Best Malpractice Insurance for Nurses in 2025 — Cost & Coverage Breakdown. For nurses looking to purchase professional liability insurance in 2025, Nurses Service Organization (NSO), Berxi, and Pro-liability are among the leading providers.
Cost & Coverage — Breakdown Best Malpractice Insurance for Nurses in 2025
These companies offer comprehensive, affordable, and flexible plans that complement or even exceed standard employer coverage. While the cost of individual policies varies, it is generally low, averaging around $100 per year for registered nurses.
Your nursing license is the result of years of study, clinical experience, and personal sacrifice; yet, one patient complaint or medicine mistake might threaten everything. A seasoned ICU nurse in Ohio was sued last month following a patient fall during her shift; without her own malpractice insurance, she Spent $40,000 in legal defense expenses prior to case closure.
Most nurses don’t know: your employer’s malpractice insurance shields the hospital first, not you personally, and it vanishes the instant you quit that job. Professional liability insurance is not only a safety net but also necessary protection for you’re whether you’re working bedside, conducting telehealth, or picking up per diem shifts. Today’s litigious medical scene depends on your career, your savings, and your peace of mind.
Rapid Snapshot: Essentials of Nurse Malpractice Insurance
- Most RNs and LPNs spend $100 to $300 on average each year.
- Normal Coverage Limits: $1 million per event; $3 million total (1/3 policy)
- Policy Categories: Claims-made—only when policy is in effect—versus occurrence-based, which covers occurrences during the policy term perpetually?
- Legal defense expenses, settlements, judgments, and license defense before the State Board
- Who requires it: all nurses including travel nurses, PRN nurses, nurse practitioners, instructors, and students, staff RNs.
- Typical Legal Defense Price Without Insurance: $50,000 to $200,000
- Most policies contain license protection with a value of $25,000–$100,000.
- Yes, as a professional business expense if you list deductions, tax deductible is available.
What is Malpractice Insurance and How Does It Protect Nurses?
Specialized insurance meant to protect nurses against claims of carelessness, mistakes, or omissions in their job responsibilities, malpractice insurance—also known as professional liability insurance—covers that. This insurance will pay for your legal defense fees as well as any settlements or verdicts should a patient, family member or employer claim your nursing care harmed them judgments against you up to your policy limits.
Consider it as financial protection for your nursing career. Without it, defending yourself against even a minor case might deplete your savings, compel you to sell your house, or drive you into bankruptcy. Usually, these rules apply to your clinical practice as well as your license defense should complaints be lodged with your State Board of Nursing. The second section is vital as board inquiries occur far more often than actual litigation and can nevertheless cost tens of thousands to defend.
The scope of coverage goes past hospital bedside nursing. Whether you’re treating a friend, volunteering at a neighborhood health expo, responding to inquiries on a nursing forum, or offering care during an accident, your conduct as a licensed nurse bears legal liability in an emergency. Unlike employer coverage only valid during employment, your individual malpractice policy follows you everywhere and stays yours irrespective of your workplace your only work inside the bounds of that particular job.
Why Every Nurse Needs Their Own Malpractice Insurance Policy
Built into your company’s malpractice insurance is a basic conflict of interest. Policies at hospitals aim first to preserve the institution’s financial interests and reputation, therefore not necessarily always in line with your personal protection. The hospital’s lawyer represents the best interests of the hospital when a lawsuit names you as well as the hospital Period. Their defense plan could reduce the hospital’s liability by highlighting their settlement conditions that safeguard the hospital but hurt your professional reputation or your personal participation in the event.
The monetary vulnerability is absolutely genuine and expanding. Throughout their career, the typical nurse has roughly a one in ten likelihood of being named in a malpractice suit; emergency department nurses and labor delivery nurses and intensive care nurses facing even greater risks as well. Even if you win, a single lawsuit defense can cost between $50,000 and $200,000 in legal fees alone. You are personally liable for these expenses and any judgment against you—which can run into the millions depending on the seriousness of the injury alleged—without your own coverage.
