PA Liability Insurance for Pennsylvania
Working as a PA in Pennsylvania comes with unique clinical risks. The right malpractice policy helps you practice confidently and meet employer requirements.
Physician Assistants Need Tailored Liability Insurance
Pennsylvania
Why
In Pennsylvania, Physician Assistants play a vital role in healthcare but carry distinct malpractice risks. Even with a supervising physician involved, PAs remain personally responsible for their clinical decisions. Claims often stem from prescribing errors, delayed diagnoses, or complications from procedures. Telemedicine adds new complexities in Pennsylvania, particularly where supervision and cross-state rules apply. Employer-provided insurance rarely extends to full board defense or protects a PA s professional reputation. Individual coverage provides defense for board complaints, regulatory reviews, and malpractice claims. In Pennsylvania, where agreements and board oversight are required, maintaining your own policy ensures compliance and peace of mind. See: https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Medicine/Pages/Application-Forms.aspx
How much does malpractice insurance for Physician Assistants cost in Pennsylvania?
Costs are based on specialties as well as full vs part- time hours:
Average $1M/$3M Coverage Premium - Part Time (less than 24 hours/week):
$1,012 - P1 (lower-risk outpatient specialties like family practice or dermatology)
$1,317 - P2 (hospital ER, urgent care, OR work under 10 hours/week)
$1,611 - P3 (surgical or OB/GYN without L&D, trauma, pain management)
Average $1M/$3M Coverage Premium - Full Time (greater than 24 hours/week):
$1,523 - P1 (lower-risk outpatient specialties like family practice or dermatology)
$1,988 - P2 (hospital ER, urgent care, OR work under 10 hours/week)
$2,426 - P3 (surgical or OB/GYN without L&D, trauma, pain management)
Sample rates only. Premium will be underwritten for your exact situation when using our Instant Online Quote portal.
Physician Assistant Insurance cost varies depending on:
* Scope of services provided
* Claims-made vs. occurrence form
* Policy limits (standard limits are $1/$3M, but $100k/$300k, $250k/$500k, $500k/$1M and $2M/$4M limits available
* Prior claims history
**Note:** Rates will be underwritten for your exact situation.
Pennsylvania
Physician Assistant Specific Laws and Regulations
In Pennsylvania, Physician Assistants are regulated by the state board of medicine. Supervision agreements and scope of practice laws hold PAs individually responsible for their clinical decisions. Maintaining individual malpractice coverage ensures compliance and professional protection. See: https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Medicine/Pages/Application-Forms.aspx and https://www.aapa.org/chapter/pennsylvania
Pennsylvania: Keep a written agreement with supervising physician on file per Board procedures; update for material changes. See: https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Medicine/Pages/Application-Forms.aspx
Pennsylvania
Physician Assistant Frequently Asked Questions
Do Physician Assistants in Pennsylvania have to carry malpractice insurance?
Yes. Pennsylvania requires physician assistants to maintain professional liability (malpractice) insurance to practice. The State Board has specified a minimum of $1,000,000 per occurrence; employer-provided coverage can satisfy this requirement.
State minimum for PAs: $1,000,000 per occurrence (claims-made or occurrence acceptable; facilities may require higher limits).
What is the minimum malpractice insurance limit for Physician Assistants in Pennsylvania?
How much does malpractice insurance for Physician Assistants cost in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, Physician Assistant malpractice coverage can start as low as $972 annually for $100,000/$300,000 limits. At the more common $1,000,000/$3,000,000 limits, average annual premiums are roughly $1523 for Tier P1 (behavioral health, pediatrics, family practice, dermatology), $1988 for Tier P2 (ER, urgent care, surgical centers or OR work <10 hours/week), and $2426 for Tier P3 (OB/GYN without labor & delivery, trauma, pain management, higher-risk surgical). Part-time work in Pennsylvania often brings reduced premiums, roughly $1012 for Tier P1, $1317 for Tier P2, and $1611 for Tier P3. Final premiums vary by specialty, procedures, hours worked, and individual claims history.
Are Physician Assistants in Pennsylvania covered under any state patient compensation or excess liability fund?
Only certain states operate excess liability or patient compensation funds (for example, Kansas HCSF, Indiana PCF, Wisconsin PCF, Louisiana PCF, Pennsylvania MCARE). Eligibility and requirements vary by statute and may not include physician assistants. In Pennsylvania, confirm whether PAs are defined participants under any such program before assuming coverage.
Most hospitals and larger facilities in Pennsylvania require evidence of malpractice coverage for physician assistants. Even if the employer carries a practice policy, credentialing commonly asks for a certificate of insurance showing your name, limits, and retro date. Maintaining your own policy ensures continuity if you change employers or moonlight.
Do hospitals in Pennsylvania require Physician Assistants to carry their own malpractice policy?
Can a Physician Assistant in Pennsylvania rely solely on an employers malpractice policy?
In Pennsylvania, tail coverage (extended reporting period) matters for physician assistants who have a claims-made policy. Tail lets you report claims after the policy ends for incidents that happened while the policy was active. Who pays is not set by most state laws-it is a contractual issue. Check your employment agreement, medical staff bylaws, and your policy. Common patterns: (1) the employer pays if they terminate you without cause; (2) you pay if you resign or are terminated for cause; (3) the practice pays for owners/partners as part of a buyout. If you switch carriers, you can avoid buying tail by having the new carrier provide prioracts coverage so your original retro date carries forward. Occurrence policies do not need tail because coverage is triggered by when the incident occurred.
