Nevada Medical Malpractice Insurance

• Most Common Limits of Liability: $1 million/$3 million
• Major Malpractice Insurers:
  • ProAssurance Casualty Co.
  • NORCAL Mutual Insurance Co.
  • Nevada Mutual Insurance Co.
  • Medical Protective Co.
  • Premier Physicians Insurance Co.
• Cost of Medical Malpractice Insurance: High

Nevada has historically had an unstable medical malpractice marketplace. Many carriers have entered and exited the state over the years, leading to problems for physicians. Prior to tort reforms being passed in 2002, Nevada physicians were facing skyrocketing premiums and many were leaving the state. This situation led to a 2002 tort reform bill, which capped noneconomic damages at $350,000. However, it allowed for exceptions for gross negligence and exceptional circumstances, which physicians argued nullified any impact on rising medical malpractice insurance rates. The issue was ultimately decided in favor of the physicians when voters approved the 2004 “Keep Our Doctors in Nevada” ballot initiative, which rescinded any exceptions to the noneconomic damages cap and added further barriers to filing frivolous lawsuits.

The noneconomic damage cap and subsequent ballot initiative have helped to stabilize medical malpractice rates in the Silver State. Other important measures include joint and several liability reform, collateral source reform, limits on attorney fees and the use of periodic payments. Nevada has faced several challenges to its noneconomic damage cap. Most recently, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld the cap, overturning an earlier ruling that it was unconstitutional.

• Damage Caps? Yes, noneconomic damages are capped at $350,000.
• Patient Compensation Fund? No
• Apology Law? No
• Collateral Source Reform? Yes, verdicts must be reduced by the amount of any collateral benefits.
• Periodic Payments? Yes, for awards equal to or in excess of $50,000 in future damages, periodic payments must be allowed at either party’s request.
• Joint Liability Reform? Yes, defendants are only severally liable for both economic and noneconomic damages in medical liability cases.
• Limits on Plaintiff Attorney’s Fees? Yes, 40 percent of the first $50,000 recovered; 33 1/3 percent of the next $50,000; 25 percent of the next $500,000, and 15 percent of any amount exceeding $600,000.

Overview

Nevada rates have stabilized in recent years, though they remain higher than in many neighboring states. Following the tort reform measures outlined above, Nevada rates began inching lower as the marketplace stabilized and more carriers entered it.

Get Historic Rates

By combining our efforts with those of the Medical Liability Monitor – the nation’s leading independent source of Medical Liability Insurance news, as well as the political, legal and risk management issues that affect the healthcare industry – we’ve published historic rate data for every county in the Silver State. You can view all the rates by completing the three simple steps on the left of this page. You’ll find the insights offered by this information invaluable when making your decision on your medical malpractice insurance coverage and carriers. This is only one of the many reasons that Cunningham Group Insurance has become the preferred online source for Nevada physicians, healthcare professionals and medical groups looking to find the best coverage and lower their medical malpractice insurance rates.

Coverage by Nevada County

Clark County, which includes Las Vegas and the surrounding area, has much higher premiums than the rest of the state. Premiums in Clark County are often double or more what they are in other parts of Nevada.

Nevada State Medical Association
Nevada Division of Insurance
Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners
Nevada Osteopathic Medical Association
Nevada Medical Group Management Association
Nevada Medicaid and Nevada CheckUp
All MD Nevada Healthcare Defense Attorney Listing