The 2018 Health Insurance Open Enrollment period is less than a month away, and TMA Insurance Trust is looking out for Texas physicians by providing them with this important information. As in previous years, Open Enrollment begins on November 1. However, this year the enrollment period has been cut in half. Instead of having three months to shop, compare plans, and enroll, individuals have only 45 days to do so. To have health insurance coverage in place by January 1, you must act quickly. Because of the urgency this year, please be aware of the following special announcements:

You’ve worked hard for years, have provided well for those you love, and you have big dreams for your future. Over time, with a great deal of love and care, you are crafting your legacy.

But your legacy is hanging in the balance.

Most physicians understand the vital need to protect their family with life insurance coverage. If something should happen to you, you want your family to be cared for financially - and you want the dreams you have for their future to come true. This principle applies to both parents, even if your spouse or partner is not the primary breadwinner.

What do life insurance and love have to do with each other? More than you'd think. You buy life insurance because you love someone so much you want them to be taken care of, no matter what. But life insurance doesn't just help them. It gives you real peace of mind.

Life is about fulfilling dreams. You may have a new position, gotten married, had a baby or bought a new home. Buying more life insurance is the last thing on your mind. Yet the life insurance you have from your employer or bought years ago may not be enough to protect the life you and your family envision. So how can you purchase more coverage affordably? Here are a few simple tips:

From a young age, you, like most physicians, began thinking about the future in a proactive way. You likely spent years planning your education and life course, and continued to work hard to achieve your goals so your future would be secure. Once your career began, you sought out financial guidance from trustworthy sources - after all, what is the merit in working hard if it doesn’t pay off in the long term?

One of the many points of pride for Texas is the number of independent physicians who practice in the Lone Star State. Although an increasing number of physicians across the country are leaving private practice to become hospital employees, many Texas physicians are able to retain their independence. According to the 2016 TMA Physician survey, 26% of those surveyed are in solo practice, another 22% are group practice owners who are co-owners or shareholders and 5% are in partnerships.*

A disabling illness can strike any time, lasting from a few months to a lifetime. The most common causes of long-term disabilities — musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders, cancer, injuries and poisoning, mental disorders and cardiovascular and circulatory diseases — can affect your ability to perform the specialty you were highly trained to do. That’s why many physicians are searching for affordable “own occupation” coverage.