In numerous typical circumstances that surprise nurses, your employer’s coverage disappears too. Should you quit your job and six months later a former patient files a complaint about care given while employed there, the hospital’s policy will no longer protect you. Should you be working per diem, selecting shifts using nursing apps, offering telehealth services, instructing clinical students, or teaching as a school nurse, you probably have coverage gaps that left you exposed. Even nurses who believe their employer covers them often find constraints when they must really submit a claim.
Equally significant is the dimension of the State Board of Nursing. You must legal advice from an attorney when a patient files a complaint with your state nursing board alleging carelessness, inability, or violation of nursing criteria. Specializing attorney in licensing defense. These procedures are independent of civil actions and might lead to license suspension, required remediation courses, practice limitations, or permanent revocation. Usually not covered by your employer’s policy, most personal malpractice policies offer separate coverage for license defense with bounds usually ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.
Still another important consideration is career mobility. Many times, travel nurses who work through agencies, per diem nurses who float between facilities, and nurses who hold numerous part-time jobs have fragmented or insufficient coverage from their several employers. Your personal policy offers constant cover for every nursing action regardless of work status. This is very beneficial if you’re establishing a side enterprise using your nursing skills in legal nurse consultation, wellness coaching, or any entrepreneurial project.
Complete Insurance Provider Comparison: Cost, Coverage & Benefits
Provider 1: Nurses Service Organization (NSO)
Annual cost for registered nurses is $109 to $158; coverage limits are $1 million to $3 million standard (higher limits are available); policy type is occurrence-based; license defense coverage is $25,000 included. Deductible: $0; additional advantages include free risk management resources, 24/7 claims reporting, and portable coverage; suitable for staff nurses and travel nurses looking for affordable, whole coverage
Covering more than 600,000 nurses across the country, NSO is the most well-known name in nursing malpractice insurance. Affinity Insurance Services underwrites them; they are supported by a firm with more than 50 years of experience only in healthcare professional liability. Their policies based on occurrence mean you are protected for any event that takes place inside your policy term even if the claim is made years after you stop paying premiums. For nurses who may retire or switch jobs but still have possible claims from prior activity, this is especially useful.
NSO is especially powerful because of its nurse-specific emphasis and educational materials. They provide free risk management continuing education classes that assist you to lower your exposure to liabilities while earning CEU credits for license renewal. Their claims team is familiar with prevalent situations leading to complaints as well as nursing practice norms. Forward-thinking, they also provide coverage for nursing students at greatly lowered premiums since students bear actual responsibility during clinical rotations.
Provider 2: Proliability (Marsh & McLennan Agency)
RN yearly cost: $98 to $142 | Coverage restrictions: standard of $1M/$3M (up to $6M/$6M available) | Policy type: Claims-made or occurrence options | License Best for nurses looking for maximum flexibility and more coverage restrictions. Defense coverage: $50,000 | Deductible: $0 | Extra perks: identity theft protection, assault coverage, personal liability extension
Offering some of the highest coverage limitations available to nurses, Proliability provides great personalization. Their adaptability between policies based on occurrence and claims-made enables you to select depending on your professional level and financial means. Initially less, claims-made policies call on you to buy tail coverage if you discontinue practicing; occurrence policies cost somewhat more but offer continuous protection for the policy period.
Their $50,000 license defense coverage is double what most competitor’s offer, which matters tremendously when facing State Board investigations that can drag on for months or even years. They also include assault coverage that protects you if a patient or family member physically attacks you and then tries to sue, plus identity theft resolution services since healthcare workers are prime targets for identity theft. Their online platform simplifies policy management and continuing education access beyond belief.
