By Dr. Jim Dahle, WCI FounderWhen it comes to disability insurance, there is not much worse than a surprise decline (except a disability, I suppose). These happen way more often than they should. For many years, I blamed the insurance agents. While there's probably plenty of blame to go around, I now think this is mostly an applicant problem. Here are some recent examples:
Example #1
“I am an incoming resident this summer and I recently applied for long term individual disability insurance. Unfortunately, today I got some bad news that, due to something in my history, my application has been declined. I will be meeting with the insurance agent next week to clarify the issue and plan next steps. I haven't found a whole lot on how to navigate this so I thought it would make a great blog post.”
That made me curious, so I dove in for more details.
“Yes, I am working with [one of your recommended agents] and was denied for a policy based on a genetic disease that is a relatively new diagnosis (I’m a carrier). It was unexpected because while I have a slightly low lab value and a carrier gene, the rest of my work up has not shown any significant abnormality. The agent is currently talking to other companies and pushing back on the denial for reconsideration . . . I think the offer was made in an initial email exchange, but I didn’t believe it was necessary since my specific phenotype isn’t strongly associated with disease. I didn’t think denial was likely at all and didn’t understand you could informally shop around.”
Travis Christy, the insurance guru here at WCI, contacted the agent the resident had been working with and learned this:
“The client didn’t disclose to the agent his pre-existing genetic condition, but the client also didn’t think it was something to be concerned about. The agent did ask pre-screen questions, though.”
Example #2
“I wanted to let you know about a disappointing experience I had with one of your recommended disability insurance agents. My spouse, a resident, recently worked with [one of your recommended agents] to find an individual, own occupation disability insurance policy. Regrettably, her application for a policy was declined on the basis of her medical records. I don't know whether poor communication between my wife and [the agent] or between [the agent] is to blame. But either way, the experience didn't meet the (admittedly very high) expectations I had for [the agent] based on your recommendation.
In the aftermath, my wife and I discovered that her program provides access to a pretty good GSI policy (which she is no longer eligible for), and that such policies are increasingly common among major residency programs and a good option for doctors with less than perfect health histories. Obviously, we wish we had known to look out for a GSI policy sooner.
I recognize that GSI policies are not widely advertised or accessible to all agents, that medically underwritten policies can often be stronger and/or cheaper, and that no agent can guarantee approval for a policy that requires medical underwriting. Bad outcomes happen sometimes, even when knowledgeable agents do their best to provide good service . . . I also recognize that hindsight is 20/20. Looking for alternatives seems very obvious after being declined. And I know that my spouse and I ultimately bear responsibility for getting appropriate insurance in place. It was in our power to thoroughly research our other options before submitting an application and we chose not to. Nevertheless, I thought you would want to know about our experience . . . I'd bet that my spouse's experience is the exception rather than the rule. But if no one ever reports the exceptions, you'll never know if they become the rule.”
I had Travis dive into this one with the agent, too. Guess what? Similar story.
“I spoke with [the agent] about this case. The agent worked with the client’s spouse to get DI. According to the agent, the spouse was really pushing to get the DI in place and the agent did the pre-screen questionnaire. The spouse said the client didn’t have any major medical concerns and it was determined they’d go through full underwriting . . . The agent did the pre-screen and was told there wasn’t a health history to worry about. This is a case of the client not disclosing information before submitting an application.”
Example #3
“I wanted to share my story because I DO NOT want someone else to do what I did. I am now a PGY1. Last March, I pursued getting a DI policy before I started residency. I used your website to understand the appropriate policy, riders, etc . . . and used your DI references on your website.
