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Malpractice Insurance for Gastroenterologists

gastroenterologist malpractice insurance 

Gastroenterologists face unique risks as procedural specialists managing both diagnostic and interventional treatments. From colonoscopies and endoscopies to ERCPs and sedation oversight, each carries distinct malpractice exposures that require carefully structured coverage. Even minor complications—such as perforations, bleeding, or missed lesions—can lead to severe patient outcomes and high legal costs.

Homewood Insurance helps gastroenterologists secure comprehensive malpractice and liability protection for their clinical and procedural practice. This includes colonoscopy and endoscopy coverage, sedation-related defense, HIPAA protection, and optional general liability for office or endoscopy suite operations.

On this page you’ll find the following:

Get a Free Quote Now

The fastest way to find the most suitable insurance coverage for gastroenterologists 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.

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Gastroenterologists Malpractice Insurance can include:

  • Option to include general liability insurance.
  • Protection for GI procedures including colonoscopies, endoscopies, and ERCP.
  • Covers sedation-related risks and post-procedure complications.
  • Includes telehealth consults and second-opinion reviews.
  • Limits up to $1 million per claim / $3 million aggregate.
  • Legal defense expenses covered in addition to liability limits.
  • Tail and part-time options available.
  • Protection for HIPAA-related privacy violation claims.
  • Portable coverage available 24/7, applicable in volunteer work, telehealth roles, per diem, or moonlighting assignments.

 

Insurance for Gastroenterologists 
can include:

Malpractice or liability insurance can provide essential protection against these risks:

  1. Professional Liability (Malpractice) Insurance

    1. Comprehensive protection for GI diagnostic and interventional procedures, including colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, EGD, ERCP, and capsule endoscopy.
    2. Defense against claims of perforation, bleeding, infection, or sedation-related adverse events.
    3. Protection for delayed or missed diagnoses of GI malignancies, inflammatory bowel disease, or ulcers.
    4. Covers tissue handling and lab errors, such as biopsy mislabeling or result delays.
    5. Includes telehealth and second-opinion reviews for consultative work.
    6. Legal defense for informed consent disputes, HIPAA violations, or documentation failures.
    7. Policies available as claims-made or occurrence-based, with limits up to $1,000,000 per claim / $3,000,000 aggregate.
    8. Tail and retroactive coverage options available for retiring physicians or career transitions.

  2. General Liability Insurance

    1. Covers third-party injuries or property damage unrelated to clinical care (e.g., patient falls in waiting areas).
    2. Includes personal and advertising injury protection.
    3. Optional property and business interruption bundling for clinics or procedure centers.
    4. Separate limits per location for multi-site GI groups or endoscopy suites.

  3. Recommended Add-Ons

    1. Cyber Liability – for patient data or EHR breaches.
    2. Regulatory Defense – coverage for CMS, OIG, or billing investigations.
    3. Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) – for wrongful termination or discrimination claims.
    4. Medical Director Endorsements – for those overseeing endoscopy units or clinical facilities.
    5. Excess/Umbrella Coverage – additional $1M–$10M in limits for hospital affiliations or high-procedure-volume practices.

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Cost of Coverage:

Professional Liability (Malpractice Insurance) – Estimated Ranges

  • Low-risk states (TX, KS, IA): $12,000–$22,000
  • Moderate states (CA, CO, ID): $18,000–$25,000
  • High-risk states (NY, FL, DC): $30,000–$55,000
  • Average nationwide range: $18,000–$30,000 annually for $1M/$3M limits.

Factors Affecting Cost:

  • Procedure mix: High ERCP/EST or heavy procedural volume raises premiums by 20–50%.
  • Location: Litigation-heavy regions (e.g., NYC, Miami, DC) cost significantly more.
  • Claims history: Prior payouts or perforation-related claims may double rates or trigger E&S underwriting.
  • Policy type: Claims-made starts lower but requires tail purchase (typically 150–250% of last premium). Occurrence policies cost 15–25% more upfront but cover indefinitely.
  • Coverage limits: Increasing limits or adding consent-to-settle provisions raises annual costs.
  • Practice structure: Solo vs. group coverage—shared entity policies can reduce per-physician cost 10–15%.