Provider 3: CM&F Group Berxi
Annual RN Cost: $59 to $124; Coverage Limits: $1M/$3M or $2M/$3M options; Policy Type: occurrence-based; License Defense Coverage: $25,000 included; Deductible: $0 | Additional Benefits: Instant online purchase, monthly payment plans, telemedicine coverage | Best For: Budget-conscious nurses and those needing immediate coverage
Berxi has revolutionized nursing malpractice insurance by offering instant online purchasing with coverage effective immediately. You can get a quote, purchase your policy, and download your certificate of insurance in less than ten minutes, which is perfect when you need proof of coverage for a new job or credentialing. Their pricing is among the most competitive in the industry, making professional liability insurance accessible even for new graduates on tight budgets.
They explicitly cover telemedicine and telehealth nursing, which is increasingly important as more nurses provide remote care through apps, phone triage lines, and virtual visits. Their mobile app lets you access your policy information and file claims from your phone, and they offer monthly payment plans without interest charges, making it easy to budget the expense throughout the year.
Provider 4: Lockton Affinity (American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Insurance)
RNs cost annually $105 to $160 | Coverage limits: $1M/$6M standard | Policy type: occurrence-based | License defense coverage: $50,000 included | Deductible: $0 Best for critically care nurses and those in high-risk professions, extra benefits include HIPAA violation defense, cyber liability, and legal counseling hotline.
To provide specialty-specific coverage that solves the particular dangers different nursing specialisms encounter, Lockton Affinity collaborates with professional nursing organizations. Designed for critical care settings where complicated patients, quick decision-making, and high-stress scenarios raise liability risk, their policies through AACN are For nurses working in intensive care units, operating rooms, labor and delivery units, and emergency departments, the $1 million per occurrence with $6 million overall limit offers additional protection.
Their foresight in including HIPAA violation defense and cyber liability coverage is especially noteworthy as breaches of patient privacy are growing commonplace sources of liability. This insurance will cover you whether you mistakenly email patient data to the wrong address, lose work phone containing patient information, or come under charges of inappropriately viewing medical records. They also offer a legal consultation hotline where you can discuss nursing practice issues with a lawyer before they develop into problems.
Provider 5: Hewlett Packard Solutions Organization, Healthcare Providers.
Annual cost for RNs: $110 to $155; Coverage Limits: $1M/$3M standard; Policy Type: Occurrence-based; License Defense Coverage: $25,000 included; Deductible: $0 | Best For: Nurses with side businesses or who provide care outside traditional employment; personal liability rider, product liability, good Samaritan coverage | Additional advantages:
For nurses with varied practice habits or entrepreneurial enterprises, Hpso provides special extensions. Your personal liability rider covers you when offering nursing guidance or support outside of official workplace settings, such as at a child’s school or at health responding to catastrophes like a Good Samaritan, or fairs. This connects your personal and professional life where liability issues become confused.
Their product liability insurance will cover you if, as part of wellness coaching or holistic nursing care, you recommend or sell medicinal products or supplements. This gets more and more important as more nurses start consulting, health coaching, or businesses in functional medicine. They also provide superb educational materials on risk management particular to daily nursing circumstances including drug delivery, documentation, and difficult patient situations.
Provider 6: CNA Financial Corporation (Affinity Insurance)
Annual cost for RNs: $112 to $165 | Coverage caps: standard of $1M/$3M | Policy kind: occurrence-based | Included $25,000 License Defense Coverage | Deductible: $0 | Best For: Travel nurses and nurses practicing in several states; nationwide coverage includes U.S. territories; crisis counseling assistance
CNA offers the financial might of a Fortune 200 insurance business and supports multiple nursing malpractice initiatives. Their rules offer flawless coverage across all 50 states plus U.S. territories including Guam and Puerto Rico, which is vital for travel nurses who take year-long assignments at various sites. When you change states or take temporary jobs in new places, you do not have to let them know.
