Rock climbers have confidence that their safety equipment will catch them if they fall; otherwise they would never take the risk of climbing. But they don’t secure their anchors, knots and carabiners once, then ignore them for the duration of their climb. To be safe, they check their safety equipment periodically; both as their position changes, and as time passes.

As a highly-compensated specialist, you have invested heavily in your future. We know you have worked diligently for years at your education, residency and fellowship; and made a significant investment of your personal finances to get where you are today. We applaud you for your sacrifices, determination and dedication! You have achieved your goals, and now earn a higher income than many of your colleagues.

If you are a young physician these can be hectic yet exhilarating times. You are in the early stages of the career you have always wanted to pursue. And you are establishing a foundation for a future which holds great promise and reward.

So right now the last thing you may want to think about is what might put that future at risk. But maybe it should actually be the first.

Consider the following scenario that could possibly happen to you:

You’ve been hurt in an accident and you’re told it could be months before you can get back to work. Once the physical and emotional pain has subsided, you begin to think about practical matters – like your finances and how your family will get by without your steady paycheck.

You’re not worried because you obtained disability insurance long ago.

Most likely, however, your life has changed since then. Your income as well as your family have probably grown. And it’s possible that the coverage you have may not be enough to cover your current living expenses – like your mortgage, your monthly bills, or even your student loan payments. And suddenly you realize that your finances – and the savings you’ve worked so hard for – could quickly be devastated.

The long hours of study, the grueling night shifts, the heavy burden of student loans. As a female physician it’s obvious that you have paid your dues to get where you are today. And it goes without saying that you have worked just as hard as your male counterparts to achieve your goals.

So if you were told that your rates would be higher for long term disability insurance than those paid by male physicians – for the same level of coverage – you might be somewhat surprised and more than a little disappointed.

You have invested heavily in your future; putting forth effort, time, and significant expense to get where you are today. As you near the conclusion of your medical residency, you expect a successful career of personal satisfaction and accomplishment. Still, no one can say with certainty what the future holds. If the unexpected should happen, proper insurance coverage will help you meet the unknown head on. What type on insurance should you carry as a resident or fellow? For those who aren’t sure where to start, we have created a package of the most essential insurance products for physicians who are starting out in their careers.

Imagine that you just purchased a brand new car. It gleams on the outside, handles flawlessly and comes with all the bells and whistles you could want. When you step into that car for the very first time one thing is almost certain: You wouldn’t dream of driving one block from the showroom if that car was not adequately insured.

So here’s a question: If you have insurance to protect your new car from potential damage, why wouldn’t you give the same consideration to insuring something even more valuable – your professional income?

As a physician, you see the importance of having disability insurance in place. Whether you are an independent physician and must purchase your own disability insurance, or you are employed and only receive coverage through your employer, you see the value in protecting your income.

Still, some physicians (whether independent or employed) may not have enough disability insurance to adequately protect their finances. If you become sick or injured and are unable to work, will your current disability coverage adequately protect you? Will your family have enough income to sustain the standard of living that you have achieved together?