Why Georgia Physicians choose My Medical Malpractice Insurance:
- Our specialists will get you medical malpractice insurance quotes from the leading Medical Malpractice Insurance Companies in Georgia.
- We’ll also ensure that you receive all the physician discounts available to you, such as Risk Management, Claims-free and New to Practice.
- We’ll see to it that Prior Acts Coverage is included, so it won’t be necessary to purchase separate tail coverage.
- Our veteran liability specialists will tailor your policy to fit your specific needs.
- We’ll make available to you our Free Practice Tools: Online Patient Satisfaction Survey System, Certified Professional Healthcare Risk Manager (CPHRM) on staff, plus many other tools to help you make your practice succeed and thrive.
- Along with 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 city in the Peach State. You’ll find this information offers valuable insights into Georgia's data trends when you’re making informed decisions on your medical malpractice insurance coverage and carrier. This is simply one more reason why MyMedicalMalpracticeInsurance.com is the preferred online site for Georgia physicians and healthcare professionals that are looking for ways to lower their medical malpractice insurance rates and find the best coverage for themselves and their practices.
- Click for your free Georgia Medical Malpractice Insurance Quote.
Georgia Medical Malpractice Insurance
Recently on a more promising course, Georgia has been on a medical liability backslide. Almost from the day its legislature passed pro-physician tort reforms in 2005, the state’s trial bar has chipped away at the law’s efficacy through the court system, crowning with the Georgia Supreme Court’s recent, unanimous ruling that a cap on noneconomic damage awards was unconstitutional.
Like many states at the start of the last decade, Georgia was suffering a medical malpractice insurance dilemma. Malpractice insurance rates were growing by as much as 40 percent annually and the number of medical malpractice claims in excess of $1 million had more than doubled from those of the 1990s. When Georgia’s largest medical professional liability insurer, St. Paul Cos., stopped writing coverage in 2001, the state’s malpractice insurance issues had reached critical mass. The following year, the American Medical Association added Georgia to its list of states in a medical liability crisis.
The AMA classifies a crisis state as one where—due to rising medical malpractice insurance premiums—specialty physicians are driven to retire, practice elsewhere or curtail certain services. Georgia’s classification as crisis status came as no surprise to its healthcare community, and after years of lobbying efforts, the Georgia Legislature finally came to the same conclusion.
When the state’s government acknowledged the access-to-care consequences looming in its medical malpractice future, its legislators set out to enact a series of reforms intended to reduce the incidence of meritless litigation, decrease the cost of litigation and halt the growth of its medical liability insurance premiums. These 2005 tort reforms are commonly referred to as Senate Bill 3, or SB3.
SB3 was originally comprised of 16 provisions. From the start, attorneys on both sides of the issue had little doubt that not every provision would stand up to judicial scrutiny, but the legislation did have a moderating effect on medical malpractice insurance premiums. Two years later, the AMA downgraded Georgia’s liability environment down from “crisis state” to its list of states “showing problem signs”.
Following is a brief overview of the provisions within the act that have since been ruled unconstitutional by the Georgia Supreme Court. Many argue that these provisions are the ones with the greatest teeth in regard to lowering medical malpractice insurance in Georgia.
1. SB3—as written—ended the practice of venue shopping. Venue shopping is when a plaintiff’s attorney files his or her client’s claim in a county perceived to be more sympathetic to the plaintiff. SB3 required that a medical malpractice case be transferred to the county where the alleged negligent act took place if a defendant who lives in that county so requests.
The Georgia Supreme Court struck down this provision less than a year after its passage, contending that it violated the joint tortfeasor provision of the state constitution, which provides that a suit against joint tortfeasors, or defendants, may be tried in the county in which either resides.
2. SB3 required any plaintiff in a medical liability action to file a medical authorization form that would permit defense counsel to obtain and disclose the plaintiff’s current and previous health information. This further authorized defense counsel to discuss the care and treatment of the plaintiff with all of the plaintiff’s treating physicians.
In November 2008, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that any requirement that a medical authorization be filed with each medical malpractice claim is preempted by the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996, which sets federal standards to protect individuals’ medical records and other personal health information, and is therefore unenforceable by the state.
3. SB3 placed a $350,000 cap on noneconomic damages in cases of medical negligence. The most controversial provision of the entire tort reform statute, the cap on noneconomic damages, does allow for another $350,000 per hospital or other medical facility up to $700,000 from all medical facilities. As such, in theory, this would equate to an aggregate cap of $1,050,000 if a plaintiff could get a judgment against a physician and two hospitals.
In March 2010, the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the state’s cap on noneconomic damage awards in medical liability cases is unconstitutional. The justices wrote that the Georgia law violated a person’s constitutional right to trial by jury, specifically, the right of a plaintiff to have a jury set non-economic damages as it sees fit. “The very existence of the caps, in any amount, is volatile of the right to trial by jury,” Chief Justice Carol Hunstein wrote. The court found that noneconomic damages are a finding of fact and, therefore, any limit on what the jury can order is not constitutional.
