As the month of November nears, many physicians and practice managers must turn their attention toward health insurance decisions for the coming year. Are you satisfied with your health insurance coverage, and the level of service you have received from your agent? Do you think that you are getting the best value possible for your investment? Find out what you need to know as you prepare to make health insurance decisions for your family and practice.

As a practice owner, you are acutely aware of the many considerations that are involved in successfully running your practice. You know the things that make your practice unique, that make it your own. You also know well the extraordinary amount of expenses that you need to cover every month ... the many thousands of dollars that it takes to keep your practice operating. What would happen to your practice if you became sick or were injured and unable to work for an extended period of time?

As a medical practice owner, you work incredibly hard for the benefit of your patients, and you deserve sincere and whole-hearted thanks. We appreciate all the good you do for your patients, your staff, and your community.

One of the ways we have chosen to express our appreciation is by creating the TMA Member Business Overhead Expense plan issued by The Prudential Insurance Company of America. This plan is designed to help protect your practice, and your savings if you become too sick or injured to work. If you don’t already have this coverage, now may be the right time to seriously consider it.

As a solo practitioner or partner in a practice, you’re responsible for paying monthly overhead expenses that keep your business up and running. If something happens and you’re unable to work due to a disabling injury or illness, the personal disability insurance you have won’t be enough to cover your payroll and business operating expenses.

Question: Would you purchase insurance that protects just half of your house? What about half your car? Or your family?

Most likely you would not. So why would you settle for insurance coverage that might only protect half of your finances?

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.

How did you fare during this year’s cold and flu season? A cold or bout with the flu can slow you down - perhaps you missed a few days of work - but before long, you were back to your routine of seeing patients and taking care of your practice. Minor illnesses create minor inconvenience, and these are overcome quickly. But if you are a practice owner or partner, what would happen to you if you became seriously ill or injured? Without the proper protection, these can create major stumbling blocks that are able to destroy your practice and your financial livelihood.

“That won’t happen to me.” Though no one wants to dwell on the possibility, succumbing to a serious illness or injury is alarmingly common.

For example, during the 2017 calendar year in Texas, 17,571 people sustained serious injuries in vehicle crashes*. (This figures to be 2 people each hour!) As an independent physician, what would happen if you were the injured party and you could not practice medicine for several months? Think about your practice...Who would see your patients? How would you cover salaries for your employees? How would you pay your lease and utilities?