Grave risks are inherent to medicine. It follows that medical professionals need unique professional liability insurance along with agents, brokers and carriers that understand their industry and work. Medical malpractice insurance comes in a variety of packages, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Coverage might include:

• An individual or group policy purchased from a traditional private insurer.
• An individual or group policy obtained through a medical risk retention group (RRG), a mutual organization of medical professionals organized to provide liability insurance.
• Coverage provided as part of a policy held by an employer, such as a hospital.

It may cover such costs as attorney's fees, arbitration, settlement and damages costs. It will not, however, cover expenses that may arise from criminal or sexual misconduct in the workplace. "The complexity involved in discovering negligence results in a higher percentage of premium dollars going toward defense and cost containment expenses," the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) says of this type of coverage. "Medical liability insurers spend substantial funds investigating and defending claims where there is an adverse patient outcome not resulting from negligence." The slideshow above illustrates the top 15 medical malpractice carriers in 2019, based on NAIC research and data. See also:

• NAIC: Top 25 P&C insurance groups and companies of 2019
• NAIC: Top 25 insurance groups, companies for workers' compensation in 2019
• Top 25 insurance groups, companies for homeowners' multiple peril in 2019