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You have a significant potential income stream when you consider the years of practice you have ahead of you. Your ability to earn an income is your most important asset. The risk to that income, to your financial future, is disability and death. Securing an adequate amount of disability and life insurance now can help to protect you and your loved ones in the event something were to happen to you.

Disability insurance helps to protect your ability to earn an income. You should consider purchasing resident disability insurance as a supplement to the coverage you receive at work. You may want disability insurance that’s portable and protects your medical specialty, not just your ability to practice as a physician. Understanding the different types of physician disability insurance coverage available to residents is important.

Life insurance is important if you have someone who depends on your income. In addition to the loss of your income, your family may be left with any student loan debt that cannot be discharged. Term life insurance offers an efficient solution for residents to help provide financial protection for your family. Educating yourself about life insurance coverage options will help your physician family choose coverage that meets your particular life insurance goals.

Typically, an employer would offer a life insurance benefit in a flat amount or a denomination of salary. This may be adequate if there aren’t any financial obligations you’ll leave behind. Life insurance is meant to assist the beneficiaries who depended upon your current and future income. As you evaluate your life insurance needs, consider the financial obligations your family would face without your salary – household expenses, children’s education costs, and final expenses to name a few. Costs add up. Does your current life insurance leave a gap?

Even if you don’t have anyone currently depending on your salary you may have a need for additional protection. Life insurance can also be used to protect cosigners on your private student loans.  Some medical education debt may be forgiven when a borrower dies. Private loans are not always discharged and may be the responsibility of your co-signer. Life insurance coverage may help protect them from the financial burden of your student debt.

Shopping for life insurance may not be as complicated as other types of insurance coverage. Provisions and features don’t vary widely between carriers. Term life insurance generally offers the best value for those concerned about protecting loved ones from financial hardship. Term life insurance can provide a high amount of coverage at a lower initial premium. In fact, term life insurance may never be more efficient for you than it is right now. Age is one of the factors that determines the cost of life insurance; the younger you are, the less you will spend on coverage. This is maybe attractive to medical residents. A trusted insurance professional can help you determine the type and amount of life insurance coverage you may need that fits within your budget.

Turn to a trusted source who understands the unique insurance needs of a resident physician. Your personal, professional, and financial circumstances won’t benefit from off the shelf, one-size-fits-all, insurance. Look for insurance designed for physicians, with features and benefits that respond to the unique character of your profession. It’s important for you to find insurance specialists who understand the medical profession and can offer you best-in-class products and services.

For more than 30 years, AMA Insurance has been helping medical students, residents, physicians, and their families obtain the insurance protection they may need throughout their life. Our team of Physician Insurance Specialists are ready to put their expertise to work for you. Our specialists are non-commissioned, salaried employees, they aren’t working toward a sales goal, only your goals. Their sole purpose is to assist you without pressure, judgement, or jargon.