Disability Insurance for Attending Physicians
An attending coverage review should compare current income protection with your work and financial commitments. Start with your employer certificate and existing individual contracts, then identify questions that a policy-specific comparison needs to answer.
By Navid Lalezari · Author
Reviewed by Navid Lalezari
Last reviewed
In this guide
Document the work behind your income
List your clinical, procedural, supervisory, teaching, and ownership responsibilities. For compensation, separate salary from other payment categories. Ask which categories the proposed contract recognizes; do not assume every part of compensation is treated identically.
Review benefits together
Ask how the individual policy and employer coverage interact and what evidence of earnings is required. Benefits can be affected by other sources of support. A combined review is more useful than comparing isolated maximums.
Use a written decision record
For each proposal, record the exact policy form, riders, premium schedule, disability definition, and outstanding questions. Ask the advisor to explain what you give up as well as what you gain if you change an existing policy.
Revisit after a material change
Use a new job, practice purchase, change in duties, or major household commitment as a prompt to review your documents. Set a calendar reminder for contract-specific options rather than assuming they remain available indefinitely.
Build on the policy you bought as a resident
Coverage purchased earlier may retain its original contractual premium protection. An attending compensation increase can support a review of future purchase rights, but added coverage may have a new premium based on attained age. Verify financial eligibility, existing employer benefits, exercise dates, and any continuing student or resident policy discount. A larger employment contract does not automatically increase insurance.
Read next: Buying Disability Insurance During Residency: Age, Premiums, and Future Increases · Student Discounts on Disability Insurance: A Guide for Residents and Fellows
Common questions
Does starting younger lock every future increase to that age?
Not necessarily. Existing coverage can retain its contractual premium protection, while additional benefits may use later attained-age pricing. A continuing student or resident policy discount is a separate question.
Where to go from here
These next steps are educational and have no cost or obligation. They do not start an insurance application or begin coverage.
- Check My Options
Tell Drs Choices what you are weighing and request a conversation about your situation.
- Compare Policies
See how the coverage types and policy terms on this page differ side by side before you decide.
- Start Your Plan
Build a discussion brief from your own numbers. No account or email is required.
Sources
Drs Choices summarizes and compares these sources on this page. Each entry links to the original if you want to verify the wording yourself.
NAIC: Comparing disability insurance
View original source for “NAIC: Comparing disability insurance” (opens in a new tab)Guardian: Disability insurance pricing factors
View original source for “Guardian: Disability insurance pricing factors” (opens in a new tab)Guardian: Future increase options and medical underwriting
View original source for “Guardian: Future increase options and medical underwriting” (opens in a new tab)The Standard: Platinum Advantage specimen, Benefit Increase Rider, printed page 42
View original source for “The Standard: Platinum Advantage specimen, Benefit Increase Rider, printed page 42” (opens in a new tab)Ameritas: Medical resident programs and state variations
View original source for “Ameritas: Medical resident programs and state variations” (opens in a new tab)