Medical Care Availability & Reduction of Error (MCARE) Fund

Formerly the Medical Professional Liability Catastrophe Loss (CAT) Fund

What is the Mcare Fund?

The Mcare Fund is state operated and was created as a provision of Pennsylvania law to provide excess limits of coverage to health-care providers defined by Act 13.

The MCARE Act 13 of 2002 was enacted in March 2002 repealing the Health-Care Services Malpractice Act, known as Act 111.

In addition to restating existing law mandating coverage for physicians, surgeons, nurse midwives, hospitals and institutions, the Act addresses patient safety, medical liability reform and CAT Fund reform, including placing the CAT Fund under Insurance Department control and creating the Mcare Fund to replace the CAT Fund as of 10/1/02.

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What are the rules of participation and limits of liability that the Mcare Fund provides?

For policies issued in 2007, physicians who practice in Pennsylvania are required by law to have coverage limits of $1 million per claim/$3 million annual aggregate:

  • For physicians who practice 50% or more in Pennsylvania, PMSLIC provides basic limits of $500,000 per claim/$1.5 million annual aggregate; the Mcare Fund provides excess limits of $500,000 per claim/$1.5 million annual aggregate.
  • For physicians who practice less than 50% in Pennsylvania, PMSLIC provides basic limits of $500,000 per claim/$1.5 million annual aggregate; the additional required limits of $500,000 per claim/$1.5 million annual aggregate can be obtained as excess coverage with PMSLIC or through elective participation in the Mcare Fund.

What does the Mcare Fund's excess coverage cost?

The cost varies each year. Companies that provide basic limits of insurance bill and collect the assessment set by the Fund every year for its excess coverage.

The Fund assessment is calculated as a percentage of the Joint Underwriting Association's prevailing primary premium.

For Policyholders
For More Information
Medical Liability Reform
Certificate of Insurance
For Defense Counsel
Loss Prevention Discount Program