We pay for disability insurance for a good reason. We trust it will be there to provide a benefit payment if we get sick or injured and cannot work.
But if you did become ill or injured and couldn’t work, do you know how long it would take to receive your benefit payment? It may be longer than you think.
Time passes fast. Especially for physicians, who invest heavily in their education and training. Days turn into weeks, and months into years. Along the way you may get married, buy a home, have children. Perhaps you start your own practice or pursue a specialty. With each change that comes along, life has undoubtedly gotten more complex. Income, assets, investments, and savings likely have grown through the years.
When shopping online most of us would like to see as much information as possible about what we’re looking to buy. That obviously includes the price. Once we know the cost, we can make a reasonably informed decision about whether or not to make the purchase.
For most physicians, disability insurance is a given. Indeed, it’s considered an essential form of income protection.
But assuming you have a disability insurance plan, it may surprise you to learn just how much of your future income is not protected.
In life we protect the things that are important to us. That can include our family, our health, our home – and for a practicing physician, that should include your income.
That’s why there’s disability insurance – to help provide income if we get ill or injured and can’t work for a long stretch of time.
As a physician, what is your most valuable asset? Some would say it’s your ability to earn income. This can be particularly true if you are a surgeon or specialist.
Think about it. You’ve spent years in medical school, residency, and then more time acquiring the skills demanded of your specialty. We don’t have to tell you – this is an enormous investment of time, money, and very hard work.
Accordingly, it’s likely that by now you are earning an income which reflects this investment and commitment. So shouldn’t you take extra care to help protect that income?
People tend to grow out of things. When we’re very young, our parents lament at how quickly we grow out of our shoes and jeans. As we get older, we may grow out of our apartment, our vehicle. As you’ve advanced through your career, you likely grew out of your first job; you wanted something that fit your training and needs better. Of course, as we get older, we grow in experience. Our wisdom deepens. Our income grows as well.
You’re a young physician, and your own long-term disability insurance may seem like an insurance product that you do not need. You are healthy. You are a hard worker and in control of your life. You make good choices. But the reality is that sudden accidents and serious illnesses may strike at any time, to any person.
