Ambulance Malpractice Insurance

Ambulance providers deliver critical emergency and non-emergency medical transport by ground and air. From 911 calls and interfacility transfers to community events, these operations face unique liability exposures — from patient injuries during loading/unloading to aviation-related risks during flights.
Homewood Insurance helps ambulance operators secure tailored malpractice and liability coverage to protect patients, staff, vehicles, and facilities.
This page explains:
- What Your Insurance Includes – coverage breakdown for Professional Liability and General Liability tailored to ambulance operations.
- Cost of Insurance Coverage – typical premium ranges and the main factors that drive pricing.
- Higher-Risk Exposures – services and procedures that elevate premiums or risk coverage denial.
- Why Work With Homewood – how we help ambulance services secure the best protection.
Get a Free Quote Now
The fastest way to find the most suitable insurance coverage for your ambulance services for is to fill out our quick quote form, so we can give you an idea of the type of insurance coverage that best suits you.
Homewood Insurance works with a number of different carriers to ensure you have the most suitable insurance coverage at the best price.
Ambulance Malpractice Insurance can include:
- Professional Liability protection for patient care errors during transport.
- Coverage for loading and unloading incidents, slips, falls, or stretcher mishaps.
- General Liability protection for third-party bodily injury and property damage not tied to medical treatment.
- Includes liability for visitors or vendors at stations, vehicle bays, or dispatch centers.
- Optional umbrella and excess limits available for larger fleets or regional EMS systems.
- Standard limits: $1M per occurrence / $3M aggregate.
Insurance for Ambulance Services can include:
Malpractice or liability insurance can provide essential protection against these risks:
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Professional Liability (Malpractice Insurance)
- Coverage Covers errors in medical assessment, treatment decisions, or medication administration during transport.
- Protects against claims of misdiagnosis or patient injury in emergency and non-emergency settings.
- Automatically includes loading and unloading exposures (a frequent source of injury claims).
- Coverage applies to employed paramedics, EMTs, nurses, and medical staff on board.
- Optional extensions for Medical Directors, including oversight duties and direct patient care if needed.
- International operations may be covered if claims are filed in the U.S., its territories, or Canada.
- Coverage Covers errors in medical assessment, treatment decisions, or medication administration during transport.
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General Liability (GL) for Ambulance Services
- Premises liability – injuries to visitors, donors, or vendors at ambulance stations, vehicle bays, or administrative offices.
- Bystander injuries – coverage if a third party is hurt near a parked or operating ambulance.
- Property damage to others – protection if equipment such as stretchers, oxygen tanks, or gurneys damages property.
- Community events – liability for staff participation at health fairs, school visits, or public standby assignments.
- Personal and advertising injury – protection against claims of defamation, copyright infringement, or misleading advertising.
- Medical payments coverage – pays small claims quickly, regardless of fault, to help prevent disputes.
How much does Insurance for Ambulance Services cost?
Premiums are influenced by specialty mix, litigation environment, facility size, and claims history. Carriers also evaluate risk management protocols such as credentialing, peer review, and informed consent.
Professional Liability Insurance – Estimated Ranges
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Small municipal or volunteer EMS provider: $5,000 – $15,000 per year
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Mid-sized ambulance service with multiple vehicles and mixed emergency/non-emergency calls: $15,000 – $50,000 per year
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Large fleets, regional EMS systems, or air ambulance operators: $50,000 – $150,000+ per year
Factors that influence cost include the number of transports per year, staff training and certification levels, the ratio of emergency to non-emergency calls, claims history, and whether operations include bariatric, critical care, or air transports.
General Liability (GL) – Estimated Ranges:
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Small single-station provider: $1,500 – $5,000 per year
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Mid-sized ground ambulance service: $5,000 – $15,000 per year
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Large or multi-site/air ambulance operators: $15,000 – $30,000+ per year
Premiums vary based on facility size, number of employees, visitor traffic, safety protocols, and whether event standby or community education is part of the operation.





















Service / Procedure | Why It’s Higher Risk | Controls Required | Insurance Impact |
---|---|---|---|
Involuntary psychiatric transports | Risk of injury, restraint use, and civil rights violations | Specialized staff training, written protocols, contracts with facilities | Often excluded or heavily surcharged; carriers require zero-claim history |
Air ambulance operations | Combines aviation risks with en-route patient care | FAA compliance, flight physician oversight, pilot training records | 50–100% premium increase; refusal possible without oversight |
Bariatric or critical care transports | Heavier patients and advanced interventions increase injury risk | Specialized stretchers, lift-assist devices, cardiac monitoring | 30–75% premium increase; required protocols for safe handling |
Special event standby | Crowd unpredictability, potential for mass-casualty events | Event-specific riders, volunteer vetting, hospital proximity plans | 25–50% surcharge per event; exclusions possible without riders |
Advanced invasive procedures | Procedures like surgical airways or central lines outside standard EMS | Highly trained staff; strong documentation; QA reviews | 20–60% increase; some carriers exclude unless physician-led |
Loading/unloading without protocols | Frequent slips/falls during transfers; wheelchair/stretcher mishaps | ADA-compliant equipment, staff training, written procedures | 15–40% increase; claims common; mitigation reduces surcharges |
Other types of Insurance that Ambulance Services may need

General Liability Insurance

Professional Liability Insurance

Sexual Abuse and Molestation Insurance

Commercial Property Insurance

Workers Compensation Insurance

Cyber Liability Insurance
Why Work With Homewood
With a wealth of experience and access to nearly 100 carriers, Homewood helps operators:
- Secure malpractice and general liability coverage tailored to both emergency and non-emergency services.
- Add umbrella or excess coverage to protect large fleets and regional systems.
- Cover the entity, medical staff, and Medical Directors under coordinated policies.
- Navigate underwriting requirements for aviation risks, bariatric services, and event standby.
- Gain an advocate with deep experience negotiating with EMS specialty markets.
Call 947-274-3093 or
Fill Out the Form
Ralph Schiller
Ralph specializes in sourcing the most suitable insurance for Ambulance Services at the best price. You can call him or fill out the form and he will get your message directly.