I had a general idea of the process but never thought ahead on how my past medical history would be seen by the underwriters. Or what underwriters would even think of my case. Not to go too in depth w/PMH, however, I have idiopathic neuropathic symptoms (pressure, tingling, numbness) that are localized to my right axilla that had insidious onset when I was 20 years old. I've visited many doctors for this condition without a clear answer on ddx/definitive treatment. It's just been something that I live with, not allowing a lower quality of health to diminish my goals and future plans. Besides this, I consider myself very healthy. I applied through [a WCI recommended agent]. I did a short phone call with an agent; he sent some policies that had everything that I wanted. I was eager to just get this done and check this off the list before starting residency. I put all my medical history (thinking that my condition was really benign) and didn't receive any other guidance from the agent. A few weeks later, I got an email from the agent saying I had been denied. A week after that, I found out my program offers a GSI plan that I no longer qualify for. I definitely screwed up, but I am still disappointed in the agent and even WCI. I heard about the need for DI quite often, but did not see much education for those with obscure PMhx e.g., chronic fatigue syndrome, burnout, etc., which I think is more common for physicians these days than what society would think.”
We looked into this case as well. It turns out the applicant disclosed one medical problem to the agent in that phone call (which wasn't a big deal). The one noted above was disclosed to the insurance company during the underwriting process, but not to the agent BEFORE the underwriting process began. Also, interestingly, the agent did check to see if the program the applicant was going to start soon had a GSI policy, but it unfortunately was not yet listed in the consulted database (which gets updated quarterly).
More information here:
The Physician’s Guide to the Best Disability Insurance Companies
Can You Still Get Disability Insurance with Your Health History?
Lessons to Learn
There are two important lessons that WCIers should learn from these frustratingly common disability insurance experiences.
#1 Disability Insurance Underwriters Care About Stuff Doctors Don't Think They Should Care About
The first lesson is that there are medical conditions that you think aren't a big deal, that you think are resolved, or that you think won't lead to a disability. Guess what? The underwriters don't agree with you. They think your little medical condition, genetic anomaly, cured cancer, weird paresthesias, or long-resolved history of back pain IS a big deal. Not only are they mad you tried to hide it from them, but they don't even want to insure you at all. If you're lucky, maybe they'll just put an exclusion rider on your policy, meaning that if you get disabled from a recurrence of that testicular cancer or that back pain, the policy won't pay. More likely, though, the insurance company will just decline you.
#2 Don't Try to Hide Your Medical Problems from the Agent
I'm not sure what's going through doctors' heads, but I think it goes like this:
“If I tell the agent about this medical problem, the agent will be obligated to tell the insurance company and I'll get a higher rate or an exclusion rider or won't get insurance at all. But if I don't tell the agent about this problem, no one is ever going to know. It was so many years ago and in another state, and it only lasted a month anyway.”
What's the problem? When you go to fill out the application, you're specifically asked about this issue and then you feel a sudden need for honesty and disclose it on the application. The agent is busy, doesn't catch that you slipped in this little thing, and sends the application to the carrier. Voila! A decline. Or perhaps you don't say anything on the application. Well, the underwriters have access to all kinds of databases you may not realize they have access to, such as prescription drug databases, medical record databases, and insurance databases. They find that 5-year-old prescription for 12 Skelaxin tablets and want to know what that was all about. Oh that? My back hurt for two days. Too bad. Exclusion rider.
However, if you manage to get away with hiding a pre-existing medical condition that should have been revealed to an agent and disability insurance carrier, it's likely to lead to complications in the future. Some have encountered instances where individuals, such as doctors seeking additional coverage or those at disability claim time, have faced investigations by the insurance carrier because they failed to disclose their medical condition initially. While it's understandable that people may forget to disclose such information, attempting to deceive the insurance carrier is unlikely to yield favorable outcomes. In many cases, successfully obtaining a policy could be considered fraud and result in the policy being rescinded even after the contestability period. Besides, what are you really willing to sell your integrity for?
The Problem with a Decline
The problem with a decline is that just about every application for individual disability insurance, including a GSI application, asks if you've ever been declined for an insurance policy. Many life insurance policies also ask about you being declined. Now, it is much harder, if it is possible at all, to get the insurance you need. In our second example above, it was particularly tragic. This doc was eligible for a GSI policy at the training institution that could have been put in place BEFORE applying for the fully underwritten policy. But after the decline? No dice. You're just out of luck. Guaranteed Standard Issue policies are only guaranteed to be issued if you've never been declined for insurance. Let me say that again, just in case you missed it.
