Click the list below for information about how Indigo supports physicians specializing in the following areas.
Please note, Indigo does not disqualify clientele based on specialty. If your specialty is not listed below, it does not mean Indigo cannot insure you.
Allergology/Immunology: Compared to other specialties, the
allergist malpractice insurance cost is lower, as only 7.1% are sued during their careers. The specialty tends to feature low-risk, non-invasive procedures, which contribute to lower legal exposure.
Anesthesiology: The
anesthesiologist malpractice insurance cost is moderately high, with 45% of anesthesiologists experiencing a claim. Their key surgical role during procedures increases their vulnerability to claims when severe complications are involved.
Bariatric Surgery: This specialty tends to carry a higher risk of malpractice claims because of complications like leaks and infections. A 2016 study found delays in diagnosing complications were evident in
47% of claims, emphasizing how important clear communication and thorough preoperative counseling are in this field.
Cardiology: The cost of malpractice insurance for cardiologists is relatively high because of the complexity of commonly performed procedures like angioplasty and catheterization. According to a 2015 study, diagnostic errors were involved in
25% of cardiology malpractice claims, demonstrating the importance of thorough patient assessments and effective communication between cardiologist and patient.
Colon/Rectal Surgery: Because of the risk of bowel perforations and infections, colon and rectal surgeons face higher malpractice insurance costs. A 2015 study analyzing
122 medicolegal cases found failure to recognize complications early enough was the most common cause of claims.
Dermatology: The
dermatology malpractice insurance cost remains relatively low compared to other specialties. Dermatological treatment tends to be both proactive and low-risk in nature, keeping litigation rates to a minimum.
Emergency Medicine: Emergency physicians tend to face
more expensive premiums because of the high-risk nature of their work. This elevated cost is influenced by factors such as high-stress environment and the need for rapid decision-making, which can lead to diagnosis and treatment errors.
Endocrinology: The
endocrinology malpractice insurance cost is relatively low: only 8.6% of endocrinologists experience claims throughout their careers. Management of chronic conditions, work typical of endocrinological practice, involves fewer high-risk procedures.
Family Medicine: Only 32% of family physicians typically see a claim, meaning the
family medicine malpractice insurance cost is moderate. With a wider scope of practice than other specialties, diagnostic errors or failure to refer patients for additional specialty care can increase claim likelihood.
Gastroenterology: A claim frequency of 27% drives the
gastroenterologist malpractice insurance cost is higher than most other specialties. This is due to invasive procedures like colonoscopies, which contribute to increased risk.
General Surgery: The
surgeon malpractice insurance cost is among the most costly: approximately 59% of surgeons face a lawsuit during the course of their career. Surgeries tend to be complex and high-risk, both of which drive a higher frequency of claims than is the case for other specialties.
Geriatrics: Malpractice insurance premiums for geriatric physicians are typically lower than for other kinds of specialists. Compared to specialists in more procedure-heavy fields, geriatricians tend to perform fewer invasive procedures, instead focusing on managing chronic conditions, coordinating care, and preventative measures.
Gynecology: The cost of malpractice insurance for gynecologists can be among the highest in the country:
400%+ more than the national average. Both childbirth and reproductive procedures can lead to long and costly lawsuits, driving insurers to charge above-average premiums.
Hand Surgery: Because of the intricate nature of procedures performed and associated risk of litigation, hand surgeons typically face
insurance premiums about 10% higher than the average for all physicians.
Hematology: The
hematology malpractice insurance cost tends to be lower than average, with an annual claim frequency of under 2%. The lower-risk nature of treating blood disorders accounts for this difference.
Hospitalists: Physicians treating hospitalized patients typically incur lower malpractice insurance costs compared to many other medical specialists. Practice environment and the fact their patient interactions tend to result in fewer high-risk procedures translates to a decreased likelihood of facing malpractice claims.
Infectious Disease Specialists: These specialists typically pay lower premiums for malpractice insurance compared to those of more high-risk fields. The reduced likelihood of surgical complications and catastrophic outcomes accounts for this difference, making expensive litigation less common.
Internal Medicine: Premiums for internal medicine specialists tend to be lower than for specialists performing more invasive procedures. Their lower exposure to high-risk interventions and catastrophic events typically translates to a diminished frequency of expensive lawsuits and subsequent claims, accounting for this difference.
Neonatology: Neonatal specialist physicians often see higher medical malpractice insurance premiums than many other kinds of specialists. The high-risk nature of working with newborns, where outcomes can be extreme, tends to result in a greater likelihood of malpractice claims associated with delicate, critical care, driving up insurance premiums relative to lower risk specialties.
