Rhode Island Professional Liability - 2025 Guide
Rhode Island's medical malpractice insurance market features moderate premiums and a stable legal environment. The state's lack of damage caps is offset by other liability reforms and a relatively low claims frequency.
Medical Malpractice Insurance Requirements in Rhode Island
Rhode Island does not mandate malpractice insurance for physicians. However, most hospitals and healthcare facilities require coverage. Common policy limits are $1 million per occurrence and $3 million 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 Rhode Island
Claims-made policies are more commonly purchased in Rhode Island, though occurrence policies are available. Claims-made policies typically have lower initial premiums but require tail coverage upon termination.
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 Rhode Island
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).
Coverys
ProAssurance
MedPro
The Doctors Company
Malpractice Insurance Cost in Rhode Island
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 | $18,800 | $9,010 |
| Cardiovascular Disease - Minor Surgery | $19,300 | $11,805 |
| Dermatology - No Surgery | $8,300 | $4,970 |
| Emergency Medicine | $28,200 | $18,640 |
| Family Practice - No Surgery | $11,600 | $7,145 |
| Gastroenterology - No Surgery | $13,000 | $10,563 |
| General Surgery | $37,200 | $18,640 |
| Internal Medicine - No Surgery | $12,300 | $8,544 |
| Neurology - No Surgery | $14,300 | $10,563 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology - Major Surgery | $75,100 | $31,066 |
| Occupational Medicine | $7,300 | $4,970 |
| Ophthalmology - No Surgery | $9,700 | $4,350 |
| Orthopedic Surgery - No Spine | $39,500 | $18,640 |
| Pathology - No Surgery | $10,300 | $6,213 |
| Pediatrics - No Surgery | $11,600 | $7,145 |
| Psychiatry | $8,800 | $4,970 |
| Pulmonary Disease - No Surgery | $13,600 | $10,563 |
| Radiology - Diagnostic | $13,500 | $9,010 |
Working with Medical Malpractice Insurance Brokers in Rhode Island
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.
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.
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Rhode Island Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims in Rhode Island is three years from the date of the incident or discovery of the injury. For minors, the statute is tolled until they reach age 18.
Tort Reform in Rhode Island
Rhode Island's tort reforms include: i) mandatory pre-trial mediation for malpractice cases, ii) expert witness requirements mandating that experts practice in the same specialty as the defendant, iii) collateral source reform allowing evidence of payments from other sources, and iv) joint and several liability reform limiting defendants' exposure based on their percentage of fault.