You don't even have to be fully declined. If you get a “modified” offer (i.e. with an exclusion), that also prevents a GSI policy from being issued. In our third case above, it looks like the doc could get an underwritten policy from another insurance policy but with an exclusion, so hopefully that will work out.
Reducing Declines in Disability Insurance Applications
We've been working very hard with our recommended agents to reduce the risk of white coat investors being declined for disability insurance. This isn't good for the WCIer, for the agent, or for us. It may not even be good for the insurance company. It's a lose-lose-lose-lose situation if there ever was one. It's just bad all around, especially if that doc later becomes disabled. We're doing all we can to keep this from happening. Travis tells me that across the industry 20%-30% of applications result in declines. That is WAY too high. I want that number to be a single-digit number, and I hope that most of those are not surprise declines. I mean, it's entirely possible that something comes up with your lab work and you find out you have kidney failure or diabetes or something at the time you apply for insurance. There's never going to be anything the agent, you, or I can do to prevent that sort of thing from happening. Even if we did pre-application lab work somehow, you'd just have to disclose that to the company anyway.
Even a fully informed person might apply for insurance anyway, knowing there's a very good chance of a decline, but at least that won't be a surprise decline.
So, how do we get this decline percentage way lower?
The first step is to educate the agents and make sure they have an adequate screening process in place for medical issues and dangerous hobbies.
The second step is to educate you, the white coat investors, about the whole process. That includes the importance of paying attention to ALL of your past medical history in the process, no matter how trivial or resolved you think it might be.
There is something else that agents can do for you before formally applying. They can shop you around informally to the insurance companies. That means they call up the underwriters at each company and say something like this:
“Let's say I hypothetically had a client who had testicular cancer that was considered cured three years ago. He doesn't even have to have any more follow-up scans. What are the odds he gets declined or an exclusion if he applies to your company?”
Maybe the underwriter says, “Our standards are that he has to be cancer-free for five years before we'll give him a policy at all, and it's always going to have an exclusion for cancer.” The agent then calls up the underwriter at another company and finds out they're perfectly fine issuing a policy to this doc right now. Guess where the application should be submitted? This informal guidance doesn't count as a decline, so the doc can apply to a different company, wait longer to apply, go look for a GSI or group disability policy, or make a change in their financial plan. Forewarned is forearmed.
More information here:
How to Buy Disability Insurance
People Aren’t Buying Disability Insurance, But They Should
The Problems with GSI Policies
Guaranteed Standard Issue policies are primarily available only at large medical institutions. That means you probably need to get it before leaving training, and many docs procrastinate until it is too late. They just aren't available to many doctors who are interested in getting a disability policy. That's the main issue. Insurance companies may make them even less available in the future, too.
However, it shouldn't be surprising to learn that sometimes a GSI policy is either more expensive (although these days many are actually cheaper) or (more likely) not quite as good of a policy as you can get with a fully underwritten policy. For example, they usually have a 24-month “mental/nervous/substance abuse” limitation on benefit payout. Given the prevalence of burnout and depression, that's a risk that maybe should not be taken if it can be avoided.
There's usually only one policy available at a given institution, and what are the odds that is the policy that would be best for you if you had your choice of five policies? Not that good. Nevertheless, the most important thing with disability insurance is to get SOMETHING in place if you, like most docs, have a need for the policy. While the fully underwritten policy is probably the best, a GSI policy is a close second. A group policy is better than a kick in the teeth, and at least it will cost a lot less, especially if the employer picks up part of the price.
What to Do If You Get Declined for Disability Insurance?
