Navigating the unpredictable is familiar territory for physicians, whether diagnosing complex conditions or performing life-saving procedures. However, navigating the unexpected in your personal life can present unique challenges. If you are diagnosed with a prolonged illness or injury and are unable to work, financial uncertainty can become an overwhelming burden for you and your family.

As an employed physician, you naturally trust in your employer-provided disability coverage to safeguard your financial stability. However, upon closer examination, you may discover that your plan falls short of providing adequate income protection when you need it the most. TMA Insurance Trust offers a solution: supplementing employer-provided coverage with long term disability insurance, helping to ensure extra financial support during uncertain times.

Securing Your Own Disability Policy Makes Sense

If faced with a disability diagnosis, living expenses could increase due to your ongoing household expenses and the likelihood of medical and non-medical out-of-pocket costs. Securing maximum income protection helps you maintain your lifestyle and focus on recovery. Opting for your own long term disability insurance policy makes sense even for an employed physician. Here's why:

• Insufficient Income Protection: Your salary and financial responsibilities will likely increase as your career progresses. However, your employer-provided disability benefit may not adjust accordingly to provide sufficient income protection, leaving you and your family vulnerable during times of need.
• Income Gap: Your disability benefit may have a cap, typically around $10,000/month. If your salary exceeds $200,000, you'll likely need extra coverage to make up for the income gap left by your current plan. Insurance experts recommend protecting 60% to 65% of your income. For instance, if your employer's policy covers 60% of your $200,000 salary, that's only $120,000. Any income over that salary amount might not be covered due to benefit caps, resulting in a significant financial adjustment for your family's budget.
• Tax Implications: If your employer pays for your coverage, your benefits will be taxed as income, leaving your family with even less than 60%-65% of your salary to cover expenses during your most financially vulnerable times.
• Lack of Portability: If your current coverage is tied to your employer and you decide to leave, your employer-paid coverage won't come with you. Obtaining your own policy is essential, especially before you get older or have health issues, as the cost could be significant, or you could be denied coverage altogether. If you're considering leaving your employer to start your own practice or become a locum tenens, securing your own policy beforehand ensures no gap in your income protection.
• Benefit Reductions: If you're concerned that your employer might reduce or eliminate benefits, it's wise to apply for coverage while you're in better health and younger to secure more advantageous premium rates.
• Protection for Annual Bonuses: If you depend on an annual bonus but your current disability benefit doesn't protect it, you may want to ensure this additional income is protected. TMA Insurance Trust offers plans that can help you cover this income.

Your Disability Insurance Experts

TMA Insurance Trust partners with leading carriers to help ensure physicians have access to the most reliable income protection insurance solutions. Our agents are experienced disability insurance advisors offering guidance tailored to your needs. What sets us apart from other agents or brokers is that our advisors operate without sales-based commissions, eliminating any conflict of interest and ensuring that recommendations serve your best interests.

Call us at 800-880-8181, weekdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST, or click below. Explore the disability coverage options accessible to you as a TMA member and help protect your family from financial uncertainty if the unexpected should happen.

For over 65 years, TMA Insurance Trust advisors have been serving Texas physicians, their families and staff. TMA Insurance Trust prides itself on offering unbiased information and strategies to members, along with exclusive group rates on a range of the highest-rated plans in the industry.