: National Practitioner Data Bank)
Does Maine Have Damage Caps for Medical Malpractice Lawsuits?
In general, Maine does not impose caps on either economic or non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. However, there are two notable exceptions:
- Non-Economic Damages: Capped at $1 million.
- Punitive Damages: May be awarded in addition to other damages, but are capped at $500,000.
- Economic Damages: Not subject to any cap.
This means that while compensation for medical bills and lost income is uncapped, emotional damages in wrongful death suits are limited.
Prelitigation Requirements in Maine
Before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, Maine requires claimants to follow a two-step prelitigation process designed to filter out unsubstantiated claims.
-
- Notice of Claim
The plaintiff must submit a notice of claim to the healthcare provider. This notice must describe:- The nature of the alleged medical negligence.
- The circumstances and type of injury that resulted.
- Prelitigation Screening Panel
Both parties must present their case before a prelitigation panel consisting of medical and legal professionals. The panel evaluates:- Whether the provider breached the standard of care
- Whether the breach caused the alleged injury
- Notice of Claim
Note: While the panel’s findings are not legally binding, they can influence settlement discussions and may be admissible in court.
Statute of Limitations for Maine Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Under Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 24, § 2902, the statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice lawquite in Maine is:
- Three years from the date the alleged medical error occurred, not when it was discovered, as in many other states.
Exceptions to the 3-Year Rule: - Minor Plaintiffs: If the plaintiff was a minor at the time the alleged malpractice occurred, they have 6 years from the date of the medical error or until their 21st birthday, whichever occurs first.
- Foreign Object: If a foreign object is left in a patient’s body, the statute of limitations period does not begin until the patient discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, the foreign object.
- Notice of Claim Tolling: The statute of limitations is tolled from the date the plaintiff files the notice of claim until 30 days after the prelitigation panel issues its findings.
Is Maine a Physician-Friendly State for Medical Practice?
Maine physicians may enjoy the state’s low crime rates and scenic coastline, its medical liability climate presents notable challenges:
- No general cap on non-economic damages leaves physicians exposed to large jury awards.
- Historical fluctuations in malpractice insurance premiums have added financial pressure on healthcare providers.
Physicians practicing in Maine must be proactive about protecting their careers and finances. Working with a knowledgeable malpractice insurance broker is essential.
MEDPLI helps doctors:
With the right guidance, physicians can enjoy the best of Maine while safeguarding their professional future.
Maine 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, Maine physicians:
MEDPLI helps doctors in every specialty.
Whether you’re an OB/GYN in Portland or a family medicine physician in Brunswick, MEDPLI will find you premier coverage at a competitive rate.
Call 800-969-1339 or Request a Quote.
