--- title: Is The Gap in Your Employer Disability Insurance Putting You at Risk? description: A TMA Insurance Trust advisor can help you calculate and cover the gap in your current disability policy. image: https://www.tmait.org/hubfs/Disability_Insurance.jpg --- - [800-880-8181](tel:800-880-8181) - [CONTACT US](https://www.tmait.org/contact) - [SELF-SERVICE PORTAL](https://tmait.aebsys.com/#/) [![](https://www.tmait.org/hs-fs/hubfs/TMA%20Insurance%20March%202019/Image/logo.png?width=197&name=logo.png)](https://www.tmait.org/) Topics All Accident Insurance Accidental Death and Dismemberment Auto & Home Insurance Auto Insurance Business of Medicine Business Overhead Expense Insurance Comparing Insurance Providers COVID-19 FAQs Critical Illness Insurance Dental Insurance Disability Insurance Employed Physicians Family Featured Financial Advice Group Benefits Group Coverage Health Insurance Homeowners Insurance HSA Independent Contractor Independent Physician Individual Coverage Insurance For Good Insurance for Women Insurance Review Key Person Insurance Life Events Life Insurance Locum Tenens Medevac Insurance Medical Insurance Medical Practice Medicare Medicare Part D Medicare Supplement Medigap Nearing Retirement Office Overhead Expense Insurance Open Enrollment Personal Umbrella Insurance Pet Insurance Practice Management Practice Managers Practice Owners Prescription Drug Coverage Renters Insurance Residents Retired Physicians Retirement Short Term Disability Short-Term Medical Insurance Supplemental Hospital Indemnity Insurance Term Life Insurance Travel Insurance Vision Insurance Women Physicians Young Physicans Young Physicians ![Disability_Insurance](https://www.tmait.org/hubfs/Disability_Insurance.jpg) [Disability Insurance](https://www.tmait.org/blog/topic/disability-insurance) # Is The Gap in Your Employer Disability Insurance Putting You at Risk? 11 August 2018 If you’re like many physicians, employed by a medical group, hospital or medical center, you may be unaware of how much your long-term disability policy actually covers. Most policies paid for by an employer are limited to 50 to 60 percent of a physician’s base salary, excluding bonuses — leaving a gap in coverage that falls short of what’s required to meet ordinary living expenses. To illustrate this point, we'd like to give you a hypothetical example of how you could be caught off guard by inadequate disability coverage: A surgeon and avid mountain biker from Houston, Texas had an unfortunate accident while biking in Moab, Utah. He inadvertently hit a rock, was thrown off his bike, suffering a serious shoulder fracture that left him unable to perform surgery for several months. Unbeknownst to the physician, his employer disability benefit had a cap of $10,000 per month. With a recent home renovation, four children to support and his oldest daughter headed to Rice University, he was forced to dip into his savings to cover his family’s expenses. ## How Much Disability Coverage is Enough? To continue with our example, the physician portrayed is earning $350,000 as a surgeon. Insurance professionals recommend protecting at least 60 to 65 percent of one’s annual income. That means the physician should have a total disability benefit of at least $210,000 a year, equaling $17,500 a month in benefits. Currently the disability benefit, provided by his hospital is capped at $10,000 a month, leaving a gap in coverage of $7,500 a month. An individual disability policy can help fill the gap in your employer coverage. A TMA Insurance Trust advisor can help you calculate and cover the gap in your current disability policy. As licensed, non-commissioned agents, our advisors pride themselves on offering unbiased guidance with no sales pressure. [![We're here to help - CLICK HERE or call today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/400074/002e0a30-02df-4501-856d-51506fe7c0f7.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/400074/002e0a30-02df-4501-856d-51506fe7c0f7)***[800-880-8181](tel:800-880-8181) 8:00 – 5:00 CST Monday – Friday*** **Here are some reasons to call us for a complimentary, no-obligation consultation:** - Your salary has increased but your disability benefit has not been adjusted accordingly. - Due to budget cutbacks and reorganization, your employer has decided to reduce or eliminate your benefits. - If you leave your current employment you will need to obtain your own individual policy, since most employer policies are not portable.  - If your employer pays for your coverage, your benefits will be taxed as income leaving your family with less income than you planned for at a most critical time. ## Exclusive 10% Discount From Guardian, a Leader in High Quality Coverage TMA Insurance Trust offers a range of plans from the leading carriers in Texas. One plan you may want to take advantage of is Guardian Provider Choice, offering true own-occupation disability coverage to TMA members with a 10 percent discount and guaranteed benefits for the life of the policy. This type of coverage provides full disability benefits if you are unable to perform the medical specialty practiced before becoming sick or injured. You can work in another specialty, within or outside of your field, sometimes even in your own practice, and not forfeit your disability benefits. ## Residents Can Lock in an Affordable Rate Early If you are a resident, you’re likely to have some disability coverage from your employer while in residency. Yet most long-term disability policies offered by employers don’t provide enough income to pay your expenses, loans and debts, if you aren't able to work. Once you graduate, you’ll need an individual policy that can travel with you during your career. So why wait? The best time to buy an individual disability policy is when