Malpractice Insurance for Physicians

Tailored malpractice coverage for physicians across all specialties — primary care, surgery, OB/GYN, cardiology, psychiatry, medical directors, and group practices.

What it Costs What's Covered

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.

What our customers say

Nick LeRoy

Extremely pleased with the assistance that I received. He was timely with his responses.

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Devoted Doc

Ralph has been an excellent partner for our practice. He's responsive and gives us the insight we need.

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Ben G. Adams

Extremely pleased with the assistance that I received. He was timely with his responses.

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John McDonald

Responsive and detailed with necessary information to supply a solid plan and coverage.

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Ralph was very helpful in answering all my questions and concerns.

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Andrane Gordon

It was a pleasure I was expecting this was going to take weeks — he was very efficient communicating with me and my assistant.

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Carolyn Gurski

Ralph was easy to work with, stayed in touch and communicated well. Very happy.

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Ralph and Amy are an awesome team to work with! 10/10 recommend working with them!

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Get a Free Quote Now

The fastest way to find the most suitable malpractice coverage for physicians is to fill out our quick quote form. Provide details about your specialty, practice setting, and claims history, and we'll connect you with top carriers offering tailored protection at competitive rates.

Malpractice Insurance for Physicians can include:

Protection against malpractice claims arising from patient care, procedures, or treatment decisions.
Covers diagnostic errors, surgical complications, medication mistakes, and 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.

PRICING UPDATE — APRIL 2026

Real Recent Premiums — Physicians

Actual bound-policy data from Homewood placements for physicians. Physician malpractice is highly role-dependent — admin-only roles are relatively affordable, while direct patient care premiums vary enormously by specialty.

Medical Director (no patient care)

$2,800 – $3,500

Admin/supervisory only, $1M/$3M limits

Primary care / low-risk specialty

$5,000 – $15,000

Family med, internal med, psychiatry, dermatology

Surgical / high-risk specialty

$20,000 – $200,000

OB/GYN, neurosurgery, orthopedic, cardiothoracic

Annual Physician Malpractice Premium

$1M / $3M limits — claims-made

Real Placement Examples

Physician Profile	Carrier	Limits	Deductible	Annual Premium
Medical Director — no direct patient care	Admiral Insurance	$1M / $3M	$2,500	$3,500
Hospice Medical Director — part-time	Kinsale	$1M / $3M	$2,500 – $5,000	$2,891 – $2,978 (includes cyber + HIPAA)

Common Add-Ons & Separate Policies

Typical annual cost ranges

Key Takeaways from Our Placement Data

↑

Pushes Premium Higher

Surgical specialties (OB/GYN, neurosurgery, orthopedic, cardiothoracic)
Direct patient care (vs admin/supervisory roles)
Full-time hours and high patient volume
High-litigation state (FL, NY, IL, PA)
Prior claims or board actions
Invasive procedures or hospital privileges
Occurrence policy form (vs claims-made)

↓

Keeps Premium Lower

Admin/supervisory only — Medical Director, no patient care
Part-time practice
Low-risk specialties (family med, internal med, psychiatry)
Clean claims history
Lower-risk state
Claims-made policy form
Non-procedural / office-based practice

⚠️ Important: Facility Policies Often Exclude Physicians

Many facility-level professional liability policies include a physician exclusion endorsement, meaning MDs must carry their own individual malpractice coverage. Do not assume your facility's insurance covers you as a physician — verify your policy language carefully. This is one of the most common coverage gaps we see.

What Underwriters Look At

Specialty — family medicine, surgery, psychiatry, etc.
Direct patient care vs admin-only — the single biggest pricing factor.
Hours worked — full-time vs part-time.
Facility type — clinic, hospice, medspa, hospital, ASC, etc.
Whether malpractice is already carried elsewhere — some roles are covered under employer or facility policies (but verify exclusions).

Get Your Physician Quote

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Malpractice Insurance for Physicians Can Include

Physician malpractice coverage needs vary enormously by specialty, setting, and role. Here's what your program should address:

Professional Liability (Malpractice) Insurance

Your core protection against clinical claims:

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, psychiatry, 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.
Limits up to $1,000,000 per claim / $3,000,000 aggregate.

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 claims).
Premises protection for clinics, physician offices, and outpatient settings.
Often bundled with property in a medical BOP if eligible.

Recommended Add-Ons

License Defense / Board Proceedings — pays for legal representation during disciplinary hearings and state medical board investigations.
Cyber / HIPAA Liability — covers patient data breaches, EHR system failures, and regulatory defense.
Tail Coverage — extended reporting period for claims-made policies when switching carriers, changing employers, or retiring.
Regulatory Defense — for CMS, DEA, or state licensing investigations.
Umbrella / Excess Liability — additional protection above primary limits for high-risk specialties or high-volume practices.

