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- Yes, you can still qualify for disability insurance with a history of anxiety or depression.
- The insurer may place an exclusion for mental/nervous conditions, but everything else can still be covered.
- Stable, well-managed cases have a better chance of approval.
- Some residency programs offer guaranteed issue coverage—no exam, no exclusions.
- It’s important to apply before symptoms return or escalate.
Mental Health Is Common—And You’re Not Alone
If you’ve ever dealt with anxiety, depression, or burnout—you’re in good company.
Many physicians and dentists experience these challenges during training and throughout their careers.
The good news?
You can still get strong disability insurance. But your history will matter in the application process—so it’s important to understand how it works.
How Insurers Handle Mental Health History
When you apply for disability insurance, the insurance company reviews your medical and prescription records.
They’re looking for:
- Diagnoses (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, depression, adjustment disorder)
- Medications (e.g., SSRIs like Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro)
- Therapy or counseling notes
- Any past hospitalizations, suicidal thoughts, or disability leave
Not all cases are treated the same. The severity, stability, and timing of your mental health history make a big difference in how the insurance company responds.
What Could Happen in Underwriting
If your history is mild and well-managed, you may still qualify for standard rates.
However, many applicants with anxiety or depression are approved with a mental/nervous exclusion—meaning your policy won’t pay benefits for future claims related to mental health.
That may sound frustrating—but remember:
Your coverage would still pay for everything else, including:
- Injuries
- Illnesses
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Back pain
- Neurological conditions
And sometimes, the mental/nervous exclusion can be reviewed and removed later—if you’ve gone several years with no treatment or symptoms.
What If You’re in Training?
If you’re a resident or fellow, you may be eligible for a Guaranteed Standard Issue (GSI) policy. These are special “no medical exam” offers available through certain hospitals and programs.
GSI policies often skip underwriting completely. That means:
- Your mental health history may not affect your approval
- You can often avoid exclusions
- You lock in strong coverage while you’re young and early in your career
The Bottom Line
Having anxiety or depression in your history doesn’t disqualify you from disability insurance.
You may face an exclusion—but you can still protect the rest of your income and future. And if you act early, you may be able to avoid exclusions altogether.
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