Top Malpractice Insurance Carriers in New York
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 New York physicians.
New York physicians have three admitted carrier options and a few alternatives when it comes to medical malpractice insurance:
MLMIC Insurance Company, part of the Berkshire Hathaway Family, is New York’s #1 medical professional liability insurer for physicians. The Doctors Company, the country’s largest physician-owned malpractice insurance carrier, acquired Hospital Insurance Company (HIC) in 2019. EmPro/Physicians’ Reciprocal Insurers (PRI) is another admitted option. Alternatives to these admitted carriers include:
2025 New York Malpractice Insurance Rates by Specialty
These rate estimates are for informational purposes only and are based on the NY standard limits of $1,000,000 for Each Claim / $3,000,000 Aggregate per year in coverage.
Quotes require a completed application and underwriter approval. Contact us for a custom estimate if you don’t see your specialty.
| Specialty | 2025 Approximate Annual Premium |
2025 Approximate Tail Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $55,000 | $110,000 |
| Cardiovascular Disease– Minor Surgery | $40,000 | $80,000 |
| Dermatology– No Surgery | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $60,000 | $120,000 |
| Family Practice– No Surgery | $29,000 | $58,000 |
| Gastroenterology– No Surgery | $40,000 | $80,000 |
| General Practice– No Surgery | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| General Surgery | $110,000 | $220,000 |
| Internal Medicine– No Surgery | $29,000 | $58,000 |
| Neurology– No Surgery | $35,000 | $70,000 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology– Major Surgery | $170,000 | $340,000 |
| Occupational Medicine | $19,000 | $38,000 |
| Ophthalmology– No Surgery | $19,000 | $38,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery– No Spine | $105,000 | $210,000 |
| Pathology– No Surgery | $19,000 | $38,000 |
| Pediatrics– No Surgery | $28,000 | $56,000 |
| Pulmonary Disease– No Surgery | $40,000 | $80,000 |
| Psychiatry | $18,000 | $36,000 |
| Radiology – Diagnostic | $55,000 | $110,000 |
New York Medical Malpractice Payouts From 2015-2023
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for New York Physicians
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for New York Physicians
As a physician practicing in New York, understanding the various types of professional liability insurance available is crucial for safeguarding your medical practice. In 2025, the primary types of medical malpractice insurance policies for New York physicians include:
- 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 ends, 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 equal to approximately 200% of the claims-made policy’s annual premium.
- 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 2023, New York physicians were held liable for 1,002 medical malpractice payouts.
- Average Payout: $586,730
- Total Payout: $587,904,250
(Source: National Practitioner Data Bank)
Tort Reform: Does New York Have Damage Caps for Medical Malpractice Lawsuits?
As of 2025, New York does not cap damages in medical malpractice lawsuits. This means plaintiffs can seek full compensation for economic and non-economic damages without statutory limitations. While some states have enacted legislation to limit the amount recoverable in medical malpractice cases, New York has consistently maintained a stance that allows juries to award damages they deem appropriate based on the specifics of each case.
New York Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims
In New York, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is generally two years and six months (30 months) from the date of the alleged malpractice or the end of continuous treatment for the same condition.
Exceptions:
- Foreign Objects: If a foreign object is left inside a patient’s body, the patient has one year from the date of discovery to file a claim.
- Failure to Diagnose Cancer or Malignant Tumors: Under “Lavern’s Law,” patients have two years and six months from the date they knew or should have known about the misdiagnosis to file a claim, with an overall limit of seven years from the date of the alleged malpractice.
- Minors: The statute of limitations for patients under 18 is tolled until they reach adulthood. They can file a claim within two years and six months of turning 18, but not more than 10 years from the date of the alleged malpractice.
- Wrong Death: If the malpractice results in death, a wrongful death claim must be filed within two years from the date of death.
Physicians must be aware of these time frames to protect their legal rights.
Why New York 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, New York physicians:
MEDPLI helps doctors in every specialty.
A MEDPLI policy will offer unparalleled coverage at a reasonable price, no matter where you practice, whether it’s a cardiologist in Buffalo or a plastic surgeon in Manhattan. Call 800-969-1339 or Request a Quote.