What happens if you get declined? Well, you're mostly hosed, but all hope is not lost. First, remember that three bad things have to happen for you to really be hosed. First, you have to be declined for individual insurance. Second, you have to be unable to obtain a group policy or a policy from a different company with an exclusion. Third, you have to actually get disabled. If just the first one or two of those things happen and you never get disabled, no harm no foul.
The first thing to do if you're declined is to see if you can get another policy—either a group policy through your employer (most likely) or a professional association or get an individual policy (probably with an exclusion) from another insurance company. While I'm not a huge fan of group policies, they're better than nothing, and you will likely get paid something so long as your disability isn't in a “gray area.” If a group policy is not an option, you may wish to change your financial plan in a way that minimizes the risk of exposure of disability to failure of the plan.
That usually means spending less and saving more to reach financial independence earlier.
What do you think? Have you been declined? Was it a surprise? What do you think can be done to further reduce the number of declines?
Great post! I would have been declined had it not been for a wonderful WCI-recommended agent. I have a remote history of anorexia which didn’t seem like a big deal to me because I’ve been recovered for many years. However, the agent informed me that companies are very hesitant to issue policies to people with a history of eating disorders due to the high recurrence and disability rate. He initially said I wouldn’t be able to get a policy but was able to go back to the companies and explain my medical history – the fact I had been weight restored without relapse for over 5 years. Over a week later, I received the good news that Principal was willing to insure me with a 2 year coverage limitation on payout for eating disorder related claims.
This is another example of insurance being insurance. Conceptually, it’s a great thing for people to pool their risk so that when and if unfortunate things happen to a few, there is money there to help them out. But, practically speaking, insurance is the business of profiting from fears, collecting premiums and denying claims. Or in this case, denying coverage in the first place. And we know they don’t have the numbers/ statistics/ studies to deny coverage for rare conditions based on actual evidence.
For my part, I haven’t even put myself in the position to be denied because weight loss and anemia of unknown cause in undergrad, 20-something years ago now. I understand that getting appropriate insurance in place is one of the basic steps for young white coat investors.
If you find yourself in this position, you might think strategically about the career and lifestyle ahead and choose to work for institutions or large employers with good health care and benefits and avoid big mortgages and business or practice loans and other precarious financial positions. I expect to be able to retire by 55 and could live a leaner than ideal retirement even now if I were to become unable to do clinical practice. Don’t feel bad if you are denied. Insurance companies only take the sure bet, the all-but-guaranteed payoff.
Are you recommending self-insurance even if one can get insurance? You seem to be alluding to that strategy, but I think it’s a bad one. Despite the issues with insurance, it’s a necessary evil for financial catastrophes.
But I agree if you can’t get insurance, early FI does help lower risk in your financial plan. Doesn’t eliminate it though. Luckily for you, the risk just didn’t show up during that 2 decade period when it could have really hurt you.
No, I’m not advocating across the board self insurance. I was trying to follow the steps to be in good shape financially, but I knew I couldn’t get disability insurance when I wasn’t eligible for any term life policy based on my history. I was in the military, so I have continued to carry VGLI, although $400k isn’t much life insurance. I have been fortunate like you say, but it helps that my wife and I have been debt adverse and have reduced liabilities and saved aggressively. I would like others who may be uninsurable to consider finding the right associate position or partnership buy-in that wouldn’t leave them holding so much debt if they become disabled.
Yes, as the last paragraph of this post discusses, if you just can’t get insurance than do what you can to not need it as soon as you can. That’s what you did. But a lot of your prior comment seems to allude to not buying it even if you can and I just want to point out that’s a very risky decision.
I agree with you that you did the right thing for you because you couldn’t buy insurance.
I was declined 5 years ago, right after I had a baby, my husband and I decided for him to switch to stay at home (I’m a surgeon with erratic hours), and I became a new attending. I was devastated but it really wasn’t personal, though it sure felt personal at the time. There is a happy ending that I reapplied after 3 years and got coverage from guardian.
