Florida Medical Malpractice Claim Costs Approach $2B as Premium Rates Rise

October 15, 2026 by matray

Medical malpractice claims closed in Florida during 2025 generated nearly $2 billion in indemnity and loss-adjustment expenses, an increase of 7.8% from the previous year, as the statewide medical malpractice combined ratio rose above 100% and approved physician rate changes averaged 5.4%.

The findings appear in the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s “Medical Malpractice Financial Information: 2026 Annual Report,” published Oct. 1. The report analyzes closed claims, insurer financial results and rate filings in one of the nation’s largest medical professional liability insurance markets.

Insurers and self-insured entities reported 3,619 medical malpractice claims closed during 2025. Those claims produced approximately $1.96 billion in lifetime indemnity and loss-adjustment expenses.

Hospital inpatient facilities were the most common injury location, accounting for approximately 45% of closed claims. Physicians’ offices accounted for 463 claims, while emergency departments accounted for 408.

Death was the largest injury-severity category, representing 1,158 claims, or 32% of the total. Another 141 claims involved quadriplegia or brain damage, while 232 involved paraplegia, blindness or the loss of multiple limbs.

Florida generated approximately $1.04 billion in direct written medical malpractice premium during 2025, making it the country’s third-largest state market by premium volume.

The state’s medical malpractice combined ratio increased to 101.4% from 97.1% in 2024.

Despite the deterioration, regulators concluded that Florida’s medical malpractice market remains profitable and sustainable. The 36 insurers representing 80% of the state’s premium produced a premium-weighted average IRIS Ratio 5 of 82.3%.

The report also found that medical malpractice coverage remains generally available without providers having to seek coverage through the Florida Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association.

Licensed insurers generated 48.7% of Florida’s medical malpractice premium during 2025. Surplus-lines insurers accounted for 27.1%, while risk retention groups accounted for 22.2%.

Physicians and surgeons remained the largest segment of the market, producing 55.2% of written premium. Other healthcare professionals accounted for 20.8%, other medical facilities for 17.8% and hospitals for 6.3%.

Florida regulators approved or processed 101 medical malpractice filings during 2025, compared with 92 in 2024 and 104 in 2023.

Approved physician rate filings produced an average increase of 5.4%, weighted by the number of policies affected. Professional nurses experienced an average increase of 6.4%, while dentists’ rates increased 1.5%. Rates for podiatrists, optometrists, chiropractors and similar healthcare professionals increased an average of 0.1%.