--- title: Price is Only One Factor to Consider When Buying Disability Coverage description: Many young physicians buy individual disability coverage based on price alone, thinking that all own occupation coverage is the same. This could have devastating consequences. image: https://www.tmait.org/hubfs/February_Guardian.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 ![February_Guardian](https://www.tmait.org/hubfs/February_Guardian.jpg) [Disability Insurance](https://www.tmait.org/blog/topic/disability-insurance) # Price is Only One Factor to Consider When Buying Disability Coverage 3 February 2018 Many young physicians buy individual disability insurance based on price alone, thinking that all own-occupation coverage is the same. However, there are other factors to consider. Your choices can have financial consequences for your family, should you become sick or hurt and unable to work. ## Highly Rated Coverage at a 10% Discount for TMA Members You may be paying off debt from your medical training and feel you can’t afford coverage. Or you may think you have enough coverage from your employer, which typically covers up to 60 percent of a physician’s income. However, should you become disabled and receive monthly payments, employer paid benefits will be taxed as income. Now ask yourself, could your family live on half your income and continue paying monthly expenses if you became disabled? An individual policy can help cover this income gap. The best time to buy quality *true* own-occupation disability insurance is when you’re young and healthy, and most insurable. That’s why TMA Insurance Trust has partnered with Guardian, rated A++ (Superior) by AM Best, to offer members an exclusive 10 percent discount on Guardian Provider Choice disability coverage. The savings extends for the entire term of a policy, which can add up to thousands of dollars for a 30-year term. ## Affordability at Every Stage of Your Career As a young physician, Guardian’s Graded Premium Option allows you to get more coverage for less. You can start out with a more affordable rate based on your age. Then as your income rises, and while you are still young, you can lock in a level premium rate for the remaining term of the policy. Regardless of which type of premium you choose, the 10 percent discount for members still applies. [![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)*** ***7:30 – 5:30 CST Monday – Friday*** ## Advantages that set Guardian Provider Choice Apart Guardian Provider Choice gives you the option of protecting your medical specialty with a comprehensive definition of *true* own-occupation disability coverage. If disabled, this allows you to receive full disability benefits based on the work you were doing 12 months prior to becoming disabled. In fact, you can choose to work in another specialty, within or outside of your field, sometimes even in your own practice, and not forfeit your disability benefits. Another advantage is that if you become ill with a serious illness such as cancer, heart attack or stroke, you will receive 150 percent of your benefits in the first year. ## Flexibility for Young Physicians Guardian Provider Choice also provides flexibility in designing a policy. A TMA Insurance Trust advisor can help you customize your policy with the riders and options that offer the best protection at this stage in your career. Here are some examples of important coverage options: • Student Loan Benefit Rider helps you make your student loan payments while you are disabled. • Cost of Living Adjustment Rider (COLA) indexes your benefit to inflation. • Future Increase Option allows you to increase your monthly benefit without further medical underwriting. • Enhanced Partial Disability Rider lets you collect benefits even when you are partially disabled and not earning your full income. ## Straightforward Language Another reason we partnered with Guardian is the straightforward formula used to evaluate how a physician qualifies for benefits. It is based on the pre-disability source of earnings. For example, if more than 50 percent of a physician’s earnings are derived from performing surgeries or hands-on patient care, and an illness or injury prevents him or her from doing this work, the physician is considered totally disabled and qualifies for benefits. ## Guaranteed renewable and Non-Cancelable Once approved by Guardian, as long as you continue to make payments, your policy can never be canceled and the rate outlined in your policy can never be increased for the term of the policy. Whether you need to purchase your first disability policy or supplement your current disability policy, working with a TMA Insurance Trust professional can help you make informed choices. That way, if you do suffer a disability, your benefits will adequately replace your personal income so you can focus on recuperating and get back to the life you love. [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/400074/183b2195-3c5f-429e-b6de-77a60ab87c84.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/400074/183b2195-3c5f-429e-b6de-77a60ab87c84) TMA Insurance Trust is a full-service insurance agency with over 60 years of experience helping Texas physicians protect their assets, family and practice. Advocating for members, TMA Insurance advisors offer unbiased information and strategies, along with exclusive group rates on a range of the highest-rated plans in the industry. And since advisors don’t work on commission, there is never any obligation or sales pressure. ** [ Disability Insurance ](https://www.tmait.org/blog/topic/disability-insurance) ** [**Previous Entries](https://www.tmait.org/blog/a-plan-to-combat-physician-turnover-in-your-medical-practice-ltd) [Next Entries**](https://www.tmait.org/blog/avoid-financial-hardship-by-choosing-proper-disability-insurance) ## 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) ## 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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