Few thoughts:
1. My initial denial, in retrospect, makes sense. I had had a stillborn baby, decided to keep going with fellowship rather than taking time off, realized I was really struggling after about 3 months, THEN took time off. The companies do not like this. Makes you seem like a mental health risk. Didn’t matter that I had subsequently had a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Not sure I have any advice here bc life is real and raw and terrible things happen, but I think having awareness that this will create difficulty with disability would have been nice to know.
2. Having a good agent makes a huge difference. I used a WCI recommended agent initially (I don’t remember who) and they just didn’t seem that interested. I then found my own agent in a very round about way and I have been nothing but pleased with him. I was able to find coverage through a European company, which would pay out for 5 years only, but was better than nothing when I was initially denied. That company is called Lloyds of London. I used this agent I found on my own and honestly this man was like a dog with a bone. He was insanely helpful, never tried to push anything else on me product wise. After three years he helped me apply again and knew how to ensure we would maximize my chance of success. Happy to share his contact if someone wants it.
3. My initial devastation of my denial was what fueled my interest in financial independence. I was very worried that everything I had worked so hard for could be taken from me. Ironically, that initial denial has pushed me onto a much happier, more fulfilled path because I got my financial affairs in order. My husband and I got on the same page financially. I truly hope no one gets denied like I did, but if you do, something positive can (hopefully) come of it for you too.
4. I got really bad advice in residency. I was told to not even apply for disability until I was an attending. Awful advice!!! All women should apply ideally before you get pregnant. Pregnancy related complications, which are higher in the female physician than the average woman, can cause a lot of downstream effects on top of the intense emotional distress they cause.
Thanks for publishing this WCI bc I truly felt blind when I first applied and it’s great to get more knowledge out there.
Glad you were able to get coverage.
1. Another good example of why I tell people to buy as interns. Things happen during training.
2. If anyone is having a bad experience with one of our agents, we want to hear about it. We can usually get the issue fixed very quickly and there are fewer and fewer of them as the years go by.
3. Funny what sometimes provides the motivation. For me it was finding out my “advisor” was fee-based, not fee-only. It didn’t actually cost me any significant amount, but I felt ripped off.
4. Sorry to hear about that. This is one reason DI for women costs more. Hopefully they make up for some of that with cheaper life insurance!
Totally agree. Buying as an intern is the way to go. I do want people to be aware there are other small companies that will insure doctors who have been denied. It’s not nearly as good but better than nothing. Lloyds of London barely asked anything about my medical history.
Apologies about the agent— it was years ago, long before I knew…anything about finance actually. I sort of stumbled onto your site in my oblivion. However you are probably the single biggest resource in me living better holistically so thank you for that!!!
Lloyds of London is a well known “backup” option that I think every experienced agent has used every now and then.
No need to apologize. I appreciate feedback, especially negative feedback. Glad you were able to get something.
Too bad about your experience, my recommendation for any resident of fellow while researching disability insurance is to first inquire with their colleagues and hospital whether their program had access to a GSI policy first. The GSI programs are. “Owned ” By the agents who established the program so they are usually the only agent authorized to utilize the program by the insurance companies to prevent adverse selection. Sometimes the authorized agent will allow other agents to use the program but not often. Some of the programs now offer coverage even if declined previously. We at DI4MDS own our own programs and have access to agents across the country and are willing to help connect anyone looking for coverage with the designated agent. Thank you
Similar case happened to me unfortunately. As an intern, I discussed getting a plan with a WCI agent. I was honest about my symptoms and yet the agent was not concerned. I applied and was denied because the insurance found some concern in my arrhythmia workup, which ended up being benign anyway. My program also did not have GSI. There was no follow up from the agent in the aftermath, but I figured there was no options really left for me anyway.
The process makes me weary for the future opportunities but I am appreciative for this article as the denial process was a black box/ uncharted waters for me. Would appreciate more advice for people who are denied.
Sorry to hear about that and would appreciate some private correspondence with more details.
