Medical Indemnity Insurance

What is Medical Indemnity Insurance For Doctors ?

Medical indemnity insurance for a doctor can be defined as a contract of insurance that provides financial protection (to the extent set out in an insurance contract issued by a licensed General Insurer) to both medical practitioners and patients in circumstances where a patient sustains an injury (or adverse outcome) caused by medical misadventure, malpractice, negligence or an otherwise unlawful act.

Medical indemnity insurance may also be referred to as medical malpractice insurance or practitioner medical indemnity insurance or doctors professional indemnity insurance.

Get access to our services to help you get quotes here.

Understanding Medical Indemnity Insurance For Doctors

The Medical Board of Australia requires all registered medical practitioners who provide health care or medical opinions in respect of the physical or mental health of any person, to ensure all aspects of their medical practice are covered by professional indemnity insurance (PII), or some alternative form of medical indemnity insurance cover that complies with the Board’s registration standard for professional indemnity insurance. The Board may audit a practitioner’s renewal declarations to ensure that they are complying with the Board’s registration standards and their obligations under the National Law.  The Medical Board has standards published on their website that can be found here.

How Do Experien Insurance Services Help Doctors Arrange Professional Indemnity Insurance With Insurers?

Experien General Insurance Services (Experien) is a national insurance brokerage firm. We help many doctors in the private sector with their medical indemnity insurance, and we give Doctors the valuable alternative to dealing directly (on their own) with insurers. We research the market to help find better coverage, pricing or other factors.  If you engage us for a review, then we will not charge you if you don’t decide to use us any further.  A review is complimentary and without any obligations.

When doctors renew their indemnity insurance, many consider using Experien to review their policies. By comparing insurers, we have highlighted major differences in the pricing and features of different policies.  If you want to change insurers or take out coverage with an insurer we work with, then we can do all the work for you.

The benefits of using an adviser/broker for your Professional Indemnity Insurance

Experien has been advising doctors for several years as a broker on their medical malpractice insurance. Our clients have benefited greatly from our services which include:

• Complimentary market comparisons – often finding improved features and better prices.
• Helping to change insurers – if a Doctor can be better off from doing so.
• Dispelling myths like the loss of retroactive cover if you move insurer.
• Helping you avoid mistakes like an out of date category of practice registered with your insurer.
• Optional claims support at no extra costs.
• Complimentary annual reviews.
• Access to a personal adviser who is available at any time.
• Obtaining group discounts in some circumstances.
• Access to our multi-policy reward.

All generally at no additional charges on top of the insurance premium*

How can Experien help you?

Experien understands each insurer’s strengths and can help you by providing:

• Access to our extensive research on pricing, policy features, service and the financial strength of the insurers
• Transparency – making you aware of all your options and what you are getting for your premiums
• Analysis of differences in policy coverage (and we ensure that you do not lose your retroactive cover or “tail” when changing insurers)
• Technical advice, including how your individual medical malpractice insurance should be coordinated with medical indemnity insurance for your practice liability exposures.

Indemnity Insurance FAQs

For which insurers do you act as a broker?

We compare policies across all insurers and we have brokerage arrangements with MIGA, MDA and Tego (underwritten on behalf of Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s or BHSI).

Why have doctors not shopped around in the past?

Most doctors stick with the insurance policy they are given for free when then are studying. As they progress their career into private practice, they may not have the time to consider if their policy is still the best solution for them. A broker can do all the work for you to ensure you get an improved outcome in terms of features, security, service and/or price.

What can go wrong if you deal directly with insurers?

• You may miss out on policy features
• You may forget to notify insurers of potential claims before changing insurers
• Failure to update the following may result in gaps in cover:
  • increased billings often aren’t accounted for on renewal.
  • Your “retroactive” date (when you first started private work) may be incorrectly recorded.
  • The exact nature of your work/category of practice may have changed and not accounted for (e.g a GP starting to perform procedural work).

Can I only change insurers on my policy anniversary?

No. You can consider a change at any time of the year. You do not need to wait until your policy anniversary to move if you will be better off with an alternative insurer. We will consider any penalties you may face at your existing insurer and the potential savings and improved benefits at a new insurer before you consider whether or when to move insurers.