Recognizing the emotional distress nurses go through after negative patient occurrences even when no legal culpability is present, they have incorporated crisis counseling support into their policies. This benefit gives you access to counselors specializing in healthcare worker trauma, hence aiding you in processing the psychological effects of being identified in a probe or litigation. Their claims division has specialized nurse advocates that know the clinical reality of bedside care.
Provider 7: PRN (Professional Risk Management) Nurses
Annual Cost for RNs: $95 to $135 | Coverage Limits: options of $1M/$3M or $2M/$4M | Policy Type: occurrence-based | Included license defense coverage of $35,000 Best for nurses seeking mid-range license defense constraints and family coverage, deductible: $0 | extra advantages: family plan discounts, risk management CEUs, job practices insurance
Nurses PRN provides special family plan discounts where several household members who are nurses can acquire lowered premiums for policies bought collectively. This is especially helpful for couples or parents of nursing children who want coverage. Their mid-tier license coverage of $35,000 provides good protection without incurring the costs for the highest limits by balancing fundamental and premium offers.
They also include employment practices coverage that protects you against wrongful termination claims or disputes with employers over contracts, non-compete agreements, or hostile work environment allegations. This corrects the fact that nurses who report hazardous circumstances or decline unsafe tasks sometimes get fired or retaliated against. Their library of risk management offers specialty-specific situations and documentation templates that enable proactive self-protection.
Your Step-by-Step Action Plan to Purchase the Right Coverage
Step One: Assess Your Individual Risk Level and Coverage Needs
Begin by assessing your nursing practice to establish your exposure to legal liability. Think about your patient population, work environment, field of expertise, and any outside activities beyond conventional employment. Higher malpractice risks are faced by emergency department nurses, labor and delivery nurses, anesthesia nurses, and nurse practitioners than medical-surgical nurses or school nurses. Working in several venues, doing per diem shifts, or offering any kind of online nursing consultation or counsel greatly exposes you.
Ask for a copy of the facility’s malpractice insurance coverage and read it closely to make sure your current employer is covered. Find exceptions, coverage restrictions, whether it covers you following employment termination, and if license defense is provided. Most nurses find major holes when they seriously investigate their employer coverage. Consider also your own financial circumstances: owning a house, having substantial savings, or possessing great earning potential means you have more assets to safeguard and therefore need thorough insurance.
Step Second: Choose between claims-made and occurrence-based insurance.
Although policies based on occurrence cost more annually, they provide long-lasting coverage for any occurrence falling inside the policy term independent of when the claim is made. This is perfect if you want basic, clear coverage without fretting about tail coverage later, might be taking breaks from practice, or plan a long nursing career. For their peace of mind of permanent protection, most nurses favor occurrence-based policies.
Since they only cover claims made while the policy is in effect, claims-made policies initially cost less. Should you cease premium payments, you must acquire tail coverage—also known as an extended reporting endorsement—to keep coverage for prior practice, which typically runs on 1.5 to twice your yearly premium. Claims-made is sensible if you’re sure you’ll maintain continuous coverage for your whole career or if you need the lowest conceivable cost right now on a tight budget.
Step Three: Determine Appropriate Coverage Limits
Most nurses under the standard $1 million per occurrence and $3 million total cover this implies the insurance company covers up to $1 million for every individual claim and up to $3 million in total for all claims submitted over the course of the policy year. Higher limits of $2M/$4M or $1M/$6M cost only a bit more and provide more safety for nurses in high-risk professions or high-litigation areas like Texas, Pennsylvania, California, New York, and Florida.
Consider your own licensing defense borders on their own. Basic policies include $25,000 for State Board defense, covering most typical inquiries. Greater constraints of $50,000 or $100,000 offer more security if you yet work in a profession with recurrent Board complaints such drug addiction therapy or psychiatric long-term care, or nursing. Remember that your liability limits do not include license defense coverage; therefore it does not diminish your coverage for claims about patient care.
Step Fourth: obtain quotes and compare total cost plus advantages.
