Story at-a-glance Disability insurance pays if you can’t work—but what if you can work but are still hit with big expenses from cancer, a heart attack, or MS?Critical illness insurance pays a lump sum when you're diagnosed with a covered condition—even if you're still able to work.The two

Story at-a-glance Only 5% of disabilities are work-related, meaning worker’s comp won’t apply to most illnesses or injuries.Worker’s comp payouts are tiny – In California, the max benefit is ~$63K/year, while doctors earn $200K–$300K+.Disabilities are more likely to come from illness than

Story at-a-glance Federal disability benefits are minimal – The average payout is only $1,358/month, not even 10% of a doctor’s typical income.Approval is slow and difficult – Fewer than 1 in 3 are approved on first try, and appeals can take 2+ years.Doctors have higher-than-average risk –

Story at-a-glance Pregnancy isn’t a “preexisting condition” – A woman suffered a stroke after childbirth and was initially denied disability insurance benefits.Insurer said her stroke was caused by pregnancy – The company argued preeclampsia was a result of a preexisting pregnancy.Court ruled

Story at-a-glance Government benefits won't cut it – SSDI is hard to qualify for and only pays a fraction of your physician-level income.Employer plans aren't portable – If you leave your job or your health changes, you may lose access to coverage.Medical insurance doesn’t cover long-term care

Story at-a-glance Pregnancy is the top cause of short-term disability claims, especially among millennial women—accounting for 64% of claims.Short-term disability typically replaces 60% of your salary for 6–8 weeks postpartum; some pregnancy-related complications may qualify for long-term

Story at-a-glance Physicians are high-risk, high-investment professionals, making disability insurance essential to protect income and career ROI."Own Occupation" policies offer the strongest protection, especially for specialists who can’t easily switch to lower-paying roles.Benefit periods

Story at-a-glance 1 in 4 workers will become disabled before retirement age, yet most think the risk is under 2%.Disability is more common than death before 50 and causes more financial devastation—yet most aren’t insured.The average disability lasts 2.6 years, but over half of Americans don’t