you are young and healthy, most insurable, and can lock in a more affordable rate. TMA Insurance Trust offers starter plans and plans from the leading carriers in Texas. [![August Guardian CTA](https://www.tmait.org/hs-fs/hubfs/August%202017/August%20Guardian%20CTA.png?width=600&name=August%20Guardian%20CTA.png)](https://info.tmait.org/talk-with-an-advisor-about-long-term-disability-0) ## Flexibility For Young Physicians A TMA Insurance Trust advisor can help you customize your policy with the riders and options that offer the best protection for now and as your career progresses. Here are some examples of important coverage options: - Student Loan Benefit Rider helps you make student loan payments while you are not able to work. - Cost of Living Adjustment Rider (COLA) indexes your benefit to inflation. - Future Increase Option allows you to increase your monthly benefit when your salary increases without any additional medical underwriting. - Enhanced Partial Disability Rider lets you collect benefits even when you are partially disabled and not earning your full income. ## Experience and Guidance You Can Count On TMA Insurance Trust advisors are dedicated to helping Texas physicians secure the best coverage at each stage of life and career. Because we know you are busy, we’ll make it easy to find the right coverage, providing research, comparing costs and making sure you receive the TMA discounts available to you. [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/400074/ff77bcf5-6019-4bb4-a971-2a441fefe9af.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/400074/ff77bcf5-6019-4bb4-a971-2a441fefe9af) For over 60 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. ** [ Disability Insurance ](https://www.tmait.org/blog/topic/disability-insurance) ** [Employed Physicians](https://www.tmait.org/blog/topic/employed-physicians) [**Previous Entries](https://www.tmait.org/blog/why-your-practice-needs-a-backup-plan-boe) [Next Entries**](https://www.tmait.org/blog/critical-illness-insurance-benefits-in-your-hands) ## Recommended Posts ### [Disability Insurance—Without Gender-Based Pricing Discrimination](https://www.tmait.org/blog/disability-insurance-without-gender-based-pricing-discrimination) ### [Mind the Gap: Why Your Employer’s Disability Coverage May Fall Short](https://www.tmait.org/blog/mind-the-gap-why-your-employers-disability-insurance-coverage-may-fall-short) ### [When Your Family Depends On You: Disability Insurance for Physicians](https://www.tmait.org/blog/when-your-family-depends-on-you-disability-insurance-for-physicians) ### [Don’t Let a Busy Schedule Block Your Disability Protection](https://www.tmait.org/blog/dont-let-a-busy-schedule-block-your-disability-insurance-protection) ### [What the TMA Member Disability Plan Includes That Others Don’t](https://www.tmait.org/blog/what-the-tma-member-disability-plan-includes-that-others-dont) ### [Don’t Let These Coverage Gaps Surprise You in Retirement](https://www.tmait.org/blog/dont-let-these-coverage-gaps-surprise-you-in-retirement-medicare) ### [A Physician's Path to Better Disability Coverage](https://www.tmait.org/blog/a-physicians-path-to-better-disability-insurance-coverage) ### [Insurance That Gives Back](https://www.tmait.org/blog/insurance-that-gives-back) ### [Dental Insurance and the Habits It Helps Shape](https://www.tmait.org/blog/dental-insurance-and-the-habits-it-helps-shape) ### [Unexpected Doesn't Have to Mean Unprepared This Summer](https://www.tmait.org/blog/unexpected-doesnt-have-to-mean-unprepared-this-summer) ### [When “Easy Online” Life Insurance Wasn’t So Easy](https://www.tmait.org/blog/when-easy-online-life-insurance-wasnt-so-easy) ### [One Plan for the Year—Travel Insurance That Covers Every Trip](https://www.tmait.org/blog/one-plan-for-the-year-travel-insurance-that-covers-every-trip) ### [Disability Insurance—Without Gender-Based Pricing Discrimination](https://www.tmait.org/blog/disability-insurance-without-gender-based-pricing-discrimination) ### [Mind the Gap: Why Your Employer’s Disability Coverage May Fall Short](https://www.tmait.org/blog/mind-the-gap-why-your-employers-disability-insurance-coverage-may-fall-short) ### [When Your Family Depends On You: Disability Insurance for Physicians](https://www.tmait.org/blog/when-your-family-depends-on-you-disability-insurance-for-physicians) ### [How TMA Insurance Trust Reinvests in You](https://www.tmait.org/blog/how-tma-insurance-trust-reinvests-in-you) ## Speak with a TMA Insurance Trust Advisor: ### Latest Post ![A New Alternative for Group Health Insurance](https://www.tmait.org/hubfs/July%202026/July%202026%20Week%201%20-%20Group%20Health.png) ### [A New Alternative for Group Health Insurance](https://www.tmait.org/blog/a-new-alternative-for-group-health-insurance-group-benefits) Jul. 04 2026 ![Why Going It Alone on Group Health Coverage Costs Your Practice](https://www.tmait.org/hubfs/June%202026/June%202026%20Week%204%20-%20Group%20Health.png) ### [Why Going It Alone on Group Health Coverage Costs Your Practice](https://www.tmait.org/blog/why-going-it-alone-on-group-health-coverage-costs-your-practice-group-benefits) Jun. 27 2026 ![Dental Insurance and the Habits It Helps Shape](https://www.tmait.org/hubfs/June%202026/June%202026%20Week%203%20-%20Dental.png) ### [Dental Insurance and the Habits It Helps Shape](https://www.tmait.org/blog/dental-insurance-and-the-habits-it-helps-shape) Jun. 20 2026 ![Unexpected Doesn't Have to Mean Unprepared This Summer](https://www.tmait.org/hubfs/June%202026/June%202026%20Week%202%20-%20Accident.png) ### [Unexpected Doesn't Have to Mean Unprepared This Summer](https://www.tmait.org/blog/unexpected-doesnt-have-to-mean-unprepared-this-summer) Jun. 13 2026 ### POPULAR TOPICS - 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