When “Disabled” Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means

Sep 23, 2026 | Regulatory/Compliance

Understanding own-occupation versus any-occupation disability coverage before you need it

Key Highlights

  • The odds are higher than most dentists assume. Roughly one in four dental professionals will collect disability benefits at some point before retirement, and most claims involve temporary conditions.
  • Not all disability policies define “disabled” the same way, and that definition, more than the premium, determines whether a claim actually gets paid.
  • For dentists, whose income depends on fine motor control, a true own-occupation definition can be the difference between full income replacement and no benefit at all.

Read more here from our endorsed partner, R.K. Tongue:

WVDA_Disability_Insurance_Article