Nephrology: The relatively lower incidence of high-risk procedures and litigation within their practice typically means nephrologists see lower malpractice insurance premiums. The nature of their work, typically involving fewer immediate life-threatening interventions adds up to less legal exposure than more procedurally intensive specialties.
Neurology: Because 55% of neurosurgeons face claims in their careers, the
neurosurgeon malpractice insurance cost is very high. In contrast, because only about 2% of general neurologists experience claims their insurance costs tend to be more moderate, a reflection of the fact they undertake fewer high-risk procedures.
Nuclear Medicine: Both
nuclear medicine malpractice insurance cost and the cost of nuclear radiologist malpractice insurance reflect higher than average risk. Failure to diagnose or treat anaphylaxis caused by administering a contrast agent administration is the most common complication.
Obstetrics Gynecology: OB-GYNs pay some of the highest premiums for medical malpractice insurance in the United States, because of the risk involved in delivering babies and potential complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Adverse outcomes result in this elevated cost because of the necessarily increased likelihood of litigation and large awards.
Oncology: The moderate to high premiums paid by oncologists are reflective of the complex and high-stakes nature of cancer treatment, increasing the likelihood of litigation.
Ophthalmology: Compared to other medical specialists, ophthalmologists in general pay lower-than-average medical malpractice insurance premiums. This is because the procedures they perform are often associated with lower risk of severe complications. Likewise, their patients are less likely to experience life-changing outcomes, reducing the likelihood of high-cost claims.
Orthopedics: Orthopedic surgeons generally face higher malpractice insurance premiums because of the high-risk nature of their practice and potential for costly litigation. In contrast, non-surgeon orthopedic physicians who focus on diagnosis and non-operative management of conditions typically pay lower premiums. This is because their reduced involvement in invasive procedures lessens the likelihood of catastrophic outcomes and the expensive lawsuits associated with them.
Otorhinolaryngology: The cost of malpractice insurance for otorhinolaryngologists is typically somewhere in the middle range when compared to other surgical specialties. While ENT procedures can be somewhat complex, the overall frequency and severity of high-liability claims are generally lower than those in more risk-prone specialties.
Pain Management: Greater incidence of litigation and generally more high-risk procedural practice means pain management specialists often see higher malpractice insurance cost than many other medical specialists. Exposure to complex treatment programs and complications, which tend more often to result in costlier malpractice claims, accounts for this.
Pathology: Pathology malpractice insurance tends to be less expensive than that of other specialties because of a claim frequency of only 2%. That most lawsuits stem from diagnostic errors, rather than direct interaction with a patient, accounts for this.
Pediatrics: Generally speaking, pediatric specialists pay lower premiums for medical malpractice insurance than a lot of other medical specialists. Fewer catastrophic claims and lower exposure to expensive litigation are behind this reduced average cost.
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R): Physiatry malpractice insurance costs moderately more, with claim rates of around 10.9%. Failure to diagnose and improper management of rehabilitation are common causes of this cost.
Plastic Surgery: Plastic surgeons typically pay more for malpractice insurance than other physicians, as the procedures they perform and the potential for costly litigation arising from aesthetic dissatisfaction or complications makes their work more high-risk in nature. These increased costs reflect the likelihood of cosmetic surgery claims, when patient expectations can be higher than normal and outcomes far less objective, leading to more lawsuits and higher awards.
Psychiatry: Because of the non-invasive nature of the pharmaceutical- and therapy-focus of their practices, psychiatrists consequently face a lower risk of high-cost malpractice claims. This low risk tends to result in lower than average malpractice insurance premiums.
Preventative Medicine: The cost of
preventative medicine malpractice insurance, with a claim frequency of only around 1%, tends to be quite low. Specialists in this field tend to focus on disease prevention, rather than high-risk interventions.
Pulmonary Medicine: Pulmonology malpractice insurance is moderately expensive because of the focus on treating complex conditions. This includes conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respiratory infections like COVID-19.
Radiology: Often because of diagnostic errors in imaging, such as missed and mistaken diagnoses,
radiologist malpractice insurance cost reflects a claim frequency of about 4%.
Rheumatology: Rheumatologist malpractice insurance cost is low, with an approximately 2% annual claim rate. Rheumatological practice involves applying minimally invasive procedures to the management of chronic forms of arthritis.
Urology: Urologists typically pay higher malpractice premiums than primary care physicians, for example, but lower premiums than high-risk surgical fields like neurosurgery or obstetrics. Reason being, while urologists perform invasive procedures that can increase liability exposure, they do not usually handle the same level of complexity and risk as higher-risk specialists do.
Vascular Surgery: Steeper malpractice insurance premiums are typical for vascular surgeons. Because their specialty demands performance of high-risk, high-stakes procedures, including those during which serious complications can arise, insurance costs are higher for them relative to the average.
