In Need of Medical Malpractice Insurance in Ohio?
If you are a physician needing medical malpractice coverage in Ohio, 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.
Ohio Medical Professional Liability Insurance Market Summary
Physicians in Ohio 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 Ohio physicians.
Some of the top-rated medical malpractice insurance companies serving Ohio physicians include:
Malpractice Insurance Rates for Ohio 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 | Approximate Tail Rate | Approximate Occurrence Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $27,000 | $16,000 | $43,000 |
| Cardiovascular Disease Minor Surgery | $34,000 | $21,000 | $49,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $44,000 | $24,000 | $64,000 |
| Family Practice No Surgery | $23,000 | $13,000 | $33,000 |
| Gastroenterology No Surgery | $27,000 | $17,000 | $46,000 |
| General Surgery | $55,000 | $25,000 | $84,000 |
| Internal Medicine No Surgery | $25,000 | $13,000 | $36,000 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology Major Surgery | $81,000 | $39,000 | $116,000 |
| Occupational Medicine | $20,000 | $15,000 | $28,000 |
| Ophthalmology No Surgery | $20,000 | $14,000 | $27,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery No Spine | $50,000 | $25,000 | $74,000 |
| Pathology No Surgery | $24,000 | $15,000 | $36,000 |
| Pediatrics No Surgery | $25,000 | $17,000 | $36,000 |
| Psychiatry | $21,000 | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Radiology – Diagnostic | $30,000 | $17,000 | $41,000 |
*Using the OH 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 Ohio 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 Ohio Physicians
Here is a brief overview of the most common types of medical malpractice insurance for physicians in Ohio:
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 Ohio
In July 2020, The State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO) made permanent change to the temporary telehealth laws enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This allowed “home health and hospice aides, private duty registered nurses and licensed practical nurses in a home health or hospice setting, dentists and behavioral health practitioners to practice telemedicine.”
Physicians must be licensed to practice in Ohio in order to practice telemedicine in the state. On February 21, 2023, the SMBO issued the state’s final telehealth regulations. Some of the key regulations include:
- Physicians must meet the applicable standard of care as in a traditional in-person patient visit.
- These regulations apply to physicians providing telehealth services to patients located in Ohio.
- Physicians may use synchronous or asynchronous technology for telehealth services as long as the same standard of in-person care can be met. All standards must also be met in order to provide telehealth services via telephone calls.
- Physicians may provide telehealth services through FDA-approved remote patient monitoring devices, if the patient consents.
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 Ohio.
Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims
The statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Ohio 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 Ohio
The total malpractice payout in Ohio was $62,760,000 as of 9/30/2023 (Source: National Practitioner Data Bank).
Closing Remarks
According to estimates from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, by 2025 Ohio is projected to have a doctor shortage. Currently, 81 out of the 88 counties in Ohio have a partial or full designation as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA). Shortages are most prominent for dental care, primary care, and mental health.
While Ohio offers extensive healthcare job opportunities, physicians should note that Ohio juries awarded over $7.5 million and $4.5 million to plaintiffs in just two notable medical malpractice lawsuits in 2023. Also, the state has no caps on economic damages that can be awarded to plaintiffs in medical liability lawsuits. That’s why Ohio physicians and surgeons need robust medical malpractice coverage.
