What's the difference between own-occupation and any-occupation disability coverage?

Own-occupation pays benefits if you can't perform the duties of your specific profession, even if you could do some other job; any-occupation only pays if you can't work in any job suited to your training and experience. The distinction is huge. A surgeon who develops a hand tremor can't operate but could teach or consult — under true own-occupation she still collects, under any-occupation she likely gets nothing. Own-occupation (sometimes called "own-occ") costs more but protects high earners whose income depends on a specialized skill set. Many group policies use the cheaper any-occupation definition, or a hybrid that switches to any-occupation after two years. If your income hinges on a specialty — physician, attorney, engineer — pay for the stronger own-occupation definition. Read the exact wording in the policy, since terms like "true own-occ" versus "modified" carry very different payouts. See wealthserene.com/tools/insurance-calculator to size your need.