Request quotes from three to five suppliers among those on the comparison list above. Most offer instant online quotations where you input your nursing specialization, practise site, state, and required coverage constraints. Make note of the processing or application costs, annual cost, and available payment choices. Some companies offer discounts for making annual instead of monthly payments, for membership in professional nursing organizations, or for maintaining a claims-free history.
Not only the cost but the whole benefit package should be compared. Giving $50,000 in license defense instead of $25,000, plus risk management CEUs and legal counsel access, plus $20 more annually, is a policy that offers substantially more valuable than the least expensive alternative. To know what is not covered—some policies exclude specific practice environments, cosmetic operations, or complex advanced practice actions that could apply to your work—read the exclusions policy carefully.
Step Five: Purchase Your Policy and Maintain Required Documentation
The application procedure takes 10–20 minutes once you select a provider and inquires about your nursing degree, present license, job history, specialty areas, and all preceding claims or State Board actions. Honesty is paramount; providing false information can invalidate your coverage when you need it. Answer every question fully and truthfully. Most policies provide immediate issues or within 24 to 48 hours; you can download your insurance certificate right away.
Keep your policy documents in a number of safe places, including cloud storage and hard copies. Particularly for advanced practice nurses, many employers demand evidence of personal malpractice insurance during credentialing or as a requirement of employment. Keep your phone’s claims reporting number from your insurance provider recorded so you can instantly report incidents if necessary. Most insurers demand claims to be filed within certain deadlines; waiting can threaten your coverage.
Step Six: Establish automated renewal and annual coverage evaluation
To make sure you never have an accidental coverage lapse, activate automatic renewal and payment. A single day without coverage can raise awareness for any event happening over that period. Check your coverage once a year before renewal, and mark your calendar accordingly; amend your policy if your company evolves, you relocate to a different state, take on acquire advanced certifications or extra responsibilities.
Even if you doubt it will be a claim, immediately report any accident to your insurance provider. You should report any patient injury involving you in treatment, drug errors whatever of injury, patient or family complaints, Doctors or managers are questioning the record of your care; any notification of a State Board complaint or lawsuit. Early reporting lets your insurance company probe, keep evidence, and prepare your defense instead of reacting after a formal claim comes.
Expert Tip from a Nurse Educator’s Insight
Having spent two decades instructing nursing students and acting as an expert witness in malpractice lawsuits, I can tell you that most often the most prevalent component in Losing cases by nurses is actually failing to tell the narrative of your nursing judgment and activities by insufficient documentation. Though your malpractice insurance covers you legally and financially, your best protection is still complete, prompt, and precise documentation.
Create charts for your assessments, therapies, patient reactions, physician notices, and your clinical judgment behind decisions. Never change records after an event; never record care you did not offer; always note refusals of treatment along with patient education you supplied on the hazards.
Having stated that, purchase your policy at the beginning of your nursing career rather than following your first frightening experience. Compared to defense expenditures, prevention costs pennies. Reach your insurance provider before speaking to anyone else, even your company’s risk management team, if you are ever cited in a lawsuit or are given a State Board complaint. In these circumstances, your company’s interests conflict with yours; therefore, your insurance provider’s lawyer works only for you. Read and grasp your policy completely right now while you are calm, not during a crisis when you are striving to find out what is covered.
Start Your Nursing Profession by Today: Protect It
Malpractice insurance is one of the most intelligent investments in your nursing career; it costs less than most nurses spend on coffee monthly but offers priceless protection. hundreds of thousands of dollars available when you require it. Going without personal coverage is just too risky in the complicated healthcare setting of 2025, when nurses are increasingly responsible, more patient acuity, and more frequent litigation. Our suggested plans provide full coverage at reasonable rates without any deductibles, therefore making professional liability insurance available regardless of your field of specialization or career level.
The choice is not so much whether to get malpractice insurance but rather which policy best fits your particular practice circumstances and risk profile. There’s a policy made for your needs whether you give priority to the lowest cost, highest coverage limits, specialty-specific coverage, or more perks like legal consultations and license protection. From quote to purchase, the procedure takes less than 30 minutes; coverage usually starts immediately or within one business day.
