We've all heard stories of outrageous medical malpractice awards that stun the world. It's clear from even a cursory look at such cases that the lawyers for the plaintiff did a really good job of convincing the judge or jury to punish the offender. However, the offender isn't the only one who is punished by out-of-control malpractice awards. The entire culture ends up paying in one way or another, often through increased malpractice insurance rates that are passed on in higher medical bills. That is why many states have enacted, and are stilling considering enacting, medical malpractice limits. In many states they range from $150,000 to $300,000, although they can vary by state. The non-economic awards are the ones that are limited, so generally, reimbursement for medical costs and lost wages remains intact.