You’re right that you don’t have a lot of options now, although I think I’d try one more time now that the arrythmia has been shown to be benign. Maybe you can get a policy that just has an arrythmia exclusion.
At the other end of the career spectrum I had a surprise DI issue. I left my employed medical job behind at age 60 and in good health. I chose not to continue my DI with uncertain income and even possible early retirement ahead.
I then decided to buy a small clinic building and open my own limited vasectomy practice. The bank offering to provide the real estate mortgage required that I have DI, to ensure that they would receive their monthly payments even if I became disabled.
I grumbled, but went ahead and applied for DI at age 61. Despite being extremely healthy, I was deemed uninsurable based on my age.
In the end I found a different bank who offered me a mortgage without any discussion of DI, so this has a happy ending. That said, if contemplating leaving an employed status and going out on your own, maybe hang on to your DI even if you think you are close enough to retirement to “self insure.”
Hmm, sounds like that’d be a pretty good guest post.
I am a dual degree OMS who was declined for underwriting for an individual policy right before graduating dental school. The conditions for which I was denied still exist so waiting to reapply 5 years later just resulted in another denial. Through dental school, medical school, and residency I was able to accumulate $14,500/month in GSI through Guardian, Principal and ADA/Protective. I have maximized all of my future increase options on my Guardian policies but this still leaves me very underinsured. I don’t know why I was able to get these GSI policies with having been declined before, but everyone knew about the previous denials and they were obviously recorded in the insurance clearinghouse these companies all use.
I recently received an email about a product from Treloar & Heisel (who I got my Principal GSI product from) about a DI product specifically tailored for hard-to-insure doctors. It is called Flex DI and offered by Fidelity Security Life Insurance Company. It is guaranteed issue, but depending on your risk they can modify the monthly benefits, maximum benefit period (2-10 years), and riders available. True-own occupation definition of disability for the first two years is standard but an extension rider can be purchased for up to the maximum benefit period.
Has anyone heard of a policy like this before? I’ve never heard about policies like this before. It really seems like my only option at this point for increasing my benefits. It would be the first policy I drop as I approach FI if I haven’t already reached the maximum benefit period. The annual premium if I were approved for a 7 year term would be just under $10,000/yr for $28,000/month in benefits.
Any thoughts before I have my meeting with the agent later this week?
I have run into one doc this year who was denied BEFORE starting residency, and that apparently didn’t count for at least one company’s GSI. Maybe your situation was similar. Glad you were able to get something in place.
I’ll ask our insurance guru to comment here on the Treloar & Heisel product. I’m not familiar with it. But seems promising if you want/need more coverage.
Yes, I did get my Guardian GSI through my residency after being declined in dental school. I don’t remember the exact timing on the Principal GSI plan, but I know it was towards the end of residency.
Here are the plan details for more context:
Treloar & Heisel Flex DI
Maximum benefit period: 2-10 years
Elimination periods available: 30 days to 730 days
Guaranteed renewable to age 67
Total disability definition: Insured cannot perform the material and substantial duties of the insured’s own occupation. Own occupation for 24 months, then becomes any occupation. Own occupation rider available to extend own-occupation definition to maximum benefit period
Partial disability benefit: Payable for only 13 months. The monthly benefit amount for partial disability is 50% of the applicable monthly benefit amount for total disability
Disability benefit
50% benefits reduction if disability occurs after age 65
Pre-existing conditions are not covered until policy has been in effect for 12 months
Total disability due to sickness not fully covered until third year of coverage, partial coverage in years 1 &2
Total disability due to injury always 100% covered
Total disability due to mental disorder or substance-related disorders 50% covered for only 13 months per lifetime. No partial disability coverage for mental disorder or substance-related disorders.
I can provide some insights into the disability insurance plan offered by Fidelity through Treloar and Heisel.
