Missouri 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
41st highest state
Damage Caps
Missouri Professional Liability - 2025 Guide
Missouri's medical malpractice insurance premiums are moderate compared to neighboring states. The market benefits from competition among insurers and a structured liability environment that balances physician protection with patient rights.
Medical Malpractice Insurance Requirements in Missouri
Missouri does not require physicians to carry malpractice insurance. However, many healthcare facilities mandate coverage for privileges. Physicians commonly purchase policies with limits of $200,000 per claim and $600,000 annual aggregate. The first amount is how much your insurance provider will pay per claim, and the second amount indicates your annual limit.
Occurrence vs Claims Made Malpractice Policies in Missouri
Claims-made policies are more commonly purchased in Missouri, though occurrence policies are also available.
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 Missouri
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
ProAssurance
Curi
The Doctors Company
Malpractice Insurance Cost in Missouri
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 | 17,600 | 9,217 |
| Cardiovascular Disease - Minor Surgery | 20,500 | 12,077 |
| Dermatology - No Surgery | 10,300 | 5,084 |
| Emergency Medicine | 33,400 | 19,068 |
| Family Practice - No Surgery | 14,400 | 7,309 |
| Gastroenterology - No Surgery | 15,500 | 10,269 |
| General Surgery | 47,600 | 19,068 |
| Internal Medicine - No Surgery | 15,600 | 8,741 |
| Neurology - No Surgery | 20,200 | 10,806 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology - Major Surgery | 70,500 | 31,781 |
| Occupational Medicine | 10,500 | 5,084 |
| Ophthalmology - No Surgery | 10,700 | 4,450 |
| Orthopedic Surgery - No Spine | 43,400 | 19,068 |
| Pathology - No Surgery | 12,500 | 6,356 |
| Pediatrics - No Surgery | 12,400 | 7,309 |
| Psychiatry | 10,700 | 5,084 |
| Pulmonary Disease - No Surgery | 16,700 | 9,162 |
| Radiology - Diagnostic | 18,500 | 9,217 |
Working with Medical Malpractice Insurance Brokers in Missouri
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.
Missouri Claims Payouts
Historical trends of medical malpractice claims and payouts in Missouri
Missouri Statute of Limitations
Missouri requires malpractice claims to be filed within two years of the alleged negligent act. Exceptions exist for cases involving foreign objects left in a patient's body, which allow claims within two years of discovery. For minors under 18, the statute of limitations extends until their 20th birthday.
Tort Reform in Missouri
Missouri's tort reforms include: i) caps on noneconomic damages set at $442,574 for non-catastrophic injuries and $774,504 for catastrophic injuries in 2023 (with annual inflation adjustments), ii) restrictions on joint and several liability, limiting defendants' liability to their proportionate fault unless they exceed 51% fault, iii) venue reform requiring lawsuits to be filed in the county where the alleged injury occurred, iv) adoption of the Daubert standard for expert testimony in 2017, and v) collateral source reform allowing defendants to introduce evidence of other compensation to offset damages awarded.