Why do medical malpractice insurance premiums vary so widely?

Insurance companies quote different premiums as a result of differences in:

• Rating methodology,
• Corporate strategy and underwriting appetite,
• Claims experience, and
• Capital management
• And several other factors

What do I need to do to get a review?

We will prepare information for you which comes with no obligations or charges. We simply need to collect your:

• practicing category,
• annual billing amount,
• retroactive date, and
• details of past claims.

If you proceed to use us to change or take our insurance, we will complete the paperwork for you and get your cover accurately in place. We are then on call to help you throughout the year, including any claims that may arise and will repeat this process each year.

* In certain limited scenarios, which are not common, we may propose an explicit fee be charged in agreement with us beforehand

What factors can influence a doctor’s medical malpractice insurance premium?

There is a wide range of factors, that differ from insurer to insurer, and can include (but are not limited to) :

• Practicing category including whether or not procedures are performed or not and the mix of practice areas between higher and lower risk categories
• How much work is done privately versus in an employer indemnified setting (eg public sector work)
• How much work is done each year (billings are often used as a proxy)
• How long the practitioner has been working for
• The history of past regulatory claims and civil claims of the practitioner
• If the practitioner is new to private practice
• Whether the practitioner is eligible for Government support for their premiums or not
• Read more here about : Comparing medical indemnity insurance prices for doctors

How much does professional malpractice insurance cost for medical practitioners?

The range of professional indemnity prices from insurer to insurer for any one doctor can be wide.  Each medical practitioner is different and will have pricing based on their own unique circumstances and history as assessed by each insurer.  For example, a doctor working part time will pay less than if they worked full time. A broad illustration of pricing (per annum) ranges for selected individual doctors seen over 2019/2020 showed the following broad ranges below. Please note that pricing is not indicative of the broader occupation groups as they were based on specific individuals with specific levels of billings, history and other factors.

• General Practitioner : $3,750 to  $8,000
• Cardiologist interventional : $4,800 to $9,500
• Anaesthetist : $5,000 to $10,000
• GP – Procedural : $6,000 to $12,000
• Radiologist : $14,000 to $23,000
• Vascular Surgeon : $22,000 to $30,000
• Orthopaedic Surgeon : $38,500 to $52,000
• OBGYN : $65,000 to $92,000

Want to read more about Medical Indemnity Insurance For Doctors and note Frequently Asked Questions And Answers ?

Click on the articles below to find out more :

• This article outlines the key benefits of using a broker—specifically Experien General Insurance Services (EGIS)—to manage medical indemnity insurance for doctors including the topics of Time-saving, No extra costs as standard, Policy comparisons, Technical Expertise and Claims support. Read the details here
• This article discusses the dangers of letting their medical indemnity insurance auto-renew without review and covers topics like incorrect billing details or an incorrect pricing category, policy wording changes and better prices that may be available at another insure. Access the full details here
• Want to understand why it is important for doctors to regularly review their medical indemnity insurance to ensure it remains appropriate for their current practice and specialty. ? Read more here

Medical indemnity insurance and other insurance covers

• Want to understand the difference between Public Liability Insurance, Product Liability Insurance and Professional Indemnity Insurance ? We have an article that explains the differences which you can read here. In the article you will note that Public Liability can cover non-clients (e.g., visitors), while Professional Indemnity is client-specific. Product Liability applies post-sale, whereas Public Liability applies during business operations. Each type has exclusions, and businesses may need all three for comprehensive protection.
• Want to understand management liability insurance for a medical practice.  Click here to read more.
• Contractors (associates) may not be covered under the practice’s business insurance. Separate public liability insurance may then be needed to be arranged for contractors to protect against injury claims from their patients, and many owners of medical practices require contractors to have their own cover and verify it.  Whilst some Professional Indemnity policies for dentists include public liability as an optional feature, this is less common for doctors (if available at all). Click here to read more on the topic of Public liability insurance for medical and dental contractors

