In Need of Medical Malpractice Insurance in Missouri?
If you are a physician needing medical malpractice coverage in Missouri, 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.
Missouri Medical Professional Liability Insurance Market Summary
Physicians in Missouri 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 Missouri physicians.
Some of the top-rated medical malpractice insurance companies serving Missouri physicians include:
Malpractice Insurance Rates for Missouri 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 |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $18,000 |
| Cardiovascular Disease Minor Surgery | $21,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $34,000 |
| Family Practice No Surgery | $15,000 |
| General Surgery | $48,000 |
| Internal Medicine No Surgery | $16,000 |
| Neurology No Surgery | $21,000 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology Major Surgery | $71,000 |
| Occupational Medicine | $11,000 |
| Ophthalmology No Surgery | $11,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery No Spine | $44,000 |
| Pathology No Surgery | $13,000 |
| Pediatrics No Surgery | $13,000 |
| Psychiatry | $11,000 |
| Radiology – Diagnostic | $19,000 |
*Using the MO 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 Missouri 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 Missouri Physicians
Here is a brief overview of the most common types of medical malpractice insurance for physicians in Missouri:
1. Claims-Made Insurance
Claims-made malpractice insurance provides coverage if the policy is in effect 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 Missouri
The Missouri Telehealth Network has been providing specialized healthcare services to rural and underserved residents across the state since 1994. The state legislature passed Missouri House Bill Number 1617 in 2018, allowing telemedicine to be used for patients in most settings and by any licensed “health care provider,” stipulating only that the same standards of care apply as in person visits.
In July 2022, Missouri revised its “Guidance and Clarification on the Definition and Use of Telemedicine and Audio-Only Services” to mandate that physicians must first establish a provider/patient relationship by way of an in-person patient visit and physical examination, or a consultation with another physician who has an established relationship with the patient, prior to an audio-only virtual visit.
Other key telemedicine regulations for Missouri physicians include:
- All physicians and healthcare professionals providing telemedicine services must be licensed to practice medicine in Missouri.
- Physicians who practice telemedicine must establish a valid physician/patient relationship prior to providing the telemedicine services.
- Physicians must obtain patient consent and ensure confidentiality of the patient’s medical information in compliance with HIPAA privacy laws.
- Patients may receive remote medical care via telemedicine at any location, including the patient’s home.
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 Missouri.
Tort Reform in Missouri
Notable tort reforms in Missouri include:
The state enacted its first cap on damages in 1986 after insurance premiums increased by a whopping 131% in 1981. In the early 2000’s, premiums began to creep up again, and several large insurance carriers either became insolvent or left the state market.
After a decade and a half of legislation aimed at bringing medical providers back into the state, lawmakers passed bipartisan legislation in 2015 that capped non-economic damages for both catastrophic and non-catastrophic injuries.
In 2021, Missouri’s State Supreme Court reviewed the 2015 legislation and ruled that the non-economic damage caps do not violate Missouri’s constitution.
Missouri’s Damage Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
There are no caps on economic damages or punitive damages in Missouri’s medical malpractice cases.
Missouri passed a law in 2015 capping non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases at $400,000 for non-catastrophic injuries and $700,000 for catastrophic injuries, with an annual 1.7 percent increase each year indefinitely. For example:
| Year | Non-Catastrophic Cap | Catastrophic Cap |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $457,749 | $801,061 |
| 2024 | $465,531 | $814,679 |
| 2025 | $473,445 | $828,529 |
Catastrophic injuries are defined by state law as “an injury resulting in quadriplegia, paraplegia, the loss of two or more limbs, significant and permanent cognitive impairment, irreversible failure of a major organ, or significant loss of vision.”
Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims
The statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Missouri 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 Missouri
The total malpractice payout in Missouri was $38,430,000 as of 9/30/2023 (Source: National Practitioner Data Bank).
Closing Remarks
While Missouri is home to several nationally ranked hospitals, including Barnes-Jewish in St. Louis and St. Luke’s of Kansas City, rural areas continue to experience a critical shortage of physicians. In addition to incentive programs by healthcare organizations to attract more doctors, the Missouri legislature passed two groundbreaking bills in 2023 that are expected to improve access to quality healthcare to these underserved areas. Physicians are also in demand to meet the needs of Missouri’s growing number of Medicare-age residents, which made up nearly 23% of the state’s population in 2023 according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
While Missouri offers a wealth of opportunities to practice, Missouri physicians, however, will need strong medical malpractice insurance since there are no caps on economic damages in medical liability lawsuits, as well as high non-economic caps set to increase yearly in Missouri.
