Resident and Fellow Disability Insurance Limits (MDs and DOs)

Graduating Residents and Fellows May Be Able to Apply for Starting Practice Limits or Higher Using a Signed Employment Contract as Proof of Income

Typical monthly benefit limits today: about $5,000 for most residents and fellows, and about $8,000 to $8,500 in the last six months of training. Limits vary by carrier and change over time. The carrier tables below were last updated in 2023, so we confirm your limit with a quote.

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Residents and Fellows should secure their plan while young and healthy. Lock in your rates and your future purchase option rider today!
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Physicians needing Specialty Specific Disability have access to multiple discounted Own Occupation Contracts

View the Maximum Monthly Benefits Allowable, Depending on your Training Status

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Other Factors

We do not recommend waiting to apply for coverage. If you are able to budget a lower amount, under the standard resident/fellow limits, that is still better than leaving yourself exposed without an insurance contract. There are multiple reasons you don’t want to leave yourself exposed without insuring your income from your specific specialty. If you develop a health issue or inconclusive medical history noted in your records, that could prevent you from acquiring a policy or the policy could have an exclusion on it for that medical issue. A few other reasons are that pricing continues to climb until you lock in your contract pricing. Also, you might move to a more expensive state and finally you might miss out on the current discounts that are available depending on your employment status.

If you are within 6 months of training ending and have a signed employment contract for your Attending position or are already an Attending, income can be used to higher limits:

How Discounted Rates Work

You will typically have access to resident or fellow discounts through the end of training and often at least up to 2-6 months post your last day of training. Don’t be fooled by those agents claiming that the discount ends on the last day of training. They are just trying to pressure you into making a decision earlier than required, although we don’t recommend waiting as your health is a key factor in obtaining an approval.

Residents' questions, answered

Should I buy disability insurance during residency?

In most cases, yes. Your health is the key factor in getting approved, so we recommend securing a plan while you are young and healthy rather than waiting. Even a benefit below the standard resident and fellow limits is better than leaving yourself without a contract, and a future purchase option rider lets you raise the coverage later as your income grows. More in our article on the importance of disability insurance for residents.

How much disability insurance can a resident get?

Typical monthly benefit limits today are about $5,000 for most residents and fellows, and about $8,000 to $8,500 in the last six months of training. Within six months of finishing, a signed employment contract for your attending position can serve as proof of income for higher starting-practice limits.

Where should a resident buy disability insurance?

From an independent broker who compares the own-occupation contracts of the five leading carriers, Ameritas, Guardian, MassMutual, Principal and The Standard, and applies the resident and fellow discounts you qualify for. M.D. Disability Quotes compares all five for residents and fellows, with no obligation.

How long do resident and fellow discounts last?

You will typically have access to resident or fellow discounts through the end of training, and often for at least 2 to 6 months after your last day. Don’t wait for the deadline, though: your health when you apply decides the approval.

My program offers a guaranteed standard issue (GSI) policy. Should I still compare?

Guaranteed standard issue programs offer coverage with no medical underwriting during the application. Traditional individual policies generally require medical and financial underwriting. Pre-screening your history with an independent broker shows what each route would offer before you formally apply.