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What does the future hold for Georgia’s medical malpractice insurance premiums in the wake of the challenges to the state’s tort reforms? Without a cap on noneconomic damages, there will likely be increases in future malpractice rates. This makes it especially critical to a physician’s business success to enlist the help of an experienced broker with access to all the state’s major insurers when looking to acquire malpractice coverage.
Click to request your free Medical Malpractice Insurance quote in Georgia
GEORGIA
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
| 2000 |
| INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|
| $6,282 0% |
$13,822 0% |
$34,559 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia Territory | $4,712 0% |
$10,367 0% |
$25,921 0% |
| Rest of State | $6,283 0% |
$13,823 0% |
$34,561 0% |
| INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|
| $7,124 0% |
$24,223 0% |
$35,799 - 10.0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catoosa, Dade Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Rabun, Towns, Union, Walker, and Whitfield Cos | $4,369 0% |
$16,491 0% |
$23,430 0% |
| Rest of State | $5,825 0% |
$21,987 0% |
$31,240 0% |
| 2001 | ![]() |
| INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|
| $8,285 + 31.9% |
$18,167 + 31.9% |
$45,421 + 31.9% |
| $7,043 + 31.9% |
$15,442 + 31.9% |
$36,608 + 31.9% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia Territory | $4,712 0% |
$10,367 0% |
$25,921 0% |
| Rest of State | $6,283 0% |
$13,823 0% |
$34,561 0% |
| INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|
| $8,121 + 14.0% |
$27,615 + 14.0% |
$40,811 + 14.0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catoosa, Dade Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Rabun, Towns, Union, Walker, and Whitfield Cos. | $4,369 0% |
$16,491 0% |
$23,430 0% |
| Rest of state | $5,825 0% |
$21,987 0% |
$31,240 0% |
| 2002 | ![]() |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia Territory | $4,712 0% |
$10,367 0% |
$25,921 0% |
| Rest of State | $6,283 0% |
$13,823 0% |
$34,561 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Territory A | $9,403 + 17.8% |
$34,790 + 17.8% |
$41,749 + 17.8% |
| Territory B | $10,392 + 17.8% |
$38,453 + 17.8% |
$46,143 + 17.8% |
| INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|
| $9,745 + 20.0% |
$33,138 + 20.0% |
$48,973 + 20.0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catoosa, Dade Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Rabun, Towns, Union, Walker, and Whitfield Cos | $6,115 + 40.0% |
$22,705 + 37.7% |
$32,204 + 37.7% |
| Rest of state | $7,973 + 36.9% |
$30,093 + 36.9% |
$42,759 + 36.9% |
| 2003 | ![]() |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia Territory | $7,728 +64% |
$17,003 +64% |
$38,639 +49% |
| Rest of State | $10,304 + 64.0% |
$22,670 + 64.0% |
$51,518 + 49.0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett Cos. | $11,420 + 10.0% |
$42,256 + 10.0% |
$50,707 + 10.0% |
| Rest of State | $10,333 + 10.0% |
$38,231 + 10.0% |
$45,878 + 10.0% |
| INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|
| $6,488 + 7.0% |
$42,053 + 27.0% |
$62,148 + 27.0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catoosa, Dade Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Rabun, Towns, Union, Walker, and Whitfield Cos. | $6,115 0% |
$22,705 0% |
$32,204 0% |
| Rest of State | $7,973 0% |
$30,093 0% |
$42,759 0% |
| 2004 | ![]() |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia Territory | $7,728 0% |
$17,003 0% |
$38,639 0% |
| Rest of State | $10,304 0% |
$22,670 0% |
$51,518 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles and Orange | $14,561 + 27.5% |
$56,958 + 34.8% |
$63,822 + 25.9% |
| Rest of State | $12,916 25.0% |
$49,700 + 30.0% |
$57,515 + 25.4% |
| INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|
| $13,591 + 9.9% |
$46,215 + 9.9% |
$68,299 + 9.9% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catoosa, Dade Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Rabun, Towns, Union, Walker, and Whitfield Cos. | $7,668 + 25.4% |
$27,828 + 22.6% |
$39,372 + 22.3% |
| Rest of State | $9,926 + 24.5% |
$36,807 + 22.3% |
$52,199 + 22.1% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb County | $17,547 + 19.4% |
$53,062 + 19.4% |
$82,210 + 23.6% |
| Catoosa County | $15,952 + 19.4% |
$48,240 + 19.4% |
$74,739 + 23.9% |
| 2005 | ![]() |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia Territory | $10,433 + 35.0% |
$30,018 + 76.5% |
$52,163 + 35.0% |
| Rest of State | $13,910 + 35.0% |
$40,024 + 76.5% |
$69,549 + 35.0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett Cos. | $15,900 + 9.2% |
$63,996 + 13.1% |
$71,708 + 12.4% |
| Rest of State | $14,105 + 9.2% |
$57,082 + 14.9% |
$63,961 + 11.2% |
| INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|
| $13,591
0% |
$46,215 0% |
