Excess Medical Liability Insurance Program Continues Unchanged

The Excess Medical Liability Insurance Program remains in effect and unchanged after the New York State budget was signed into law by Governor Cuomo. The program, which was continued and funded at its historical level of $127.4M, provides an additional layer of $1M of coverage to physicians with hospital privileges who maintain primary coverage at the $1.3 million/$3.9 million level.

Physicians cannot get free excess coverage if they are insured by an RRG.

Physicians who purchase primary coverage from an RRG not licensed by New York State do not have access to the $1 million of excess coverage provided by the state. Excess coverage may be provided at no cost to physicians who are insured by a New York State-licensed insurer and meet all other requirements of the excess program. The Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) had this to say in a recent statement: “Until such time as meaningful liability reform is enacted, we must protect and continue the Excess program so as to assure that physicians can remain in practice in New York State.”