Act this week to save everything you have worked for in your nursing profession. Request estimates from your top three providers depending on the above comparison, examine your present employee insurance to spot any gaps, and get a policy before starting any new job or accepting more nursing duties. Too valuable to leave unprotected are your financial stability and license.
Prepared to go beyond the bedside in your nursing career? Discover how experienced RNs are using our extensive guide on How to Become a Legal Nurse Consultant — Certification, Salary & Career Path their clinical legal knowledge, where malpractice insurance information becomes even more important to your company.
Often Asked Questions Regarding Nurse Misconduct Insurance
If my company already insures me, a malpractice insurance actually needed?
Yes, certainly; employer negligence insurance primarily shields the hospital or facility, not you individually. Only for actions within your job description at that particular facility and only during your employment is the coverage effective. Should you quit your job and an ex-patient submits a complaint regarding treatment you gave while working there, your coverage under the company policy will terminate.
Furthermore, employer coverage often excludes license defense when State Board inquiries happen—that is, much more frequently than real litigation. Finally, the hospital’s attorney serves their own interests—not yours—and their defensive plan may conflict with safeguarding your professional license or reputation. Personal Malpractice Insurance guarantees you independent legal representation with your interests solely taken first.
Per month, how much is real nurse malpractice insurance?
Most registered nurses pay $8 to $25 monthly for full malpractice insurance with $1 million per occurrence and $3 million total coverage. The real cost changes depending on your profession, preferred coverage limitations, geographic location, and area of practice. Specialist nurses in emergency rooms, intensive care units, or labor and delivery may earn $150 to $200 per year, or around $12 to $17 per month. Normally between $250 and $1,500 year depending on specialization and state, nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives have greater premiums. Most insurance provide monthly payment options, therefore planning this essential coverage with your other professional expenses is easy.
How do claims-made malpractice policies vary from occurrence?
Policies based on occurrence cover any event happening during the policy period, irrespective of the claim submission date. You are still covered if you have an occurrence policy in 2025, cease practicing in 2030, and get sued in 2035 for something that occurred in 2025. This covers the policy period indefinitely. Claims-made policies just cover claims submitted during the effective paid policy period. Should you cease paying premiums, you lose coverage for past practice unless you buy tail coverage, which often runs two and a half to twice your yearly payment. Claims-made policies cost less upfront but call for close management to prevent coverage gaps upon retirement or job switch. Occurrence policies cost more yearly but offer simpler, permanent coverage.
Will my malpractice insurance cover me if I work multiple nursing jobs or do per diem shifts?
Yes, personal malpractice insurance covers you throughout all of your nursing practice regardless of employment status or geography. Whether you work full-time at one hospital, pick per diem shifts at three different sites, provide school nursing part-time, and offer telehealth on weekends, Your insurance covers all these events. One big benefit over employer coverage, which only applies to your work at that particular site, is this. Personal coverage helps travel nurses especially since it accompanies them from task to task irrespective of agency or place. To guarantee adequate coverage, only see your policy application correctly represents all of your practice locations and specialties.
Is State Board of Nursing inquiries and complaints covered under malpractice insurance?
Though coverage levels vary by provider, most excellent malpractice policies have unique coverage especially for license defense before your State Board of Nursing. While premium policies provide $50,000 to $100,000 especially for Board investigations, regular policies provide $25,000 for license defense. This coverage is distinct from your liability limits and does not diminish your defense for claims relating to patient care.
License defense coverage supports attorneys specializing in nursing licensure law to assist you in Board investigations, hearings, and disciplinary hearings. This is quite useful since complaints before the State Board happen substantially more often than genuine malpractice claims, and defending your license without legal representation nearly Given the intricacy of nursing practice activities and administrative law processes, this is impossible.
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