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How Much Does Physician Malpractice Insurance Cost?

Typical Annual Premiums ($1M / $3M Limits)

Physician malpractice premiums vary enormously based on specialty, role, state, and claims history:

Medical Director (no patient care): $2,800 – $3,500 per year. Low severity exposure.
Primary care / low-risk specialties (family med, internal med, psychiatry, dermatology): $5,000 – $15,000 per year.
Moderate-risk specialties (ER, gastroenterology, radiology, anesthesiology): $12,000 – $30,000 per year.
High-risk surgical specialties (OB/GYN, neurosurgery, orthopedic, cardiothoracic): $20,000 – $200,000 per year.

Standard Policy Structure

Standard limits: $1,000,000 per claim / $3,000,000 aggregate.
Deductibles: usually $2,500 – $5,000.
Claims-made is standard; occurrence available but costs more up front.

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Higher-Risk Specialties and Their Impact on Your Premiums

Physician malpractice premiums vary more by specialty than almost any other factor. The following specialties and procedures draw the heaviest underwriting scrutiny and carry the highest premiums.

Specialty / Procedure	Why It's Higher Risk	Insurance Impact
OB/GYN (Obstetrics)	Birth injury claims carry the highest indemnity severity in medicine. Cerebral palsy, shoulder dystocia, and fetal distress claims often exceed $1M.	Among the most expensive specialties to insure; $30,000–$100,000+ annually depending on state and volume.
Neurosurgery	Spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and brain damage from surgical complications. Highest-severity claims in surgical specialties.	Premium at top of range; $40,000–$100,000+ in high-litigation states.
Orthopedic Surgery	Wrong-site surgery, implant complications, nerve damage, and infection. High claim frequency and severity.	$25,000–$60,000+ annually; carriers scrutinize surgical volume and implant use.
Cardiothoracic Surgery	Mortality risk from bypass, valve repair, and transplant procedures. High-severity claims when outcomes are poor.	$30,000–$80,000+ annually; requires demonstrated training and outcomes data.
Emergency Medicine	Rapid triage decisions, limited history, and high patient volume increase misdiagnosis risk. Chest pain, stroke, and abdominal pain are common claim triggers.	$12,000–$30,000 annually; higher in states without tort reform.
Anesthesiology	Airway complications, aspiration, hemodynamic instability, and awareness claims. High severity when outcomes are poor.	$12,000–$25,000 annually; varies significantly by practice setting and case mix.
Pain Management (Interventional)	Epidural complications, opioid prescribing claims, nerve damage, and DEA scrutiny. Combines procedural and prescribing risk.	$15,000–$30,000+ annually; heavily influenced by procedure mix and prescribing volume.
Radiology (Diagnostic)	Missed cancer diagnoses, delayed reporting of critical findings, and failure to communicate results. High-value "failure to diagnose" claims.	$10,000–$20,000 annually; carriers evaluate turnaround protocols and peer review processes.

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Other Types of Insurance Physicians May Need

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

General Liability Insurance

Coverage for third-party injuries and property damage at your clinic or office — unrelated to direct medical care.

Professional Liability Insurance

Core malpractice coverage — protects physicians against claims of negligence, diagnostic errors, and treatment complications.

Tail Coverage Insurance

Extended reporting coverage for claims-made policies — essential when switching carriers, changing employers, or retiring from practice.

Cyber Liability Insurance

Covers patient data breaches, EHR system failures, and HIPAA-related costs — increasingly expected for all physicians.

Umbrella / Excess Liability

Additional protection above primary limits — recommended for high-risk specialties, surgical practices, and physicians with hospital privileges.

Physician Group Insurance

Coverage structured for multi-physician practices — shared limits, entity coverage, and tail provisions for joining or departing partners.

Why Work With Homewood

Physician malpractice varies more by specialty and role than almost any other insurance class. At Homewood, we match you with the right coverage at the right price:

Access to nearly 100 carriers — from admitted markets for clean primary care risks to specialty/surplus lines for high-risk surgeons or physicians with prior claims.
Expertise across all physician specialties — primary care, surgery, OB/GYN, emergency medicine, psychiatry, pain management, radiology, and medical director roles.
Guidance on claims-made vs. occurrence policies, retro dates, and tail coverage when changing employers or retiring.
Help verifying whether your facility's policy actually covers you — many include physician exclusion endorsements that leave MDs without coverage.
Advocacy during malpractice claims, state board investigations, licensing disputes, and CMS/DEA inquiries.
Competitive pricing even for hard-to-place physicians with prior claims, board actions, or high-risk procedure mixes.

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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