In Need of Medical Malpractice Insurance in Tennessee?
If you are a physician needing medical malpractice coverage in Tennessee, 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 advisor. Get a quote.
Tennessee Medical Professional Liability Insurance Market Summary
Physicians in Tennessee 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 Tennessee physicians.
Some of the top-rated medical malpractice insurance companies serving Tennessee physicians include:
Malpractice Insurance Rates for Tennessee 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 Rate |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $23,000 |
| Cardiovascular Disease Minor Surgery | $24,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $35,000 |
| Family Practice No Surgery | $20,000 |
| Gastroenterology No Surgery | $24,000 |
| General Surgery | $49,000 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology Major Surgery | $60,000 |
| Occupational Medicine | $16,000 |
| Ophthalmology No Surgery | $17,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery No Spine | $41,000 |
| Pathology No Surgery | $20,000 |
| Pediatrics No Surgery | $20,000 |
| Psychiatry | $17,000 |
| Radiology – Diagnostic | $24,000 |
*Using the TN 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee Physicians
Here is a brief overview of the most common types of medical malpractice insurance for physicians in Tennessee:
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 Tennessee
The “2023 Telehealth Update” by the Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians outlines the current telemedicine regulations for Tennessee physicians which have been extended through December 2024. Some of these key regulations include:
- Physicians must be licensed in Tennessee in order to provide telehealth services to patients in Tennessee.
- A previous in-office visit is not required if providing home-based, non-rural mental healthcare via telehealth services.
- The state expanded geographic sites where patients can receive telehealth services to be anywhere the patient is located. Previously only patients in rural areas could receive telehealth services.
- HIPAA violations were waived “to increase access and other ‘everyday communications technologies” to provide telehealth services via video chat. For example, Apple FaceTime, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google Hangouts video, Zoom, and Skype. Providers should enable all available encryption and privacy modes when using these applications.
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 Tennessee.
Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims
The statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Tennessee can be complex and can vary from case to case. Consulting with MEDPLI advisors 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 Tennessee
The total malpractice payout in Tennessee was $30,240,000 as of 9/30/2023 (Source: National Practitioner Data Bank).
Closing Remarks
Tennessee is home to numerous medical centers, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which is ranked as the best hospital in the state and the only health system in southeast U.S. to be named in the U.S. News & World Report’s Honor Roll of America’s Best Hospitals 2023-2024. Vanderbilt also ranks nationally as a leader in nine specialties. The state also ranked #16 as a “best” state in Medscape’s Best & Worst Places to Practice 2023 primarily because of the state’s high average earnings for physicians and low cost of living.
Tennessee also had a reduced number of medical malpractice actions according to data through 9/30/2023 from the National Practitioner Data Bank. However, with no cap on economic damages, and a $1 million cap on non-economic payouts for catastrophic injuries in Tennessee, physicians and surgeons – especially in high-risk specialties – state still need strong medical malpractice coverage to protect financial resources in case of a liability lawsuit.