Articles on medical indemnity insurance premium costs

• Want to learn more about price discounts for new doctors in private practice who can access tiered premium discounts ? Read more here.
• A past Australian Government Actuary report (2007 to 2019) showed that premiums remained stable or declined (in real terms) from 2007 to 2019.Only a few specialties (e.g., some GPs) saw increases. Premiums as a percentage of private income have decreased (from 3.1% in 2007 to 2.5% in 2019). 94% of policies cost less than 10% of private income in 2019. Read the details here.
• This article discusses how medical specialties vary significantly in claim frequency and payout amounts.  Malpractice risk varies significantly by specialty. High-risk specialties include neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, and OB-GYN. Though based on U.S. data, the findings are relevant for Australian doctors to understand relative risk exposure. See the full details here
• Lowering the risk of medical malpractice claims is an article that suggest that wellness programs may reduce legal risk

Article For Practice Owners

• This article explains why medical practices—as business entities—should consider having their own practice indemnity insurance, separate from individual practitioner policies. Individual policies may not cover claims made against the business entity and practices face unique risks when staff are involved in patient care or records or patients see multiple practitioners or contractors or locums are involved. A Practice Policy can protect an individual practitioners’ claims records from actions of others (e.g. partners, staff) and can covers civil liability for acts or omissions by employees against the practice itself.  Access the full article here

Medical indemnity insurance cover

• Who needs it and how to get it ? Click here . This article outlines the mandatory requirement for all registered medical practitioners in Australia to hold professional indemnity insurance. It explains coverage contexts (private, public, volunteer), retroactive and run-off cover, and the role of brokers like Experien in helping doctors navigate insurer options.
• Article on medical indemnity insurance considerations : Click here  This article highlights the importance of comparing insurers rather than sticking with one for life. It lists over 40 sub-features that vary across policies, including cover for civil liability, regulatory defence, privacy breaches, defamation, and more.
• What are your options with medical indemnity insurance ? Click here
• Explains sub-limits in medical indemnity policies—specific caps on coverage for certain claim types. These vary by insurer and can significantly affect the extent of protection. Click here to access article
• This article confirms that all practising doctors must have indemnity insurance under AHPRA regulations. Details exemptions and the need for run-off cover when ceasing practice. Click here
• Obtaining or reviewing individual or practice medical indemnity insurance cover for Doctors : Click here
• Do Doctors Need To Have Professional Indemnity Insurance In Australia ? This article answers FAQs about why public sector doctors might need personal cover, and what factors influence insurance pricing—such as claims history, specialty, billings, and economic conditions.
• This next article focuses on regulatory claims (e.g., AHPRA notifications) as a common trigger for medical indemnity policies. Notes rising regulatory complaints and potential premium increases. Read here
• Definition of Professional Indemnity Insurance for Doctors. Clarifies the difference between individual doctor indemnity and practice-level indemnity. Practice policies cover staff and entity-level claims, which individual policies do not. Read here
• Who Needs Medical Indemnity Insurance in Australia ? Explains that all practising health professionals (doctors and dentists) must have indemnity insurance. Details coverage requirements based on practice context and exemptions. Read here
• What is the definition of medical indemnity insurance for a doctor ? Defines medical indemnity insurance as a contract that protects doctors and patients from financial loss due to malpractice or negligence. It is distinct from entity-level malpractice insurance and may be referred to by various names like practitioner indemnity or professional indemnity insurance. Read here
• What does it mean if your professional indemnity insurance works on a “claims made” basis ? This article explains the “claims made” policy type, where coverage depends on when the claim is reported, not when the incident occurred. Highlights the importance of timely notification and the role of retroactive and run-off cover to maintain protection. Read here
• Professional indemnity insurance related news for Doctors. This article shares updates and trends in the insurance landscape, including rising premiums and regulatory changes. Highlights Experien’s role in helping professionals navigate complex insurance options and manage claims. Read here
• A guide to medical indemnity insurance in Australia.  This provides a comprehensive overview of medical indemnity insurance, including insurer options, claim statistics, and regulatory requirements. Discusses how doctors use brokers like Experien to compare policies and optimize coverage. Read here
• Medical Indemnity Insurance For Doctors – What is a “no hammer” clause ? Explains the “no hammer” clause, which prevents insurers from settling claims without the doctor’s consent. This clause ensures that doctors retain control over legal decisions, even if the insurer prefers to settle. Read here

