PERSONAL SOLUTIONS
Disability Insurance
Protect your most valuable asset — your ability to earn — with coverage built for high-income professionals.
DISABILITY INSURANCE OVERVIEW
Income Protection Built for High Earners
Your years of education and training are embedded in your earning potential. Standard disability policies only pay if you can't work at all — own-occupation coverage pays if you can't practice your specialty.
Own-occupation coverage
Pays if you can't perform your specific specialty — even if you could work in another capacity.
Short-term disability
Bridges immediate income gaps during recovery from illness or injury.
Long-term disability
Protects your financial future when recovery takes months or years.
Supplemental coverage
Fills the gap between employer-provided disability and your actual income.
COVERAGE OPTIONS
Disability Insurance Options
The main types of disability insurance coverage we help clients navigate.
Short-Term Disability
Bridges income gaps for 3–6 months during recovery from illness or injury. Often employer-provided but may not cover your full income.
Long-Term Disability
Protects your income when recovery takes months or years — typically pays to age 65. The core of any disability protection strategy.
Own-Occupation
The gold standard: pays if you can't perform your specific specialty, even if you can work in another capacity. Essential for specialists.
Social Security Disability
Federal benefit requiring total disability from any occupation. Strict standards, long approval process, and modest benefits. Not a substitute for private coverage.
OUR PARTNERS
We work with trusted disability insurance carriers.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
What Disability Insurance Covers — and What Health Insurance Doesn't
What Disability Insurance Covers
- Income replacement during disability
Typically 60–70% of pre-disability income, paid monthly for the duration of the benefit period.
- Partial/residual disability benefits
Proportional benefits if you can work part-time or in a reduced capacity but earn less than before.
- Own-occupation specialty protection
Pays if you can't perform your specific specialty — even if you could work in another medical role.
- Business overhead expenses (with rider)
Covers rent, utilities, staff salaries, and other fixed business costs while you're disabled.
- Student loan payments (with rider)
Some carriers offer riders that make student loan payments directly during a disability.
- Rehabilitation & return-to-work support
Coverage for retraining, modified work arrangements, and transitional support.
What Health Insurance Does NOT Cover
- Lost income during illness or injury
Health insurance pays medical bills — it does not replace the paycheck you stop receiving.
- Reduced earning capacity
If you can work but earn less due to a condition, health insurance provides no income supplement.
- Practice overhead while disabled
Your health plan won't cover rent, staff salaries, or equipment leases while you recover.
- Mortgage & debt obligations
Health insurance doesn't make your mortgage, car, or student loan payments during a disability.
- Lifestyle maintenance costs
Childcare, household help, and daily living expenses continue — health insurance doesn't cover them.
- Career transition costs
If your disability requires a career change, retraining and education costs aren't covered by health plans.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
Who Needs Individual Disability Insurance
01
High-Income Specialists
Physicians, dentists, attorneys, and other professionals whose earning capacity is tied to a specific set of skills. If your income depends on your ability to perform a particular occupation, own-occupation coverage is non-negotiable.
02
Residents and Fellows
The best time to apply is early in your career when underwriting is favorable and premiums lock in at lower rates. Carriers offer discounted Association rates and future purchase options.
03
Anyone With Group LTD Only
Employer-sponsored group plans typically replace 60% of base salary up to a monthly cap of $10,000–$15,000. For a physician earning $400,000, that cap means a 30–45% replacement rate. An individual policy closes the gap.
04
Self-Employed Professionals
Without an employer plan, you have no disability safety net at all. Individual coverage is the only way to protect your income. Business overhead expense riders can also cover operating costs during a disability.
05
Dual-Income Households
If your household depends on both incomes, a disability affecting either earner creates immediate financial pressure. Individual coverage on both earners is the prudent structure.
COST CONTEXT
What Disability Insurance Actually Costs
Individual disability insurance typically costs 1–3% of your annual income. For a physician earning $300,000, that translates to $3,000–$9,000 per year — a fraction of the income it protects. Premiums are fixed at the age you apply, which is why early application is so advantageous.
What Drives Your Premium
Occupation class, age at application, benefit amount, benefit period, elimination period, and rider selections. Surgeons and proceduralists pay more than internists. A 90-day elimination period costs less than 60-day.
The Resident Discount Window
Carriers offer discounted 'Association' rates to medical residents and fellows — typically 15–25% below standard rates. These policies include future purchase options that let you increase coverage as your income grows, without additional underwriting.
FAQ
You've Got Questions. We've Got Answers.
Common questions about disability insurance for healthcare professionals.
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Your Coverage Should Work as Hard as You Do
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