Story at-a-glance
- If you can’t do the key duties of your specialty, you may qualify as totally disabled.
- With a true own-occupation policy, you may be able to work in another field—or even another specialty—and still receive full benefits.
- The decision depends on your job duties at the time of claim, not just your title.
- Each claim is unique and reviewed individually by the insurer.
Your Specialty Is Your Occupation
Most doctors and dentists have trained for years to work in a specific field. Whether you’re a surgeon, endodontist, OB/GYN, or emergency physician, if you’ve limited your occupation to the practice of a single medical or dental specialty, your specialty defines your occupation—and your ability to earn a living.
So what happens if you get injured or sick and can’t continue in your specialty—but you’re still able to work in another area of medicine?
It Depends on Your Policy Definition
The answer depends largely on the definition of disability in your policy.
If you have a true own-occupation policy (which most doctors should), you’re considered totally disabled if:
“You are unable to perform the material and substantial duties of your occupation at the time of disability—even if you’re working in another occupation.”
So if you’re a practicing anesthesiologist and develop a hand tremor that keeps you out of the OR, but you retrain to do outpatient primary care, you may still qualify for full disability benefits under an own-occupation policy.
What If You Switch Specialties?
If you go on claim and then later start working in a different specialty (with different duties), your income from the new specialty generally does not reduce the benefits you’re already receiving—as long as your policy uses a strong own-occupation definition.
That’s the power of this kind of protection: it gives you financial flexibility and room to rebuild your career on your terms.
When It Might Be a Partial Disability
Some situations are more complex. Let’s say you’re an emergency physician who spends:
- 50% of your time in the ER
- 50% doing administrative duties
If you develop a condition that prevents you from working shifts in the ER but you can still handle admin work, your claim might be treated as a partial disability rather than a total one. In this case, the residual (partial) disability rider is key—it pays a benefit based on your income loss.
Final Thought
Disability claims aren’t one-size-fits-all. The insurance company will look at your actual job duties at the time of your disability—not just your title or specialty. That’s why a strong own-occupation policy with a partial benefit rider is so important for physicians and dentists.
Not sure what your policy covers? Click the button below to request a free disability policy review or quote.
We’ll walk you through it and help you understand how your specialty is protected.
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