Top 5 Malpractice Insurance Carriers in Oregon
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 Oregon physicians.
2025 Oregon Malpractice Insurance Rates by Specialty
These rate estimates are for informational purposes only and are based on the OR 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 Annual Premium |
2025 Tail Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $18,000 | $36,000 |
| Cardiovascular Disease– Minor Surgery | $14,000 | $28,000 |
| Dermatology– No Surgery | $8,000 | $16,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $31,000 | $62,000 |
| Family Practice– No Surgery | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Gastroenterology– No Surgery | $13,000 | $26,000 |
| General Practice– No Surgery | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| General Surgery | $45,000 | $90,000 |
| Internal Medicine– No Surgery | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Neurology– No Surgery | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology– Major Surgery | $55,000 | $110,000 |
| Occupational Medicine | $7,000 | $14,000 |
| Ophthalmology– No Surgery | $7,000 | $14,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery– No Spine | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| Pathology– No Surgery | $9,000 | $18,000 |
| Pediatrics– No Surgery | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Pulmonary Disease– No Surgery | $14,000 | $28,000 |
| Psychiatry | $8,000 | $16,000 |
| Radiology – Diagnostic | $18,000 | $36,000 |
Oregon Medical Malpractice Payouts From 2015-2023
Rising Home Insurance Rates: The Hidden Impact on Medical Malpractice Costs
When wildfires, earthquakes or other severe storms strike Oregon, the impact extends far beyond physical destruction and emotional distress. These disasters send shockwaves through the entire insurance industry, triggering rate hikes across multiple sectors as insurers grapple with the growing risk of frequent, weather-driven catastrophes.
Why Are Insurance Rates Rising?
How Medical Malpractice Insurance Is Affected
Reinsurance providers now impose higher premiums and stricter payout thresholds on primary insurers. As a result, insurance carriers pass these costs onto policyholders, driving up medical malpractice premiums for healthcare providers in Oregon.
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for Oregon Physicians
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for Oregon Physicians
Physicians in Oregon 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 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, Oregon physicians were held liable for 94 medical malpractice payouts.
- Average Payout: $748,909
- Total Payout: $70,397,500
(Source: National Practitioner Data Bank)
Does Oregon Have Damage Caps for Medical Malpractice Lawsuits?
Oregon has a complicated and dramatic history with tort reform, marked by a frequent pattern of the Oregon Supreme Court reversing damage cap legislation:
- 1982: Oregon passes a $500,000 cap on non-economic damages.
- 1999: Oregon Supreme Court ruled the cap unconstitutional.
- 2004: Damage cap legislation was reproposed, but narrowly defeated.
- 2013: Oregon Supreme Court ruled damage caps unconstitutional, again.
- 2016: Oregon reversed the ruling.
- 2020: Oregon Supreme Court struck down the cap again.
As of 2025, the current status of Oregon medical malpractice damage caps is as follows:
- Economic Damages – No Cap
- Non-Economic Damages – No Cap
- Punitive Damages – No Cap (only permitted for claims against hospitals and health systems, not individual providers)
Oregon follows a modified comparative negligence rule which states that an injured plaintiff cannot recover damages if found at more than 50% fault for the injury. At less than 50% fault, the injured plaintiff can recover damages at a reduced amount corresponding to their degree of fault.
Oregon Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims
In Oregon, the statute of limitations depends on the type of claim and patient age:
- Medical Malpractice: 2 years from discovery (or date of reasonable discovery)
- Wrongful Death: 3 years after death
- Minors can file lawsuits up to 1 year after their 18th birthday, or 5 years after the date of injury, whichever occurs first.
Exceptions can include:
- Fraudulent concealment
- Absence of Defendant
- Mental incapacity of Plaintiff
Why Oregon 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, Oregon physicians:
MEDPLI helps doctors in every specialty.
Whether you’re a bariatric surgeon in Portland or an oncologist in Bend, MEDPLI will provide you with premier coverage at a competitive rate.
Call 800-969-1339 or Request a Quote.