Your understanding is correct regarding total disability, this policy adjusts benefits based on the cause and timing of the disability. For sickness-related disabilities, benefits begin at 40% of the maximum monthly amount during the first year of coverage, increase to 75% in the second year, and reach 100% thereafter. Disabilities caused by injury, however, receive 100% of the benefit from the start. It’s important to note that after age 65, all benefits are reduced by half until age 70.
For mental health and substance-related disabilities, the policy provides 50% of the monthly benefit for up to 13 months per disability, with a lifetime cap of 13 months.
When it comes to partial disability, it’s crucial to understand that you must first satisfy the elimination period while being totally disabled—that is, completely unable to work according to the total disability definition. Being partially disabled during this period doesn’t count. This distinction is important because many disabilities, such as MS or ALS, often begin as partial disabilities where you’re still able to work to some extent. As a result, it might take longer to qualify for benefits if you’re only partially disabled during the elimination period.
One question worth asking is about the policy’s “accumulation period”—the time frame allowed to meet the elimination period. For example, if you return to work but later find you’re still disabled, would the elimination period reset, or would you retain credit for the time already accrued? This detail could be significant in determining how benefits are paid.
Lastly, while Treloar and Heisel may have a special arrangement to offer this policy on a guaranteed issue basis, it’s important to confirm this to avoid any misunderstanding. According to the Flex DI product guide, the policy is described as “Guaranteed Renewable.” This means the insurer cannot cancel coverage as long as premiums are paid, and they are obligated to pay benefits if you meet the policy’s disability definitions. The policy remains renewable up to age 67. However, the company can raise premiums for an entire occupation class. It’s essential to clarify the difference between “guaranteed renewable,” which ensures continued coverage, and “guaranteed issue,” which allows coverage without medical underwriting.
Thank you for your response. I’ll have to ask about the accumulation period. My agent was able clarify a few of the points you made before I read your reply. Unlike the Lloyd’s substandard disability policies, there is no periodic underwriting to maintain or renew the policy. He also said that while they could raise the premiums on current policy holders at renewal, they have not done so in the 20-30 years the policy has been on the market.
I’ll provide an update once I hear back from my applications. If approved, maybe I’ll apply for the Milestone podcast to share my insights on getting disability and life insurance as a previously denied doc.
That would be a fun episode. Haven’t done that milestone yet.
Unfortunately, I was declined DI 4 years ago from multiple carriers as I had an aortic valve replacement in my second year of ortho residency due to a congenital valve and aortic root issue. Are there any carriers that would consider someone like myself given the need for replacement tissue valves at 10-15 years (at least that’s what my surgeon told me) and the high-risk nature of this issue? I asked for exclusion riders and limited payouts (24-36 month payout, then I’m on my own) if the disability was a result of heart valve complications, and it was just decline after decline.
I hope all the med studs and interns that read your story realize they too can develop medical problems and need to buy DI ASAP.
Go see an independent agent and have them shop you around informally. My guess is no, or at least if you are offered a policy it’ll exclude heart issues as a cause of disability. Maybe that policy discussed in a comment above might be an option for you or something.
I have seen too many times disability and life insurance denied on the basis of a glaucoma suspect diagnosis used to justify further testing whether indicated or not. This can be simply large optic cups a normal variation or asymmetrical cup size from refractive asymmetry. I warn optometrists, my colleagues and staff not to use this as a diagnosis code as it can be a a devastating diagnosis for future insurability. Let the consumer of eye care beware!
Does WCI maintain a central repository of GSI offers at various institutions (and including firms who don’t pay to advertise on WCI)? Publishing that list to WCI readers would enable applicants to pre-screen GSI options at various institutions. For example, my firm has exclusive GSI options at LSU, Tulane, Ochsner, Corewell, NYU and University of South Alabama, among others. The biggest challenge for a firm holding a GSI offer at a particular institution is getting through the “noise” to let residents and fellows know the offer exists.
The reasons that list does not exist publicly mostly have to do with ensuring GSI remains an option at all. It turned out to be a lot more complicated than I at first thought. Email travis (at) whitecoatinsurance.com for more discussion off line.