How does disability insurance work for doctors and other high-income specialists?

Physicians and other specialists usually need individual own-occupation coverage because their earning power hinges on a narrow, highly trained skill set that does not transfer to other jobs. A hand surgeon who develops a tremor should collect even if they could do something else entirely, which only true own-occupation guarantees. Group coverage through a hospital or practice often uses weaker definitions, caps benefits below a specialist's income, and disappears if they change employers. Many buy a portable individual policy early in training or residency, when premiums are low and health is good, often with a future increase rider to grow coverage as income rises. Look for specialty-specific own-occupation language, a strong residual benefit, and non-cancelable guaranteed-renewable terms so the insurer cannot change your rate or definition.