Guest Post – Strategy for Establishing Disability Insurance for Military Physicians and Dentists
Becoming a military physician or dentist requires many hours of intense study and preparation. The result is an expert professional that is a combination of exacting physical and mental skills coupled with the ability to perform in stressful, sometimes life or death, situations. This ability is a military physician or dentists’ greatest asset and should be protected as such. It is imperative that military physicians and dentists establish this coverage as soon as possible, there is absolutely no advantage to waiting.
As you age your income will increase and your health will deteriorate. According to insurance statistics your chance of becoming disabled and unable to practice your chosen specialty are three times as likely at age 55 as they are at age 30. This makes it essential for military physicians and dentists to insure their current and future income. The solution is establishing a personal disability insurance policy. However, the complexity of the military pay and disability system as well as disability insurance policy contractual provisions complicates this task. Adequate protection is crucially needed since the military does not provide own occupation disability insurance. Government benefits are determined by base pay only and this gap is even larger when moonlighting income is received.
Establishing coverage requires guidance from an experienced professional insurance broker who can help you navigate the twists and turns of disability insurance and help you with unforeseen obstacles that may come up during the approval process:
- Selecting the proper company – Currently MassMutual and Lloyds are the only companies that will insure active-duty physicians and dentists. MassMutual is the first choice due to its competitive provisions. Lloyds is a better option for those with more serious health issues.
- Maximize your benefit – Military disability benefits are determined by base pay only, so it is imperative to insure all your income, including moonlighting, which can only be achieved by establishing an individual disability insurance policy.
- Utilize all discounts to which you are entitled – An experienced agent will make certain your policy includes all your income and have access to special discounts for military physicians and dentists. The discount will apply to future benefit increases.
- Timing – Apply for benefits early in your career and before any health or avocation issues arise, or receipt of deployment orders. There is absolutely no advantage to waiting. This will not exclude you or limit coverage based on medical issues.
- Include Future Insurability Option (FIO) or Benefit Increase Rider (BIR) – This benefit guarantees you will be able to increase coverage in the future, such as when you complete your military commitment and have a larger uninsured income. An experienced agent will effectively guide you in deciding if the FIO or BIR is best for you.
- Make certain to add own occupation coverage to guarantee protection in your specialty. The military does not provide this protection.
One crucial fact to be aware of when obtaining disability coverage is the medical underwriting requirement. Since military medical exams are extremely thorough and document any medical condition, it is important to establish coverage early in your medical career before any conditions or ailments appear. Depending on the medical condition you may be declined coverage, issued a policy with a waiver/exclusion for the pre-existing condition(s) or issued with an increased premium. Even a combination of the latter two is possible. This can be avoided if you apply now so you can have the protection you need later. A policy with an option that will allow you to purchase additional coverage in the future regardless of health and can be established to fit any budget. A graded premium structure can also be used for someone 35 or under to reduce the initial premium outlay for residents and medical students.
| Medical resident: | Active duty attending physician: | Active duty attending physician with moonlighting income: | |
| Base Pay: | $92,781/year | $97,536/year | $97,536/year |
| Save/specialty pay: | $8,000/year | $58,000/year | $58,000/year |
| Moonlighting pay: | – | – | $50,000/year |
| Total insurable pay: | $100,178 | $155,536 | $205,536 |
| Tax-free starting monthly disability insurance benefit: | $2,712 | $4,905 | $7,155 |
Below are some examples of the starting benefit amount a military physician/dentist can qualify for based on insurable income:
There is no better time than now to establish the type of policy you need to protect your medical or dental career in the event of disability. Thank you for your service commitment, and we look forward to helping you with this valuable protection.
DI4MDS – Andy Borgia, CLU and D.K. Unger – www.DI4MDS.com
info@di4mds.com
858-523-7529
(Note – I receive no compensation if you use DI4MDs.com. I just post the info because it is helpful, and they are the company that got me my DI policy.)
Surgeon General of the Navy – Memorial Day Message
Shipmates,
As the final Monday of May arrives, Navy Medicine joins our nation in solemn pause to remember those who died in service to our country and the families they left behind. Memorial Day is not just a marker of barbeques, summer blockbusters, televised car races, and long weekends; it’s a day dedicated to the more than one million brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
For all of you in Navy Medicine, your dedication mirrors the heroism we honor and is the greatest tribute. You serve on the front lines, not just in wartime, but EVERY DAY. You mend broken bodies, comfort grieving families, and keep our forces healthy and deployable. You carry the weight of this responsibility, knowing that your actions can mean the difference between life and death.
This Memorial Day, let us reflect on the legacy of those who came before us. Their courage and devotion remind us of the sacred trust we hold—to ensure the well-being of our warfighters, wherever they serve.
Every fallen hero has a story, and it is our duty to remember those who served and died for our freedom. Let us continue to push the boundaries of medical care, offering the best possible support to those who defend our nation.
As we honor our American heroes this Memorial Day, I extend my deepest gratitude to every member of Navy Medicine. Your unwavering compassion, expertise, and commitment are a cornerstone of America’s Navy’s strength!
SG #40, Corpsman Up!