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High-Risk Procedures and their Impact on your Premiums

Gastroenterology is considered a moderate-risk specialty, but insurers apply surcharges for procedures with higher complication rates or litigation history. High-volume or interventional practices (e.g., ERCP-focused) face tighter underwriting and higher costs than diagnostic-only GIs.:

Procedure Description & Risks Insurance Impact
Colonoscopy Higher-litigation GI procedure. Key exposures: perforation, bleeding, infection, and missed malignancy (higher relative risk than sigmoidoscopy due to volume and severity). Moderate–high surcharge for high-volume practices; underwriters review sedation, consent, and tracked complication rates.
ERCP & EST Interventional profile: post-ERCP pancreatitis, perforation, hemorrhage; delayed recognition of peritonitis/sepsis drives severity. Treated as “advanced” exposure. Higher surcharges and added scrutiny; may require endorsements or higher limits depending on case mix.
EGD Risks include anesthesia reactions, perforation, and missed upper-GI malignancy. Consent and documentation disputes recur in claims. Mild–moderate increase when volume or sedation events are elevated; emphasis on consent and recovery monitoring.
Sigmoidoscopy Lower overall complication rate; occasional perforation or documentation/communication errors. Often the baseline comparator. Minimal impact; generally no surcharge beyond standard GI rating.

Procedures that Increase Premiums

  • Colonoscopy: Most frequent source of malpractice claims—perforation, bleeding, and missed cancer diagnoses drive litigation.
  • ERCP/EST: Highest severity potential; often treated as “surgical-level” exposure by carriers.
  • EGD: Common but tied to anesthesia and consent disputes.
  • Sigmoidoscopy: Low-risk baseline; minimal premium influence.

Scenarios That May Lead to Refusal or Exclusions

  • Performing experimental or robotic-assisted endoscopy without FDA clearance or endorsement.
  • Non-disclosure of procedural volume or advanced interventions during underwriting.
  • Internists performing endoscopies without GI board certification.
  • Multiple prior perforation or sedation claims within a short period.

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Other types of Insurance Gastroenterologists need

 
General Liability Insurance

General Liability Insurance

General Liability covers medical expenses and attorney fees which result from bodily injuries and property damage that your facility or organization could be legally responsible for.
 
 
Business owner's policy (BOP insurance)

Business owner's policy (BOP) insurance

A Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) is a comprehensive insurance package designed for Medical Professionals with small to medium-sized businesses. It provides a blend of liability protection and property insurance.
 
 
Professional Liability Insurance

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional Liability Insurance overs any negligence or mistakes made by the individual gastroenterologists during their practice. It differs from General Liability insurance, which covers the practice itself. 
 
 
Commercial Auto Insurance

Commercial Auto Insurance

This is relevant for Gastroenterologists who use a vehicle for practice-related tasks. This insurance covers you against auto accidents, theft, and other vehicle-related incidents.
 
 
workers compensation insurance

Workers Compensation Insurance

Workers Compensation Insurance is usually mandated by law. It protects gastroenterologist practices and employees in case of work-related injuries or illnesses.
 
 
Cyber Liability Insurance

Cyber Liability Insurance

Covers you against financial losses associated with data breaches, cyber attacks, and other cyber incidents. Insurers will usually conduct rigorous testing of your online system to fix vulnerabilities as part of this policy.
 

Why Work With Homewood

  • We specialize in procedural specialties like gastroenterology, offering policies tailored for both hospital-based and independent practices.
  • Access to over 100 carriers, including those writing ERCP-heavy or multi-state telehealth GIs.
  • We negotiate defense outside limits, consent-to-settle, and tail financing options unavailable through direct markets.
  • Continuous monitoring of premium trends and jurisdictional litigation changes to maintain competitive renewals.

Call 947-274-3093 or
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Ralph Schiller

Ralph Schiller

Ralph specializes in sourcing the most suitable insurance for Gastroenterologists at the best price. You can call him or fill out the form and he will get your message directly.