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    Washington malpractice tail insurance by specialty

    Tail coverage in Washington is estimated from the specialty's mature annual premium, the state's liability multiplier and the specialty's tail multiple.

    Example valuesWhat tail coverage costs across Washington specialties

    $19,200–$228,000

    High-liability venue, state multiplier 1.20×.

    Neurosurgery
    $228,000
    Psychiatry
    $19,200
    State multiplier
    1.20×
    Climate
    High-liability venue
    Damages cap
    No

    Example valuesRun your own at joinandwise.com/malpractice/washingtonAndwise specialty benchmarks and state liability climatechecked November 2, 2026amounts entered are masked

    Washington liability climate

    High-liability venue

    No non-economic damage cap; fault-based litigation rules.

    A high-liability venue: claim frequency or venue keeps the premium above the national baseline, whether or not the state has a damages cap. The multiplier is above 1.00×.

    The multiplier of 1.20× is a planning estimate for the state's claims environment, not a rate filed by a carrier. A statutory cap limits some damages; it does not set the premium.

    Example valuesjoinandwise.com/malpractice/washingtonState medical liability statutes, NAIC loss-ratio filings and AMA liability tableschecked November 2, 2026amounts entered are masked

    Tail coverage by specialty in Washington

    Sorted from the lowest median estimate to the highest. Premiums and tail estimates include the state multiplier. Each row opens the state page for that specialty, with the premium range, the tail range and the exit liability by year.

    SpecialtyMedian annual premiumTail multipleTail estimate
    Psychiatry$9,6002.0×$19,200Breakdown →
    Pediatrics (General)$12,0002.0×$24,000Breakdown →
    Family Medicine$14,4002.0×$28,800Breakdown →
    Internal Medicine (Outpatient)$15,6002.0×$31,200Breakdown →
    Dermatology$19,2002.0×$38,400Breakdown →
    Hospitalist (Internal Medicine)$21,6002.0×$43,200Breakdown →
    Ophthalmology$21,6002.0×$43,200Breakdown →
    Anesthesiology$33,6002.0×$67,200Breakdown →
    Gastroenterology$33,6002.0×$67,200Breakdown →
    Emergency Medicine$40,8002.0×$81,600Breakdown →
    Cardiology (Interventional)$45,6002.0×$91,200Breakdown →
    General Surgery$57,6002.0×$115,200Breakdown →
    Orthopedic Surgery$66,0002.0×$132,000Breakdown →
    OB/GYN$81,6002.0×$163,200Breakdown →
    Neurosurgery$114,0002.0×$228,000Breakdown →

    Example valuesjoinandwise.com/malpractice/washingtonAndwise specialty benchmarks and state liability climatechecked November 2, 2026amounts entered are masked

    What changes the estimate

    • Claims-made maturity: premiums step up until the policy matures, around year 5.
    • Policy limits: the table assumes $1M per claim and $3M aggregate.
    • Carrier and claim history: the carrier prices the policy, not the state table.
    • Part-time or reduced scope: fewer hours can change the premium and the tail.
    • Tail multiple: the planning range is 150%–250% of the mature annual premium.
    Tail coverage by specialtyAll states

    Questions to ask about the policy

    • Does the policy state claims-made or occurrence?
    • What is the retroactive date, and does a new policy cover prior acts?
    • Which party pays the tail on resignation, on a without-cause termination, and at the end of the term?
    • Does the tail obligation vest over years, and at what share each year?
    • What multiple of the mature annual premium does the carrier charge for tail?

    How we check information · Medical advisory board

    Sources