$68,299 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catoosa, Chatooga, Dade Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Rabun, Towns, Union, Walker, and Whitfield Cos. | $14,291 0% |
$47,817 0% |
$67,933 0% |
| Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, and Gwinnett Cos. | $19,320 0% |
$65,419 0% |
$93,078 0% |
| Rest of State | $17,644 0% |
$59,552 0% |
$84,696 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb County | $16,727 - 4.7% |
$55,394 + 4.3% |
$92,325 + 12.5% |
| Catoosa County | $15,204 - 4.7% |
$50,357 + 4.3% |
$83,930 + 12.7% |
| 2006 | ![]() |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia Territory | $10,433 0% |
$30,018 0% |
$52,163 0% |
| Rest of State | $13,910 0% |
$40,024 0% |
$69,549 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett Cos. | $15,900 0% |
$63,996 0% |
$71,708 0% |
| Rest of State | $14,105 0% |
$57,082 0% |
$63,961 0% |
| INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|
| $13,591 0% |
$46,215 0% |
$68,299 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catoosa, Chatooga, Dade Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Rabun, Towns, Union, Walker, and Whitfield Cos. | $14,291 0% |
$47,817 0% |
$67,933 0% |
| Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, and Gwinnett Cos. | $19,320 0% |
$65,419 0% |
$93,078 0% |
| Rest of State. | $17,644 0% |
$59,552 0% |
$84,696 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb County | $16,727 0% |
$55,394 0% |
$92,325 0% |
| Catoosa County | $15,204 0% |
$50,357 0% |
$83,930 0% |
| 2007 | ![]() |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia Territory | $10,433 0% |
$30,018 0% |
$52,163 0% |
| Rest of State | $13,910 0% |
$40,024 0% |
$69,549 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett Cos. | $15,900 0% |
$63,996 0% |
$71,708 0% |
| Rest of State | $14,105 0% |
$57,082 0% |
$63,961 0% |
| INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|
| $13,591 0% |
$46,215 0% |
$68,299 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catoosa, Chatooga, Dade Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Rabun, Towns, Union, Walker, and Whitfield Cos. | $14,291 0% |
$47,817 0% |
$67,933 0% |
| Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, and Gwinnett Cos. | $19,320 0% |
$65,419 0% |
$93,078 0% |
| Rest of State | $17,644 0% |
$59,522 - 0.1% |
$84,696 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb County | $16,727 0% |
$55,394 0% |
$92,325 0% |
| Catoosa County | $15,204 0% |
$50,357 0% |
$83,930 0% |
| 2008 | ![]() |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia Territory | $10,433 0% |
$30,018 0% |
$52,163 0% |
| Rest of State | $13,910 0% |
$40,024 0% |
$69,549 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett Cos. | $15,662 - 1.0% |
$58,044 - 9.0% |
$67,692 - 6.0% |
| Rest of State | $14,105 0% |
$52,515 - 8.0% |
$61,211 - 4.0% |
| INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|
| $12,911 - 5.0% |
$43,904 - 5.0% |
$64,884 - 5.0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catoosa, Chatooga, Dade Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Rabun, Towns, Union, Walker, and Whitfield Cos. | $14,291 0% |
$47,817 0% |
$67,933 0% |
| Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, and Gwinnett Cos. | $19,320 0% |
$65,419 0% |
$93,078 0% |
| Rest of State | $17,644 0% |
$59,522 - 0.1% |
$84,696 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb County | $15,963 | $52,872 | $88,120 |
| Catoosa County | $15,204 0% |
$50,357 0% |
$83,930 0% |
| 2009 | ![]() |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia Territory | $9,285 - 11% |
$30,018 0% |
$45,903 - 12% |
| Rest of State | $12,380 - 11% |
$40,025 0% |
$61,204 - 12% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett Cos. | $15,036 - 4% |
$55,722 - 4% |
$64,984 - 4% |
| Rest of State | $13,541 - 4% |
$49,889 - 5% |
$58,763 - 4% |
| INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|
| $12,911 0% |
$43,904 0% |
$64,884 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catoosa, Chatooga, Dade Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Rabun, Towns, Union, Walker, and Whitfield Cos. | $14,291 0% |
$47,817 0% |
$67,933 0% |
| Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, and Gwinnett Cos. | $19,320 0% |
$65,419 0% |
$93,078 0% |
| Rest of State | $17,644 0% |
$59,522 0% |
$84,696 0% |
| COUNTY | INTERNAL MEDICINE (% change since last survey) |
GENERAL SURGERY (% change since last survey) |
OB/GYN (% change since last survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb County | $15,204 - 5% |
$50,357 - 5% |
$67,144 - 24% |
| Catoosa County | $15,204 0% |
$50,357 0% |
$67,144 -20% |
To find the most current medical malpractice insurance rates in Georgia, contact Mike Matray at the Medical Liability Monitor. MyMedicalMalpracticeInsurance.com has negotiated an excellent rate for all of our users, mention our site, and you can receive the Medical Liability Monitor at a low promotional price.



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