The Doctors Company Announces 2009 Membership Dividend

Napa, California—May 7, 2009—The Doctors Company, the largest national insurer of physician and surgeon medical liability in the U.S., is pleased to announce a premium dividend to reward member physicians for their loyalty and dedication to advancing the practice of good medicine.

The 2009 dividend credit will provide a premium reduction between 5 and 7.5 percent to members in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.

"Our physician-led Board of Governors has authorized approximately $60 million in member dividends in the past three years," said Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, chairman and CEO. "Our conservative fiscal approach and years of conscientious investing firmly position us to provide the industry’s most aggressive claims defense and financially reward our physician members for their delivery of outstanding patient care.”

Members of the national specialty societies that endorse The Doctors Company may also receive a dividend in addition to their extensive program benefits. Eligible physician members of the following societies continue to participate in the dividend benefit as well as the program discount associated with their society memberships: American College of Physicians, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Plastic Surgeons^®, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. These prestigious medical organizations, representing 250,000 physicians nationwide, have chosen The Doctors Company as their endorsed or sponsored carrier.

The multiyear dividend is in addition to other industry-leading member benefits, including the Tribute® Plan, a breakthrough financial benefit that rewards members for their continued loyalty to The Doctors Company and for their commitment to a higher standard of care. The Doctors Company also offers comprehensive patient safety programs and a wide array of tools, support, and services to make practicing medicine easier and more rewarding for members.

Dividend distributions* will appear as credits against current premiums effective with renewals beginning July 1.

About The Doctors Company
Founded by doctors for doctors in 1976, The Doctors Company (www.thedoctors.com) is relentlessly committed to advancing, protecting, and rewarding the practice of good medicine. The Doctors Company is the largest national insurer of physician and surgeon medical liability with 45,000 member physicians, $2.8 billion in assets, and an A rating by Fitch Ratings.

* Physician members formerly insured by Northwest Physicians Insurance Company will receive dividend payments in the form of a check.