Who pays the doctor for their time, who pays if there is a malpractice issue?

Usually insurance: Hi, thanks for your question. For most doctors, their paycheck comes from the insurance companies: blue cross, etc, or the government if the patient qualifies for medicare or medicaid. In my practice, i see patients that do not have insurance, and charge a straight $50 fee for a straightforward visit. If there is a lawsuit, then malpractice insurance covers most of those expenses.