Story at-a-glance
- A residual (partial disability) rider pays a benefit when you’re still working but earning less due to injury or illness.
- It helps replace lost income when you’re not totally disabled.
- This rider is critical for physicians and dentists whose skills and income depend on precision, stamina, or full patient loads.
- Without it, you may receive no benefit at all unless you’re fully out of work.
Total Disability Isn’t the Only Risk
Most people think disability insurance only kicks in if you’re totally disabled and unable to work at all. But that’s not how many disabilities happen—especially for doctors and dentists.
What if:
- A hand tremor slows down your procedures
- A back injury limits your hours
- Chemotherapy makes you too tired to keep a full schedule
- You recover, but can’t handle call or surgery anymore
You’re still working—but you’re earning less.
That’s where the residual (partial disability) rider comes in.
How the Residual Rider Works
This rider pays a partial benefit if:
- You lose income due to illness or injury
- You are not totally disabled, but can’t perform all your duties or can’t work the same number of hours
- Your income drops (usually by 15–20% or more)
The benefit is proportional to the income you lost. For example:
- If your income drops by 40%, the policy pays 40% of your total monthly benefit.
- If your income drops more than 75%, many carriers pay 100% of your benefit.
This helps keep your lifestyle, savings, and loan payments on track while you recover—or adjust to a new normal.
Why It Matters for Doctors and Dentists
You depend on your body, hands, stamina, and focus to do your job well.
Even a small health issue can have a big financial impact—not because you stop working, but because you slow down, reduce hours, or limit procedures.
Without a residual rider, you may not qualify for any disability benefit unless you’re completely out of work.
This rider fills that gap.
Look for These Features
Not all residual riders are equal. A good one will include:
- A low income loss threshold (e.g., 15%) to qualify
- Coverage for loss of time, duties, or income
- A recovery benefit that continues to pay while income is still down, even after you return to work
Final Thought
A residual disability rider turns your policy from a safety net into a smart income protection plan.
It’s one of the most important add-ons for physicians and dentists—because it covers the grey area between healthy and fully disabled.
Want help making sure your policy includes this rider? Click the button below to get a personalized quote.
We’ll explain what’s included, what’s missing, and how to get the coverage you need.
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