Top 5 Malpractice Insurance Carriers in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania physicians.
2025 Pennsylvania Malpractice Insurance Rates by Specialty
These rate estimates are for informational purposes only and are based on the PA primary coverage limits of $500,000 for Each Claim / $1,500,000 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 | $33,000 | $66,000 |
| Cardiovascular Disease– Minor Surgery | $26,000 | $52,000 |
| Dermatology– No Surgery | $9,000 | $18,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $47,000 | $94,000 |
| Family Practice– No Surgery | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| Gastroenterology– No Surgery | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| General Practice– No Surgery | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| General Surgery | $68,000 | $136,000 |
| Internal Medicine– No Surgery | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| Neurology– No Surgery | $17,000 | $34,000 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology– Major Surgery | $125,000 | $250,000 |
| Occupational Medicine | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Ophthalmology– No Surgery | $9,000 | $18,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery– No Spine | $65,000 | $130,000 |
| Pathology– No Surgery | $11,000 | $22,000 |
| Pediatrics– No Surgery | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| Pulmonary Disease– No Surgery | $23,000 | $46,000 |
| Psychiatry | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Radiology – Diagnostic | $35,000 | $70,000 |
Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Payouts From 2015-2023
How Rising Home Insurance Rates Impact Medical Malpractice Premiums
When flooding or severe storms hit Pennsylvania, the damage goes beyond the emotional distress and physical destruction – it ripples through the entire insurance industry, leading to rate increases across every sector as insurance companies attempt to manage the growing risk of frequent extreme weather events.
Why Are Insurance Rates Increasing?
How Medical Malpractice Insurance Is Affected
Reinsurance providers now charge higher premiums and impose stricter payout conditions on professional liability insurance providers. In response, primary insurers increase premiums, including for medical malpractice policies for doctors and surgeons in Pennsylvania.
Severe weather isn’t just a coastal problem—it reshapes the insurance landscape for everyone.
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for Pennsylvania Physicians
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for Pennsylvania Physicians
Physicians in Pennsylvania 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, Pennsylvania physicians were held liable for 581 medical malpractice payouts.
- Average Payout: $512,969
- Total Payout: $298,035,000
(Source: National Practitioner Data Bank)
Does Pennsylvania Have Damage Caps for Medical Malpractice Lawsuits?
In Pennsylvania, economic and non-economic damages for medical malpractice claims are not subject to damage caps. However, punitive damages must not exceed 200% of the compensatory damages (except in cases alleging intentional misconduct) and must be no less than $100,000.
State law also dictates that punitive damages be allocated as follows:
- 75% to the Plaintiff
- 25% to the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Fund (MCare)
Pennsylvania Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims
According to Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, injury and wrongful death actions must commence within 2 years from when the malpractice was discovered, or should have been discovered.
Exceptions include:
- Fraudulent concealment
- Foreign object(s) left in the plaintiff’s body
- Injured minors can file a claim up until their 20th birthday.
In 2019, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that a statute of repose is unconstitutional, violating the “open courts” provision of the Pennsylvania Constitution. As a result, the state no longer enforces an absolute deadline for filing a medical malpractice claim.
Why Pennsylvania 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, Pennsylvania physicians:
MEDPLI helps doctors in every specialty.
Whether you’re an Orthopedic Surgeon in Philly or a Radiologist in Scranton, MEDPLI will find you premier coverage at a competitive rate.
Call 800-969-1339 or Request a Quote.
