| No doubt we all agree that the three Rs of the learning | | | | reduced schedule. |
| tree - reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic - are important to a | | | | Recovery Benefits |
| child's education. Another three Rs are equally | | | | But what happens if they're able to return to work |
| important for physicians concerned with protecting their | | | | full-time after suffering a disability, only to find their |
| most valuable asset - their ability to earn an income - | | | | client base eroded during their absence and other |
| when they're sick or injured and unable to work. These | | | | referring physicians are now looking elsewhere? This |
| are the three Rs of disability income insurance: residual, | | | | could prove devastating, especially if they work on a |
| recovery and rehabilitation. | | | | fee-for-service basis. |
| A quality disability income policy contains these three | | | | This is when recovery benefits would kick in, paying a |
| benefits in addition to basic coverage that pays a | | | | partial benefit proportionate to the loss of income, |
| percentage of your pre-disability earnings - usually 60 | | | | giving time to seek out new clients and referrals and |
| to 70% - for the duration of an illness or injury after a | | | | re-establish contact with past clients. |
| waiting period. | | | | Rehabilitation Benefits |
| Residual Benefits | | | | There is also the possibility that, once disabled, your |
| An article in Medical Economics reported that one | | | | client will be unable to return to his or her chosen |
| doctor in three will suffer a long-term disability between | | | | medical specialty. In situations like this, vocational |
| ages 35 and 65. Just how long will these injured or ill | | | | rehabilitation services can be a savior. It's crucial to |
| physicians be "totally disabled" and therefore unable to | | | | seek out a carrier that employs its own staff of |
| work? As many of your physician clients will confirm, | | | | rehabilitation specialists to work with you to explore a |
| medical advances have significantly reduced the | | | | different medical specialty or new occupation |
| amount of time many people, yourselves included, will | | | | altogether. Coordinated by these specialists, the |
| be "totally disabled" by illness or injury. It's far more | | | | claimant would receive help from professionals located |
| likely a physician will progress fairly quickly from total to | | | | in your area. |
| partial disability - able to return to work, but not full time. | | | | Focusing on ability rather than perpetuating disability, |
| This is where good residual benefits are a must. Under | | | | residual, recovery and rehabilitation benefits are three |
| residual coverage, they would receive a benefit | | | | branches vital to physicians' disability income tree. |
| proportionate to the income lost as a result of their | | | | |