Author Archives: Billy Gwaltney

A question we’re commonly asked is,“What is the ‘specialty occupation’ definition of disability?

This states that you’re totally disabled, if due to illness or injury, you’re unable to perform the material and substantial duties of your occupation at time of claim. If you’re a physician or dentist, your occupation can mean a specific, professionally recognized specialty or subspecialty.

This definition allows you to earn any amount of income from a different job while on claim and continue to receive full policy benefits. For example, a surgeon becomes disabled because of a back problem and cannot stand to perform surgeries. She then elects to become the medical director of a local insurance company. She would be entitled to collect the full disability benefit under her specialty disability policy in addition to receiving the income from the medical director position.

Most disability policies do not contain the specialty definition.  If you want to be sure you obtain this true specialty occupation definition, feel free to give us a call or text us at (704) 707-5788.

You might be wondering, “Why do I have to go through medical underwriting to obtain specialty disability insurance?”

Medical underwriting approval is what allows insurance companies to provide the premiere specialty disability coverage at an affordable and often discounted premium.

Specialty disability coverage is the best coverage available. Structured properly, it’s relatively black and white…if you cannot perform your specific occupation due to illness or injury, you receive benefits.

Most group long-term disability policies are required to cover all employees regardless of health. So the less healthy people are combined into the same pool as the healthier people.

Because of this, insurance companies offset the additional risk of loss by increasing the requirements that must be met in order to collect benefits. Sometimes someone’s medical history can hinder the ability to obtain the ideal policy.

This is another reason why It’s important to work with a dedicated disability insurance specialist who is experienced at getting clients approved for the coverage they need.

We can help. Give us a call or text us at 704-707-5788.