For a Pennsylvania physician assistant on a claimsmade policy, the retroactive date ("retro date") is the earliest date from which your policy will cover incidents. Any alleged event before the retro date is not covered-even if the claim is reported today. Keep your retro date continuous when changing employers or insurers. You can do this by (a) buying tail from the old policy, or (b) asking the new insurer to include prioracts coverage using the same retro date. Avoid lapses-if the policy cancels and is not replaced with prioracts or tail, your effective retro date could reset, creating a gap. Tip: verify the retro date on your declarations page and make sure your HR/credentialing files match.
Do Physician Assistants in Pennsylvania need tail coverage when changing jobs or carriers?
In Pennsylvania, a physician assistant with a claims-made policy is covered when BOTH the alleged incident happens on or after the policy's retroactive date and the claim is reported while the policy is active (or during a purchased tail endorsement after it ends). If you change jobs or insurers, you either buy tail coverage or have the new carrier provide prior-acts coverage so your original retro date carries forward.
An occurrence policy covers incidents that happen during the policy term regardless of when the claim is reported, even if it is reported years later after the policy has ended. Because the coverage is triggered by when the incident occurred, occurrence policies do not require tail coverage.
Practical tip for Pennsylvania physician assistants: confirm the retro date on your declarations page, who pays for tail if you leave, and how your limits are expressed (for example, $1,000,000 per claim and $3,000,000 aggregate).
What is the difference between claims-made and occurrence coverage for Physician Assistants in Pennsylvania?
How quickly can a Physician Assistant in Pennsylvania get proof of malpractice insurance for credentialing?
In Pennsylvania, a certificate of insurance (COI) is typically available immediately upon binding a physician assistant policy. If the facility needs special wording (additional insured, primary/non-contributory, waiver of subrogation), allow 1-2 business days for endorsement issuance.
What happens if a Physician Assistant in Pennsylvania practices without malpractice insurance?
Practicing without appropriate malpractice coverage in Pennsylvania exposes a physician assistant to personal financial risk and may violate employment, credentialing, or payer contract requirements. If a claim is made, you could be responsible for defense and indemnity out of pocket. Boards may not mandate coverage in every state, but misrepresentation or contract breaches can still trigger discipline.
Are malpractice claims against Physician Assistants reportable to the state board in Pennsylvania?
In many states, insurers or employers must report certain malpractice settlements or judgments to the licensing board. In Pennsylvania, physician assistants should follow board disclosure instructions on applications and renewals and cooperate with any insurer reporting requirements.
Do Physician Assistants in Pennsylvania need higher limits for med spa or aesthetic procedures?
Facilities performing cosmetic or aesthetic procedures in Pennsylvania often expect higher scrutiny and sometimes higher limits for physician assistants, depending on procedures (e.g., laser, injectables). Best practice is at least $1M/$3M; some medical spas or ASC settings may request higher limits or occurrence coverage. Confirm facility privileging requirements and any exclusions in your policy.
Does malpractice insurance for Physician Assistants in Pennsylvania cover telemedicine?
Telemedicine can be covered for a physician assistant in Pennsylvania when you are licensed (or otherwise permitted) in the state where the patient is located and your policy territory includes those services. Confirm that your policy does not exclude specific platforms or modalities and that documentation/consent meet telehealth standards.
Do supervising or collaborating physicians in Pennsylvania share liability for a Physician Assistants services?
Supervising/collaborating physicians in Pennsylvania can face vicarious liability depending on the facts and the supervisory model, but a physician assistant remains responsible for their own professional acts. Coverage responds according to the policy(ies) in force. For legal exposure specifics, consult counsel; for insurance response, review named insureds and vicarious liability provisions.
Can a Physician Assistant in Pennsylvania be added as an additional insured on a physicians policy?
A physician assistant in Pennsylvania is typically a named insured on their own policy. Being added as an additional insured on a physician's policy, if permitted, does not replace your own coverage and may provide only limited vicarious protection. Maintain your own limits to ensure primary defense and portability.
What malpractice coverage do outpatient clinics in Pennsylvania typically expect for Physician Assistants?
Outpatient clinics in Pennsylvania commonly expect physician assistants to carry at least $1,000,000 per claim / $3,000,000 aggregate. Some ambulatory surgery centers or specialty practices require higher limits or occurrence form. Always check privileging paperwork for exact requirements.
How does malpractice insurance work for new graduate Physician Assistants in Pennsylvania?
New-graduate physician assistants in Pennsylvania are generally eligible for malpractice coverage with standard limits (often $1M/$3M). Premiums may be lower for new grads, and occurrence or claims-made with an established retro date both work. Mind your retro date and tail obligations if you change jobs in year one.
What should a Physician Assistant in Pennsylvania do about prior acts or retro dates when moving employers?
When moving employers in Pennsylvania, a physician assistant should preserve their retroactive date. Options: (1) buy tail from the old claims-made policy, or (2) obtain prior-acts coverage from the new carrier using the original retro date. Confirm who pays for tail in your employment agreement.
How are malpractice premiums calculated for Physician Assistants in Pennsylvania?
Insurers price physician assistant malpractice in Pennsylvania primarily by: limits, location, specialty/procedures, prior claims, policy form (claims-made vs. occurrence), and whether prior-acts are included. Discounts may apply for new grads, part-time practice, or risk-management/CME.
Physician assistants in Pennsylvania can often lower premiums by choosing appropriate limits, selecting a higher deductible if available, taking risk-management/CME for credits, maintaining clean claims history, and avoiding unnecessary gaps (which can raise rates). Avoid under-insuring-$1M/$3M is a common best-practice baseline.
How can Physician Assistants in Pennsylvania lower their malpractice premiums without losing protection?
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