Florida Medical Malpractice Insurance
Compare top-rated insurers and find the best coverage for your practice
Standard Limits
Per Claim / Per Year
Affordability Rank
of 50 states
Average Claim Payout
42nd highest state
Damage Caps
Florida Professional Liability - 2025 Guide
Florida has some of the highest malpractice insurance premiums in the country, driven by generous jury verdicts and a historically challenging liability environment. Premium rates vary widely across the state, with Miami-Dade County being particularly expensive for physicians. Despite attempts at tort reform, Florida remains an expensive state for medical professionals to practice.
Medical Malpractice Insurance Requirements in Florida
Physicians in Florida are not required to carry malpractice insurance. However, those opting to 'go bare' must meet specific conditions, such as posting a bond, establishing an escrow account, obtaining an irrevocable letter of credit, or prominently displaying a sign informing patients of their uninsured status. Many hospitals and healthcare facilities require physicians to carry insurance for privileges. Common policy limits purchased are $250,000/$750,000 or $1 million/$3 million, depending on specialty and regional practice norms.
Occurrence vs Claims Made Malpractice Policies in Florida
Claims-made policies are more commonly purchased in Florida, but occurrence policies are also available for those seeking long-term coverage.
Coverage applies to incidents that occur during the policy period, regardless of when the claim is filed.
Coverage applies to claims filed during the policy period, requiring tail coverage for future claims.
Leading Medical Malpractice Insurance Companies in Florida
In addition to the below insurers, DocShield typically provides your practice with quotes from several other highly rated insurers. Ratings provided by AM Best (the leading insurance credit rating agency).
MedPro
The Doctors Company
MagMutual
ProAssurance
Malpractice Insurance Cost in Florida
The data below represent undiscounted premiums. DocShield is often able to save practices 30-50% relative to these rates.
| Medical Specialty | Average Premium | Lowest Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | 21,800 | 9,851 |
| Cardiovascular Disease - Minor Surgery | 28,900 | 12,907 |
| Dermatology - No Surgery | 10,900 | 4,992 |
| Emergency Medicine | 36,800 | 19,754 |
| Family Practice - No Surgery | 17,400 | 7,812 |
| Gastroenterology - No Surgery | 22,200 | 10,470 |
| General Practice - No Surgery | 17,400 | 7,812 |
| General Surgery | 63,400 | 18,430 |
| Internal Medicine - No Surgery | 18,100 | 9,341 |
| Neurology - No Surgery | 24,400 | 11,549 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology - Major Surgery | 81,300 | 33,966 |
| Occupational Medicine | 11,400 | 5,152 |
| Ophthalmology - No Surgery | 12,400 | 4,756 |
| Orthopedic Surgery - No Spine | 47,700 | 20,379 |
| Pathology - No Surgery | 13,900 | 6,793 |
| Pediatrics - No Surgery | 16,100 | 7,488 |
| Psychiatry | 11,600 | 5,434 |
| Pulmonary Disease - No Surgery | 24,000 | 11,549 |
| Radiology - Diagnostic | 27,300 | 9,851 |
Working with Medical Malpractice Insurance Brokers in Florida
A licensed broker can help you navigate the administrative work involved in getting quotes and the nuances of choosing a policy that fits your particular practice. Importantly, brokers work for you, not a single insurer, so they can shop across multiple insurers to find you the most competitive premium for a high quality policy. This is especially important for medical malpractice insurance policies because premiums often vary significantly for the same doctor from one insurer to another.
Buy Affordable Malpractice Insurance with DocShield
We've built the fastest application process in the industry so you don't have to disrupt your schedule to shop for coverage. After you select a policy, we automatically scan the market every year before renewal to ensure you're paying a fair price.
Our platform streamlines all outpatient coverage needs, including excess policies, tail coverage, and group policies. We typically drive 20-30% premium savings for our customers without sacrificing on coverage quality, which translates to hundreds of thousands in savings for specialists over the course of their careers.
Florida Claims Payouts
Historical trends of medical malpractice claims and payouts in Florida
Florida Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations for ordinary negligence is four years from the date of the incident. For cases involving intentional misrepresentation, concealment, or fraud, the limit extends to seven years. For minors under age eight, the statute of limitations extends to their eighth birthday.
Tort Reform in Florida
Florida has a complex history with tort reform. Notable reforms include a 1988 law requiring expert medical opinions for filing lawsuits and a 2003 reform that capped non-economic damages between $500,000 and $1,000,000, depending on circumstances. However, the Florida Supreme Court declared caps on non-economic damages unconstitutional in 2017. Despite setbacks, measures such as the adoption of the Daubert standard for expert testimony have contributed to incremental improvements.