Medical indemnity insurance claims for doctors

• This article explains how medical indemnity insurance covers defence costs for doctors facing tribunals or regulatory enquiries, especially those referred to AHPRA for serious concerns. Experien General Insurance Services acts as a broker to help doctors compare policies for pricing and features, including switching insurers if needed.  Doctors Medical Indemnity Insurance can help fund the cost of defence at tribunals
• The article outlines the role of the New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC), an independent body that investigates complaints against health service providers, including registered doctors, nurses, dentists, and even unregistered practitioners or organizations, to protect public health and safety. For doctors, the HCCC consults professional councils to decide outcomes, which vary by case. Professional indemnity insurance can cover legal defence and related costs, though coverage details differ by policy and insurer—doctors should check the Product Disclosure Statement before buying insurance. HCCC Complaints Against Doctors
• This piece details the Supervised Practice Framework introduced by the National Boards and AHPRA (effective February 1, 2022) to ensure supervisees (doctors and dentists under conditions or undertakings) are safe and competent, protecting the public. It covers principles, supervision levels, and expectations for supervisees, supervisors, and employers, with transition rules for existing arrangements.  Medical Indemnity Insurance : Supervised practice framework for Doctors and Dentists
• Drawing from the Medical Board of Australia’s newsletter, the article stresses that effective communication is key to preventing the roughly 5,500 annual complaints against Australian medical practitioners (most of which don’t escalate). While indemnity insurance aids in responding to complaints or legal actions, prevention is better. Key tips include actively listening to patients, respecting their views, explaining clinical management clearly, confirming understanding, answering questions promptly, and providing progress updates. Poor communication often underlies concerns about care quality; building skills through reflection and colleague discussions reduces reliance on insurance claims. Professional indemnity insurance for Doctors – Good communication helps prevent complaints
• The article highlights how professional indemnity insurance is essential for defending against patient complaints.  Poor clinical records hinder cases—accurate records act as vital evidence. Per the Dental Board of Australia’s Code of Conduct, records should be timely, factual, objective, legible, secure, and include patient history, findings, investigations, and details. Professional indemnity insurance claims defence for doctors and dentists
• This article collectively promote proactive risk management for healthcare professionals through insurance, communication, and compliance. Avoiding Professional Indemnity Insurance Claims For Doctors And Dentists

Medical indemnity insurance support schemes

• The Premium Support Scheme (PSS) helps eligible doctors with the cost of medical indemnity insurance by offering subsidies. Eligibility is based on either high insurance costs relative to income or being a procedural GP in rural areas. Despite its benefits, participation has declined over time. The scheme is administered by contracted insurers who invite doctors to opt in annually, and the government pays the subsidy directly to insurers. Read more here 
• The Exceptional Claims Scheme (ECS) covers 100% of costs for claims that exceed a doctor’s indemnity insurance limit. It is fully funded by the government and applies to incidents notified after 1 January 2003. Doctors must have insurance with a minimum threshold (currently $20 million). ECS ensures doctors are not personally liable for extremely high claims. Read here 
• The Run-Off Cover Scheme (ROCS) provides free indemnity cover for doctors who have ceased private practice due to retirement, disability, maternity leave, death, or leaving Australia. It ensures coverage for claims arising from past practice without requiring ongoing insurance. The scheme is funded by a levy on insurers and acts as a government-backed reinsurance system. See here
• Universal Insurance Cover. From 1 July 2020, all medical indemnity insurers must offer coverage to any doctor unless specific legal exceptions apply. This reform ensures doctors are not denied cover due to claims history or perceived risk. If refused, doctors must be informed of their right to appeal via the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). Read here

Only general advice is provided on this website has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on the advice, consider its appropriateness. Consider our disclosure documents, which include our FSG and each insurer’s Product Disclosure Statements (PDS) for insurance products. Please click here for our Financial Services Guide, which includes important regulatory disclosures regarding our license, remuneration and complaints handling.