Malpractice Insurance for Physicians

Physicians face one of the highest malpractice exposure rates in healthcare, with nearly one in three doctors sued at least once during their careers. Even when claims are unfounded, the stress, time, and financial implications can be substantial. Whether you work in a hospital, private clinic, or group practice, robust professional liability protection is essential to safeguard your career and reputation.

Homewood Insurance helps physicians across all specialties secure comprehensive malpractice and general liability coverage. From primary care and pediatrics to high-acuity specialties like surgery, OB/GYN, and cardiology, our brokers match you with insurers who understand your specific risks.

This page outlines the following:

What Insurance Includes – a breakdown of Professional and General Liability protection for physicians.
Cost of Coverage – typical annual premium ranges and the main factors influencing rates.
Higher-Risk Procedures – interventions and surgical specialties that elevate premiums or trigger carrier scrutiny.
Why Work With Homewood – how we help physicians secure competitively priced, comprehensive coverage.

Get a Free Quote Now

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

Malpractice Insurance for Physicians can include:

Shields against malpractice claims arising from patient care, procedures, or treatment decisions.
Protects against allegations of diagnostic error, surgical complications, or failure to refer.
Designed for solo practitioners, hospital-employed physicians, and outpatient-based providers.
Includes coverage for documentation issues, patient consent, and scope-of-practice disputes.
Limits up to $1M per claim / $3M aggregate; tail and prior acts coverage available

Malpractice Insurance for Physicians can include:

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

Professional Liability (Malpractice Insurance)

Covers allegations of negligence, omissions, or errors in diagnosis, treatment, or surgical procedures.
Legal defense and settlements for claims tied to missed diagnoses, incorrect treatment, or procedural complications.
Protection for medication errors, failure to obtain informed consent, or delayed referrals.
Applies to physicians in internal medicine, surgery, emergency care, pediatrics, obstetrics, pain management, and other specialties.
Includes coverage for documentation errors, miscommunication, or patient record disputes.
Optional endorsements for telemedicine, in-home care, or cross-state medical practice.
Policies available as claims-made or occurrence, with tail coverage and prior-acts protection.

General Liability Insurance

Covers bodily injury or property damage unrelated to direct medical care (e.g., slips, falls, or waiting room incidents).
Includes personal and advertising injury (e.g., libel or slander).
Provides separate occurrence limits for clinics, private practices, or medical groups.
Defense costs covered in addition to policy limits.

Recommended Add-Ons

Cyber liability Insurance – for EMR breaches, ransomware, or unauthorized disclosure of patient data.
Employment practices liability – covers HR or discrimination claims in group practices.
Regulatory defense – for billing audits, DEA or CMS investigations, and peer reviews.
Excess/Umbrella Coverage – increases limits up to $10M for surgical and hospital-based roles.
Locum tenens endorsement – maintains coverage when working across multiple facilities.

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The Cost of Malpractice Insurance for Physicians:

The cost of malpractice insurance for physicians depends heavily on specialty, claim history, and geography. Non-surgical physicians may pay as little as $2,000–$5,000, while high-risk surgical roles can exceed $100,000 annually. Below is a breakdown by coverage type:

Professional Liability (Malpractice Insurance) – Estimated Ranges

Family Practice / Pediatrics: $2,000 – $5,000
Internal Medicine / Cardiology: $5,000 – $10,000.
General Surgery / Orthopedics: $15,000 – $50,000.
OB/GYN / Neurosurgery: $80,000 – $150,000+.
High-litigation states (NY, FL, IL, CA): +30–60% increase.
Prior claims or board actions can double premiums.

General Liability Insurance – Estimated Ranges:

Small office practice: $400 – $1,000 annually.
Multi-provider clinic: $1,000 – $3,000.
Premiums rise 15–30% for high-traffic or multi-location practices.

Common Add-ons and Endorsements:

Cyber Liability Insurance: $250 – $800.
Employment practices liability: $400 – $1,200.
Regulatory defense: $300 – $700.
Umbrella coverage: $1,000+ depending on limit.
Locum tenens or telemedicine riders: $100 – $500.

Factors Affecting Cost

Specialty and procedure mix – invasive work or OB/Surgical roles are highest.
Geography – metro and coastal states carry heavier litigation risk.
Group membership – group policies often yield 10–20% savings.
Claims history – clean records lower rates by up to 25%.
Policy limits – $2M/$6M coverage can add $1,000–$2,000 annually.

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High-Risk Procedures and their Impact on your Premiums

Certain procedures expose physicians to dramatically higher malpractice risks, both in claim frequency and severity. While most licensed activities remain insurable, underwriters assess procedural volume, safety protocols, and disclosure accuracy when calculating premiums. Failure to disclose high-risk procedures can result in denial of claims or policy rescission:

Procedure Category	Risk Description	Impact on Coverage
Obstetric / Gynecologic Surgeries	High-severity outcomes such as infant injury or maternal death. Litigation frequency among highest of all specialties.	Premiums may double; OB-specific coverage endorsement required in most states.
Neurosurgical & Orthopedic Procedures	Involve high complication risk—nerve damage, paralysis, and long-term disability claims common.	+30–50% PL increase; underwriters review surgical outcomes and caseload.
General & Thoracic Surgery	High-risk of infection, bleeding, and anesthesia complications. Elective procedures drive higher litigation rates.	+25–40% premium rise; additional documentation protocols required.
Cosmetic / Elective Procedures	Frequent dissatisfaction-related suits despite low injury rates.	+20–35% surcharge; may require separate cosmetic rider or endorsement.
Experimental / Off-Label Interventions	Unapproved stem cell, robotic, or AI-guided procedures carry uncertain risk and regulatory scrutiny.	Possible exclusion; full disclosure mandatory to maintain coverage validity.

Carriers rarely deny coverage entirely unless acts exceed scope or licensure—but high-volume surgical and OB work continues to drive the sharpest premium increases nationwide.

Additional Resources

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Other types of Insurance that Physicians need

Homewood can often combine different different types of coverage into one policy.

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.

Professional Liability Insurance

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

Sexual Abuse and Molestation Insurance

Provides coverage for your organization against claims arising from alleged sexual misconduct or molestation by an employee or other representative of your organization.

Commercial Property Insurance

This protects your facility against damage or loss to your buildings, equipment, and other property, which can happen as the result of various risks such as fire, theft, or vandalism.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

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

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

Homewood specializes in complex medical specialties, representing physicians in over 40 states.
Access to 100+ carriers, including surplus-line markets for high-exposure physicians.
We negotiate consent-to-settle clauses, tail options, and excess layers for full protection.
Active monitoring of underwriting changes and carrier appetite ensures competitive pricing.
Dedicated support for policy transitions, group consolidations, and multi-specialty practices.

Call 947-274-3093 or Fill Out the Form

Ralph Schiller

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

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