Radiology Malpractice Coverage & Premiums in 2025

Doctors called radiologists are like detectives who use special pictures, such as X-rays and MRI scans, to figure out what’s going on inside your body. Their job is super important because they help other doctors diagnose illnesses and injuries.

But even the best detectives can sometimes miss a clue or make a mistake. If a radiologist accidentally misses something important in a scan, or if a small procedure they do has a problem, it can cause big trouble for the patient. When that happens, patients or their families might sue the radiologist.

This is where malpractice insurance comes in. Think of it like a superhero shield for radiologists.

Why Radiologists Need This Insurance

• Mistakes can happen: It’s common for radiologists to face a lawsuit at some point in their careers—about 30 to 40% will.
• Common problems:
  • Missing a diagnosis: This means not seeing a problem like cancer or a broken bone in the pictures. If this happens, the payout for the lawsuit can be huge, sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars.
  • Mistakes during procedures: Radiologists sometimes do small procedures, like taking a sample (a biopsy). If something goes wrong, lawsuits can cost a lot of money, too.
  • Not sharing important news: If a radiologist finds something serious but doesn’t tell the patient’s main doctor, and the patient gets hurt, that can also lead to a lawsuit.
• New technologies: As radiologists use more advanced tools, like special computer programs (AI) or read scans from far away (tele-radiology), new kinds of mistakes can happen, so they need special insurance for these situations.
• Protection from huge costs: If a radiologist is sued, this insurance helps pay for their lawyers and any money they might have to pay if they lose the lawsuit. This protects them from losing all their savings and having their career ruined.

How Much Does It Cost?

Radiologists usually pay between $6,000 and $20,000 each year for this insurance. The cost can change depending on a few things:

• Where they work: In some states, lawsuits are more common, so insurance costs more. In other states, it’s cheaper.
• What kind of work they do: Radiologists who perform more hands-on procedures, like biopsies, pay more because there’s a higher risk.
• Their past record: If a radiologist has never been sued before, they might get a discount.
• Working remotely: If they read scans from a different location (tele-radiology), their insurance might cost a little more.

Companies That Offer This Insurance

Several companies offer this special insurance for radiologists:

• The Doctors Company: This company is owned by doctors and offers lots of coverage, even for computer issues. They also give discounts if doctors take special classes.
• MedPro Group: This is a very strong company that offers flexible plans and discounts for doctors who haven’t had any lawsuits.
• Berxi: They offer plans that can be cheaper and are easy to get online.
• Coverys: This company focuses on patient safety and uses information to help doctors avoid mistakes.
• ProAssurance: They offer flexible plans and can help if a doctor has problems with their medical license.

Ways Radiologists Can Save Money

Radiologists can reduce what they pay for insurance without losing important protection:

• Shop around for quotes: They can use a helper called a “broker” (like MEDPLI) to compare prices from different insurance companies and find the best deal. This can save them a lot of money.
• Take special classes: Some insurance companies give discounts if doctors take courses on how to be more accurate or use new technology safely.
• Join a group policy: If many doctors get insurance together, it can be cheaper than getting it alone.
• Work in “safer” states: If a state has rules that limit how much money can be paid in a lawsuit, the insurance usually costs less there.

Even though this insurance isn’t always required by law, most hospitals and medical centers want their radiologists to have it. Having the right insurance means radiologists can focus on their important job of finding problems and helping people, without constantly worrying about money if a mistake happens.