Top 5 Medical Malpractice Insurance Companies in Utah
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 Utah physicians.
2025 Utah Malpractice Insurance Rates by Specialty
These rate estimates are for informational purposes only and are based on the UT 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 | $22,000 | $44,000 |
| Cardiovascular Disease– Minor Surgery | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| Dermatology– No Surgery | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $32,000 | $64,000 |
| Family Practice– No Surgery | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Gastroenterology– No Surgery | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| General Practice– No Surgery | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| General Surgery | $54,000 | $108,000 |
| Internal Medicine– No Surgery | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Neurology– No Surgery | $18,000 | $36,000 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology– Major Surgery | $69,000 | $138,000 |
| Occupational Medicine | $9,000 | $18,000 |
| Ophthalmology– No Surgery | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery– No Spine | $44,000 | $88,000 |
| Pathology– No Surgery | $11,000 | $22,000 |
| Pediatrics– No Surgery | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Pulmonary Disease– No Surgery | $17,000 | $34,000 |
| Psychiatry | $11,000 | $22,000 |
| Radiology – Diagnostic | $22,000 | $44,000 |
Utah Medical Malpractice Payouts From 2015-2024
Rising Home Insurance Rates: The Hidden Impact on Medical Malpractice Costs
When drought, wildfires, and other severe weather events hit Utah, the damage isn’t just physical—it drives up insurance costs statewide. As extreme weather events become more frequent, insurers must raise rates to cover growing risks. But the impact goes beyond homeowners insurance—businesses, especially medical professionals, also feel the squeeze.
Why Are Insurance Rates Rising?
How the Cost of Utah’s Medical Malpractice Insurance Is Affected
Reinsurance providers now charge higher premiums and impose stricter payout conditions. In response, primary insurers, including those offering medical malpractice coverage in Utah, have increased premiums.
Severe weather isn’t just a coastal problem—it’s reshaping insurance costs for everyone.
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for Utah Physicians
Types of Professional Liability Insurance for Utah Physicians
Doctors in Utah 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 2024, Utah physicians were held liable for 105 medical malpractice payouts.
- Average Payout: $316,409
- Total Payout: $33,223,000
(Source: National Practitioner Data Bank)
Are There Damage Caps for Medical Malpractice in Utah?
Under the Utah Health Care Malpractice Act, initially enacted in 1976 and amended over time, non-economic damages, including pain, suffering, and inconvenience, are capped at $450,000. However, there are important exceptions, along with procedural steps plaintiffs must follow before filing a claim.
Key Rules & Exceptions
- Economic Damages: No limit; plaintiffs can recover full financial losses.
- Wrongful Death Cases: No cap on non-economic damages in Utah.
- Punitive Damages: The damage cap does not apply to punitive damages.
- Personal Assets: Plaintiff may not pursue action against a healthcare provider’s income or assets unless it’s determined that their behavior was willful and malicious or intentionally fraudulent, or if the healthcare provider did not maintain at least $1M in insurance.
- Notice of Intent: Before filing a lawsuit in Utah, a plaintiff must:
- Provide 90 days’ notice to the health care provider.
- Obtain a certificate of compliance stating they’ve met all pre-litigation requirements.
- Pre-Litigation Panel Review: Within 60 days of the notice, plaintiffs must request a confidential panel review. This panel assesses the case before it can proceed to court and advises on the merit of the claim. If the plaintiff fails to schedule the panel review, or if the panel finds the claim is meritless, the court may award attorney fees and costs to the defendant.
How Utah’s Malpractice Laws Have Evolved
- 1970s: A nationwide medical malpractice “crisis” led to increased malpractice cases and a surge in insurance costs.
- 1976: The Utah Health Care Malpractice Act was passed to decrease the costs of physicians and establish a statute of limitations.
- 2001: Damage cap increased to $400,000. Current statutes of limitations have been established.
- 2010: $450,000 “hard cap” takes effect (no adjustment for inflation).
- 2025: H.B. 503, passed in March, requires plaintiffs to pay the defendant’s attorney fees if a claim is meritless, removes the affidavit of merit requirement, and strengthens protections for physicians’ personal assets.
Why Utah Favors Physicians in Malpractice Cases
Utah consistently ranks among the most physician-friendly states due to its strong legal protections, which are built into the Utah Health Care Malpractice Act and its subsequent amendments. These laws have:
Utah’s legal framework strikes a careful balance between patient rights and creating a low-risk environment for healthcare providers, making it one of the most favorable states for practicing physicians.
Utah Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims
Part four of the Utah Health Care Malpractice Act states that malpractice actions must be filed:
- Within two years of the plaintiff discovering the injury, or it should have been discovered.
- No more than 4 years from the alleged act, omission, neglect, or occurrence date.
Exceptions:
- Minors: Utah law extends the statute of limitations for minors until they reach the age of 18. Once a minor turns 18, they have two years from that date to file.
- Discovery Rule: The plaintiff was unaware of the injury or cause of action and could not have reasonably discovered it until after the statutory period had lapsed.
- Foreign Object(s): If a foreign object was left in the plaintiff’s body, the statute of limitations starts one year from when the patient discovers, or should have discovered, the object.
- Fraudulent Concealment: If the health care provider intentionally prevented the plaintiff from discovering the misconduct, the statute of limitations starts one year after the plaintiff discovers it.
Why Utah 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, Utah physicians:
MEDPLI helps doctors in every specialty.
Whether you’re an Orthopedic Surgeon in Salt Lake City or a Psychiatrist in Panguitch, MEDPLI will find you premier coverage at a competitive rate.
Call 800-969-1339 or Request a Quote.
