As you near the conclusion of your medical residency, you can rightly be proud of your accomplishments, and have reason to look forward to a successful career. But the world has changed, and the face of medicine looks strikingly different than when you began this journey. No one can say with certainty what the future holds. Because the unexpected does happen, proper insurance coverage is vital for helping you successfully meet the unknown.

What type of 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.

Even if you don’t play or watch the game of baseball, you have most certainly heard the expression “cover your bases.”

It essentially means “be prepared” – position your team to be alert for any possibility – whether it’s a line drive hit down the third base line or a runner trying to steal second. The idea is to be ready so no matter what happens you are not caught off guard.

As a physician, you have worked hard to achieve much in your life. As you plan for your future, you think of investment strategies and savings plans. If something should happen to you, financial protection for your loved ones is of paramount importance.

One of the best ways to offer immediate financial protection is to obtain a term life insurance policy, whereas many savings plans and investment strategies require time to build value. Once you are approved for a term life insurance policy, your amount of coverage is in place, and immediately helps to provide protection. Term life insurance provides financial protection for your family when they need it the most.

As a resident, you may believe that you don’t need to think about long-term disability insurance, since it is part of your employer-provided benefits package. It is reasonable to feel confident in the benefits provided by your employer. But to be sure that your disability insurance will help protect your finances properly in the event of a serious accident or illness, you should look closely at your insurance protection to make sure it fits your situation; and as a resident, you may have specific needs that your employer-provided coverage simply cannot meet.

When you graduate you will embark on a new chapter in your professional life. You’ll be starting a new job – with new responsibilities, working with new colleagues, maybe even moving into a new home and starting a family.

Before you graduate, however, we want to remind you about the benefits that come with your TMA membership – some of which, you may not even be aware are available to you. This could be a good time to review those benefits, as they can be very valuable, particularly when you transition to the next phase of your career.

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.

Most medical residents receive life insurance as a benefit from their employers. Whether you have already taken advantage of this coverage or not, there are strong financial advantages in obtaining supplemental life insurance outside the workplace.

If you are a medical resident, you are likely young and healthy, and rightly feel like the world is ahead of you. Long-term disability insurance is probably the last thing on your mind. However, statistics show that 1 in 4 young adults will become disabled before retirement age. If you should ever become disabled, long-term disability insurance can provide the income to meet your living expenses – and pay back your student loans – while you can’t work.