Top 6 Medical Malpractice Insurance Carriers in Mississippi
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 Mississippi physicians.
- MagMutual
- Medical Protective
- ProAssurance
- The Doctors Co
- Medical Assurance Co of Mississippi
- Coverys
2025 Mississippi Malpractice Insurance Rates by Specialty
These rate estimates are for informational purposes only and are based on the MS 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 | $35,000 | $70,000 |
| Cardiovascular Disease– Minor Surgery | $35,000 | $70,000 |
| Dermatology– No Surgery | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $60,000 | $120,000 |
| Family Practice– No Surgery | $21,000 | $42,000 |
| Gastroenterology– No Surgery | $28,000 | $56,000 |
| General Practice– No Surgery | $21,000 | $42,000 |
| General Surgery | $95,000 | $190,000 |
| Internal Medicine– No Surgery | $22,000 | $44,000 |
| Neurology– No Surgery | $29,000 | $58,000 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology– Major Surgery | $130,000 | $260,000 |
| Occupational Medicine | $17,000 | $34,000 |
| Ophthalmology– No Surgery | $18,000 | $36,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery– No Spine | $88,000 | $176,000 |
| Pathology– No Surgery | $18,000 | $36,000 |
| Pediatrics– No Surgery | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| Pulmonary Disease– No Surgery | $31,000 | $62,000 |
| Psychiatry | $14,000 | $28,000 |
| Radiology – Diagnostic | $35,000 | $70,000 |
Mississippi Medical Malpractice Payouts From 2015-2024
The Hidden Link Between Weather Disasters and Rising Malpractice Insurance Rates
When hurricanes, tornadoes, and other severe weather events hit Mississippi, 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 Are Mississippi’s Medical Malpractice Insurance Rates Impacted?
Reinsurance providers now charge higher premiums and impose stricter payout conditions. In response, primary insurers, including those offering medical malpractice coverage in Mississippi, increase premiums.
Although Mississippi has seen slower malpractice premium increases compared to other states, it is not immune to severe weather, especially along the coast. Physicians should therefore prepare for future premium increases as extreme weather continues to reshape insurance costs for everyone.
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for Mississippi Physicians
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for Mississippi Physicians
Doctors in Mississippi 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.
- Mississippi physicians may opt to purchase nose coverage, also known as prior acts coverage, instead of tail coverage. Nose coverage is 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, Mississippi physicians were held liable for 61 medical malpractice claims, resulting in payouts.
- Average Payout: $247,643
- Total Payout: $15,106,250
(Source: National Practitioner Data Bank)
Does Mississippi Have Damage Caps for Medical Malpractice Lawsuits?
MS Code § 11-1-60 sets a non-economic damage cap at $500,000 for medical malpractice cases.
Key Rules & Exceptions
- Non-Economic Damages Definition: Mississippi’s definition of non-economic damages includes pain and suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of companionship, embarrassment or humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life, and “any other theory of damages.”
- No Cap on Economic Damages: Mississippi does not limit the amount a jury can award for economic damages, including medical expenses and lost wages.
- Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are awarded separately from economic and non-economic damages to punish a defendant who is found, by clear and convincing evidence, to have acted with actual malice, gross negligence, or fraud. The punitive damage cap is determined on a case-by-case basis and is based on the defendant’s net worth.
- Prior Notice: No claim can be brought to court unless the defendant is given at least 60 days’ prior written notice of the intention to bring action.
- Expert Testimony: Except in special circumstances, the plaintiff’s attorney must provide a certificate of consultation when filing a complaint. The certificate must show that they sought expert testimony regarding the breach of the standard of care and that a reasonable basis exists for action against the defendant.
Mississippi Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims
MS Code § 15-1-36 states that plaintiffs have 2 years from the date of injury, or when they discovered the injury, to file a malpractice claim.
Key Rules & Exceptions:
- Statute of Repose: Claims cannot be brought more than 7 years after the alleged act, regardless of the date of discovery.
- Foreign Object: If a foreign object is left in a patient’s body, the statute period begins when the foreign object is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.
- Fraudulent Concealment: If a health care provider’s fraudulent concealment prevents a patient from discovering the malpractice, the statute period begins when they discover – or should have discovered – the fraud, even if it’s more than 7 years after the injury.
- Minors: If the injured person is under the age of 6 when the malpractice occurred, the statute period begins when the minor turns 8 or dies, whichever occurs first. If the minor does not have a parent or guardian at time of injury, the statute begins when they have a parent or legal guardian, but not before their 6th birthday.
- Disability: If the injured person is under a disability of unsoundness of mind, the statute period begins when the disability is removed or the injured party dies, whichever occurs first.
Is Mississippi a Physician-Friendly Place to Practice?
Mississippi consistently ranks near the middle on lists of the best states to practice medicine. It offers some significant advantages for physicians, including:
However, Mississippi faces ongoing physician shortages, which can contribute to provider burnout. Additionally, steadily increasing malpractice premiums threaten to erode the financial advantage of high salaries and low living costs.
Mississippi doctors can 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.
Mississippi 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, Mississippi physicians:
MEDPLI helps doctors in every specialty.
Whether you’re an Orthopedic Surgeon in Jackson or a Dermatologist in Pascagoula, MEDPLI will find you premier coverage at a competitive rate.
Call 800-969-1339 or Request a Quote.
