What's the difference between claims-made and occurrence malpractice policies?

An occurrence policy covers any incident that happened while the policy was active, no matter when the claim is later filed. Once you've been on an occurrence policy, that policy year is permanently covered — no tail coverage needed. A claims-made policy covers claims that are first reported while the policy is active, only if the incident happened on or after the policy's retroactive date. Claims-made policies start cheaper but rise in price each year ("step factors") for 5–7 years until they "mature," and they require tail coverage when cancelled. Occurrence costs more upfront but is simpler and avoids the tail problem. The right choice depends on your specialty, practice plans, and how long you expect to stay with one carrier — we'll walk through both before placement.