Physician Resources
In-depth articles on medical malpractice insurance, risk management, and coverage strategy for practicing physicians.
Claims-Made vs. Occurrence Malpractice Insurance: What Physicians Need to Know
The difference between claims-made and occurrence malpractice insurance shapes when your policy responds, what happens when you change jobs, and whether you may need tail coverage. Through concrete examples, this guide explains how each policy type works — and why the distinction matters more than most physicians realize.
Tail Coverage in Medical Malpractice Insurance: What Physicians Need to Know
Tail coverage is one of the most important and least understood parts of medical malpractice insurance. For physicians with claims-made policies, understanding retirement tail, free tail eligibility, and when tail is — and isn't — needed can prevent costly gaps when changing jobs or retiring.
Consent to Settle in Medical Malpractice Insurance: Why Physicians Should Care
Consent to settle governs whether an insurance company can resolve a malpractice claim on a physician's behalf — or whether the physician must approve. For many doctors, this provision matters as much as premium because it affects reputation, credentialing, and long-term career mobility.
Can One Physician Be Sued for Another Physician's Mistake?
In some medical malpractice lawsuits, one physician can be sued over another physician's mistake. This usually comes up when doctors share a practice, staff, branding, or supervision — and the patient reasonably believed they were treated by one unified group.
What Goes Into Medical Malpractice Insurance Rating?
MPL pricing is not random. Carriers evaluate a defined set of rating variables — claims-made vs. occurrence, step factors, new doctor discounts, claims-free credits, territory, hours, and surgery class — to estimate risk. Understanding these inputs makes physicians far better equipped to compare quotes intelligently.
Why It Can Be Smart for a Group Practice to Have One Medical Malpractice Insurer
When a malpractice claim names multiple physicians and the practice entity, fragmented coverage across different carriers can create conflicting defense strategies, reporting confusion, and coverage gaps. For many groups, one insurer means one coordinated approach when it matters most.
Vicarious Liability in Medical Malpractice: The Hidden Risk When Physicians Share an Office
Many physicians assume that separate solo entities and separate malpractice policies keep liability cleanly divided. In shared-office arrangements, vicarious liability can collapse that assumption — creating coverage gaps that surface only when a lawsuit arrives.
When Should a Large Physician Group Consider a Captive?
At a certain scale, buying commercial malpractice insurance year after year stops being the most efficient approach. A captive insurance company lets a large physician group retain predictable risk, control claims philosophy, and build long-term cost stability.