Malpractice Insurance for Cardiothoracic Surgeons

Cardiothoracic surgery sits at the sharp end of medical risk. Procedures on the heart, lungs, and great vessels carry high severity if anything goes wrong—from graft failure and perioperative stroke to device complications and reoperations. Policies for this specialty must contemplate not only surgical error but also ICU recovery, anesthesia events, perfusion support, and complex post-op care.

Homewood structures coverage that matches this reality—entity and individual limits, staff extensions (perfusionists, ICU teams), device and bypass support considerations, and tail/retro options for career moves.

Use this page to see:

hat Insurance IncludesW – PL/GL protections and key add-ons for cardiothoracic practices.
Cost of Coverage – typical annual premiums and pricing drivers.
Higher-Risk Procedures – what triggers surcharges or exclusions (responsive table).
Why Work With Homewood

Get a Free Quote Now

The fastest way to find the most suitable insurance coverage for cardiothoracic surgeons 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 Cardiothoracic Surgeons can include:

Specialized coverage for heart, lung, and thoracic cavity surgeries.
Includes valve replacements, CABG, VAD implantation, and lung resections.
Covers anesthesia, ICU recovery, bypass equipment failure, and infection control.
Protection against allegations of surgical error, misdiagnosis, or post-op complications.
Staff liability for critical care teams, perfusionists, surgical assistants, and nurses.
High-limit policies available up to $1M/$3M, with tail coverage options.
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What Insurance Includes

Insurance for Cardiothoracic Surgeons can include:

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

Professional Liability (Malpractice Insurance)

Surgical negligence (CABG, valves, aortic/arch, thoracic resections, mediastinal work, esophageal).
Perioperative/ICU allegations (stroke, MI, ARDS, DVT/PE, bleeding, sepsis, SSI).
Device-related exposures (prosthetic valves, conduits, grafts, VAD driveline infections, ECMO cannulation/decannulation when applicable).
Informed-consent, documentation, and surgical count disputes; failure-to-diagnose or delay claims.
Staff coverage for employed/contracted assistants, PAs, perfusionists, and CVICU teams.
Claims-made or occurrence (where available), with tail/prior-acts options.

General Liability Insurance

Premises/visitor injuries, non-professional bodily injury/property damage.
Personal/advertising injury; evidence of coverage for hospital privileges and ASC contracts.
Optional hired/non-owned auto (patient transport between campuses).

Recommended Add-Ons

Defense outside limits, excess/umbrella ($5M–$10M+), administrative/board defense, cyber liability insurance, and trial-monitoring endorsements for large systems.

Together, these policies create a safety net that covers the full range of a cardiologist’s responsibilities—from preventive consultations to complex invasive procedures.

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Cost of Coverage

The cost of malpractice insurance for cardiothoracic surgeons reflects the exceptionally high-risk nature of their work. Because these procedures involve the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels—where even minor complications can be life-threatening—premiums are among the highest in medicine. However, costs can vary significantly depending on your location, years of experience, surgical volume, claims history, and whether you operate in a hospital or private practice setting.

While surgeons in lower-litigation states can expect more moderate premiums, those practicing in regions with frequent large settlements or “nuclear verdicts” will see substantially higher rates.

Professional Liability (Malpractice Insurance) – Estimated Ranges

Community/Private practice (low–moderate litigation states): $45,000–$85,000
Large metro/Teaching or transplant-adjacent programs: $80,000–$140,000
Ultra-high acuity (heavy aortic, redo sternotomy, VAD/ECMO): $120,000–$200,000+ (often layered with excess)

General Liability Insurance – Estimated Ranges:

practice entity/office/ASC exposure): usually $3,000–$10,000 depending on footprint and contracts.

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High-Risk Procedures and their Impact on your Premiums

Certain procedures within cardiothoracic surgery carry higher complication rates and are more frequently associated with malpractice claims. These include complex heart valve repairs, coronary artery bypass grafting, and aortic aneurysm repair—each of which demands precise technique, rigorous postoperative management, and careful patient selection. Complications such as bleeding, infection, graft failure, or stroke are among the most common sources of litigation. Understanding which procedures are considered high-risk helps surgeons anticipate potential premium increases and identify where strong documentation, team coordination, and patient communication can help reduce exposure.

Procedure	Description & Risks	Insurance Impact
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)	Graft selection/quality, bleeding, perioperative MI, neuro events; high volume drives exposure.	+15–30% PL surcharge at high volume; documentation and graft patency audits credited.
Aortic Aneurysm/Dissection Repair (open or hybrid)	Rupture, malperfusion, stroke, coagulopathy; catastrophic-severity claims.	+20–40% PL; some carriers cap annual case counts or require centers-of-excellence.
Valve Repair/Replacement (incl. minimally invasive)	Prosthesis mismatch, embolism, endocarditis, paravalvular leak; emerging tech learning curves.	+10–25% PL; outcomes tracking and device registries reduce surcharges.
Redo Sternotomy / Reoperations	Re-entry injuries, adhesions, prolonged bypass, bleeding, mortality.	+25–50% PL; may trigger higher deductibles or layered excess requirements.
Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) / MCS	Stroke, thrombosis, driveline infection, device failure; long-tail follow-up risk.	+20–35% PL; often needs endorsements and evidence of multidisciplinary MCS program.
Heart/Lung Transplant	Rejection, infection, procurement/ischemia time disputes; ultra-high severity.	Up to +50% PL or placement in excess/specialty markets; limited carrier appetite.
Esophagectomy / Complex Thoracic Resections	Anastomotic leak, respiratory failure, strictures; long LOS and readmissions.	+15–30% PL; enhanced-recovery protocols can earn credits.
ECMO Cannulation/Management (if surgeon-led)	Cannula malposition, limb ischemia, bleeding; ICU management overlap.	Endorsement often required; surcharge varies with volume and ICU protocols.

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Other types of Insurance that Physicians need

Homewood can often combine 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 covers any negligence or mistakes made by individual Cardiothoracic Surgeons during their practice. It differs from General Liability insurance, which covers the practice itself.

Sexual Abuse and Molestation Insurance

Provides coverage for your practice 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 Cardiothoracic Surgery 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

Cardiothoracic surgery is one of the most complex and highly scrutinized specialties in medicine, which makes choosing the right insurance partner essential. At Homewood Insurance Group, we understand the unique challenges heart and thoracic surgeons face—whether you’re performing bypasses, valve repairs, or lung resections.

We work with more than 100 insurance carriers to compare policies and find coverage that reflects your specific risk profile, surgical volume, and practice environment. Our goal is to help you secure strong protection without overpaying for coverage you don’t need.

Homewood’s medical liability specialists stay up to date with current market trends, legal developments, and claim data, allowing us to anticipate changes in premium rates and underwriting appetites. We also help you navigate policy options such as tail coverage, prior acts protection, defense outside the limits, and multi-physician group policies.

By working with Homewood, you’ll gain access to:

Experienced brokers who specialize in surgical malpractice coverage.
Competitive quotes from top-rated national carriers.
Help identifying and closing coverage gaps in existing policies.
Guidance through renewals, audits, and claims support.
Personalized service designed for high-acuity specialists.

Call 947-274-3093 or Fill Out the Form

Ralph Schiller

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

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