RADM Darin K. Via
Medical Corps, United States Navy
Navy Surgeon General
Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Memorial Day Weekend Message from ASDHA
Colleagues,
As many in our country prepare to welcome summer this weekend, those of us privileged to work in the
Military Health System know that Memorial Day is much more than an extra day off. We take this time to
remember the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in service so that we might remain a free
people. As Secretary Austin said last year at this time, “we hold in our hearts all those who fell to defend
the country that they loved.” Please take a few moments this weekend to reflect on the gratitude we
owe these fallen heroes.
In recent years we have come to more fully recognize that taking care of our people means treating
mental health with the same vigor and attention as physical health. May is Mental Health Awareness
month and I’d like to call attention to the many initiatives within the Department of Defense to advance
mental health care.
We offer a variety of behavioral health (BH) support services and resources. BH services are offered
through military medical treatment facilities (MTFs) and the private sector care network. Available
services include primary care BH, specialty BH, and alcohol and substance use programs as well as
inpatient hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. Services available outside the MTFs include
Military and Family Life Counseling, Military OneSource, Family Advocacy Program, and inTransition, to
name a few.
The Targeted Care model helps the DoD provide mental health support for service members’ specific
needs, whether it is an individual appointment, group therapy or non-clinical support. It coordinates all
installation resources resulting in increased access to care, reduced wait times for mental health
appointments, increased readiness, and getting the right care at the right time through earlier
intervention. Results from the Targeted Care pilot validated increased BH access to care for those with
higher clinical needs and efficient use of other medical and non-medical helping resources. Beyond the
pilot sites, which are now in sustainment, there are eight additional early adopters and the Defense
Health Agency is currently working toward MHS enterprise adoption.
I am proud of these efforts, while acknowledging that we must always press forward to do more to meet
the mental health needs of our beneficiaries. I thank all of you who are involved in mental health care
for your commitment to this important priority.
I wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy Memorial Day.
Very Respectfully,
Lester
Lester Martínez-López, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Hospital Corps Retention and Exit Survey
The Office of the Hospital Corps will greatly appreciate your assistance in distributing this to your POCs in the Fleet and Fleet Marine Force. Our goal is to increase participation and gather valuable insights on why Sailors choose to stay in the Navy or leave, as well as how we can improve.
Here is the link: https://usnavy.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4HOpbp5RbeXZfwi
And the QR Code:
Participation in the Sea Services Leadership Associations Joint Women Leadership Symposium
CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 161850Z MAY 24 MID600117449152U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 098/24 MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1/MAY// SUBJ/PARTICIPATION IN THE SEA SERVICES LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATIONS JOINT WOMEN LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM// REF/A/DOC/OSD DCMO/26JUN16// REF/B/DOC/SECNAV/20OCT22// REF/C/DOC/DOD/17NOV11// NARR/REF A IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CONFERENCE GUIDANCE VERSION 4.0. REF B IS SECNAVINST 5050.6A, DON CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. REF C IS DOD DIRECTIVE 5500.07-R, JOINT ETHICS REGULATION REGARDING OFFICIAL PARTICIPATION IN NON-FEDERAL ENTITIES.// RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces Navy support for Fleet participation and attendance at Sea Services Leadership Associations (SSLA) Joint Women Leadership Symposium (JWLS), scheduled to be held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, 2799 Richmond Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202 from 26-27 June 2024. The theme for JWLS is "Strength through Service" and is hosted by SSLA, a non-federal entity. Additional Information about SSLA can be found at https://sealeader.org/. 2. Participation in affinity group outreach events such as symposiums and conferences is highly encouraged and not restricted to individuals of any particular background or skillset. These events provide attendees the opportunity to learn from exceptional leaders at all levels, make connections, and develop mentoring relationships. Diverse attendance is encouraged as a way to broaden conversations and enhance learning. 3. The Office of Navy Culture and Force Resilience (OPNAV N17), through Navy People and Culture (OPNAV N174) will sponsor 200 local (symposium fee only) and 100 out of area (Temporary Duty (TDY) costs and symposium fee) attendees for this event. TDY funding will be for four days, with 25 June and 28 June 2024 as authorized travel days. Lodging reimbursement is limited to the government rate and the traveler must utilize the integrated lodging program as applicable. Commands may authorize rental cars using unit funds; rental cars will not be centrally funded through OPNAV N17. Sailors and civilians must go through their chain of command for authorization to participate. 4. Attendees require authorization from their immediate supervisor to be considered for OPNAV N174 sponsorship and participation approval. 5. Requests to attend this event should be sent via email to wendy.d.boler.civ@us.navy.mil via the individual's officer-in-charge or immediate supervisor and must include the following information: name, rank, email, and duty station. Requests must be submitted no later than 28 May 2024. Requests received after 28 May 2024 will not be considered. Attendees must have a valid, active government travel charge card in their possession and a Defense Travel System profile affiliated with their respective unit. 6. Uniform of the day for this event is Service Khaki or Service Uniform for military, and business casual for civilians. 7. For questions concerning affinity group event participation, contact the Affinity Group Program Manager, Mrs. Wendy Boler, at N17Affinitygroup.fct@navy.mil. 8. Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//
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