The definition of total disability for a class 3 physician reads:

"For the first five years only, total disability means that because of sickness or injury, you are not able to perform the material and substantial duties of your occupation. After that, total disability means that because of sickness or injury you are not able to perform the material and substantial duties of your occupation and are not at work in any occupation."
(The requirement that you not be working in any occupation applies only after benefits have been paid for five years in the same claim)

As you can see the own-occupation period does not go all the way to age 65, or lifetime. It is for the first five years in the claim, after which you have the choice as to whether or not you want to go back to work in another occupation. The insurance company cannot force you to go back to work for any reason.

Specialty Recognition

Medical and dental specialists will appreciate our "specialty language," which takes the own-occupation concept a step further in protecting professional specialties:

"If your occupation is limited to a single medical specialty certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties or a single dental specialty recognized by the America Dental Association, we will consider that specialty to be your occupation."

Very few companies today provide such explicit own-occupation protection for physicians.

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