Why does malpractice insurance not take into account how much you practice?

[randombetch]

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I've heard people say that doctors who work for hospitals are encouraged to work more because the hospital pays for their malpractice insurance, and since it's expensive to employ a doctor, the hospitals would prefer a fewer number of hard working doctors over a larger number of 9-5 doctors. Okay, that makes sense if malpractice insurance costs were constant relative to the number of patients a doctor sees, but is that the case? A doctor who sees more patients is more likely to get sued, so why are malpractice insurance costs no different?

 

[apumic]

I've heard people say that doctors who work for hospitals are encouraged to work more because the hospital pays for their malpractice insurance, and since it's expensive to employ a doctor, the hospitals would prefer a fewer number of hard working doctors over a larger number of 9-5 doctors. Okay, that makes sense if malpractice insurance costs were constant relative to the number of patients a doctor sees, but is that the case? A doctor who sees more patients is more likely to get sued, so why are malpractice insurance costs no different?

Same reason car insurance premiums change based on how much you supposedly drive -- how would they know whether you were telling the truth? Additionally, numbers of hours worked/clients seen per time period is likely to be fairly dynamic and variable. I would guess it is simply easier to charge a base rate based upon known and verifiable factors such as location of practice, specialty, and previous record (of complaints, malpractice charge outcomes, suspensions, revocations, license reviews, etc.).

 

[randombetch]

Same reason car insurance premiums change based on how much you supposedly drive -- how would they know whether you were telling the truth? Additionally, numbers of hours worked/clients seen per time period is likely to be fairly dynamic and variable. I would guess it is simply easier to charge a base rate based upon known and verifiable factors such as location of practice, specialty, and previous record (of complaints, malpractice charge outcomes, suspensions, revocations, license reviews, etc.).

Thanks for this response.

 

[apumic]

Thanks for this response.

My best guess. Don't really know for sure. I agree w the poster that said asking actual physicians would be best. Premeds and even med students are not likely to really know the answer for sure.

 

[randombetch]

A related question: Is the fixed cost of mal-practice the main deterrent from hiring physicians who intend to work fewer hours?

Academic physicians work pretty insane hours because they have to do plenty of non-clinical work while trying to make the most of their already-paid-for mal-practice insurance. Perhaps it'd be a good idea for academic hospitals to handle their own malpractice insurance and make the cost of malpractice insurance directly proportional to the number of patients seen by physicians. This would certainly make doctors less pressured to work such crazy hours, and would attract more physicians into academic medicine...

EDIT: I found an article saying that there are some insurance companies that take into account the hours worked of physicians!

 

[Catalystik]

In my state it's possible to get cheaper malpractice insurance if one works less than 20 hours per week. How likely is that to happen unless a doc is winding down to retire?