Disability Insurance Calculator

Protect your greatest asset - your ability to earn income. Calculate the right coverage for your situation and specialty.

1 in 4 physicians will become disabled during their career

Your Coverage Analysis

Calculate your disability insurance needs based on income, expenses, and current coverage

Income & Career

Annual Income

Specialty

Important for own-occupation definition

Age

Premiums increase with age

Monthly Expenses

Basic Living Expenses

Food, utilities, insurance, etc.

Student Loan Payment

Mortgage/Rent Payment

Current Employer Coverage

I have disability insurance through my employer

Monthly Benefit Amount

Benefit Period

Family Situation

I have a spouse/partner

Number of Dependents

Children or other dependents

Emergency Resources

Emergency Fund (Months)

Months of expenses saved

Liquid Assets

Savings, brokerage accounts

Retirement Accounts

401k, IRA (not easily accessible)

Policy Preferences

Own-Occupation Definition(Highly Recommended)

✅ With own-occupation, you're covered if you can't work in your specialty, even if you could do another job. Critical for surgeons and proceduralists.

Benefit Period

Waiting Period (Days)

Time before benefits start

Why Disability Insurance is Critical for Physicians

Your medical degree doesn't protect you from disability. But the right insurance does.

Physicians face unique disability risks. A surgeon with a hand injury, a radiologist with vision problems, or an anesthesiologist with back pain could lose their ability to work in their specialty overnight. With student loan debt averaging $200-400k and incomes of $250-600k+, the financial impact of disability is catastrophic.

Own-Occupation vs. Any-Occupation

Any-Occupation: Only pays if you can't work ANY job. If you're a neurosurgeon who can no longer operate but could teach or work in administration, you get $0.

Own-Occupation: Pays if you can't work in YOUR specialty. If you can't perform surgery but could teach, you still get full benefits. Worth the 20-25% higher premium.

Critical Riders for Physicians

Partial/Residual Disability: Pays if you can only work part-time or at reduced capacity
Future Increase Option: Buy more coverage later without medical underwriting (critical as income grows)
COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment): Benefits increase with inflation - essential for young physicians
Student Loan Rider: Additional benefit specifically for loan payments - unique to physicians

Common Questions

When should I buy disability insurance?

As early as possible - ideally during residency or fellowship. Premiums increase 8-12% every 5 years, and any health issues that develop can make you uninsurable or drastically increase rates. A healthy 30-year-old physician pays far less than a 40-year-old with the same coverage.

Is employer-provided DI enough?

Rarely. Employer DI typically covers only 50-60% of base salary (capped at $10-15k/month), excludes bonuses, and benefits are TAXABLE (reducing actual take-home by 25-35%). It's also "any-occupation" definition and you lose it if you change jobs. Supplement with individual coverage.

How much coverage do I actually need?

Target 60-70% of gross income (insurers cap at 65-67% to prevent fraud). Calculate total monthly obligations: mortgage/rent, student loans, living expenses, insurance premiums. Subtract employer coverage (if any). The gap is what you need. For a $300k physician with $10k monthly expenses and no employer DI, aim for $6-7k/month benefit.

Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates of coverage needs based on your inputs. Actual policy terms, riders, and premiums vary by insurer, health status, and underwriting. Work with an independent insurance broker specializing in physician disability insurance for personalized quotes. This is not insurance advice.

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