While some disabilities can prevent you from working completely, other conditions may only reduce your working capacity partially. For example, chronic pain or degenerative conditions may force doctors to work fewer hours or meet with fewer patients which can substantially reduce their earnings without qualifying as a total disability.
A residual or partial disability rider can ensure that your income is supplemented in the event that:
- You are able to perform some but not all, of the material and substantial duties of your job.
- You are unable to work in your job for a certain percentage of time.
Different policies will offer different definitions, requirements, and benefit periods for partial disabilities. For example, many policies require that a physician has lost at least 15-20% of their income before they can qualify for a partial disability benefit. Partial disability benefits usually constitute 50% of a full disability benefit, but the exact percentage may vary by policy.
Most carriers will allow physicians to purchase basic or enhanced disability riders. Every physician needs at least some financial protection in the event of a partial disability. While an enhanced residual rider will cost more money than the basic version, you can expect to receive longer guaranteed benefit periods, less restrictive partial disability definitions, and higher residual benefit payments.
Available Options
- 15% Loss of Income
- 20% Loss of Income
Provider Definitions
Ohio National
For the first six months of disability, if you have a sickness or injury that limits your time or duties, you will receive benefits in proportion to your loss of earnings. The benefit you receive will be equal to the base monthly benefit amount for total disability, times the percentage of your loss of earnings after the date of residual disability. After the first six months, you must also show that you have a loss of earnings of at least 15% because of that residual disability. If this percentage is greater than 75%, full total disability benefits will be paid. The minimum benefit for the first six months of residual disability is 50% of the total disability benefit. You do not need to be totally disabled first to receive residual benefits.
This benefit will continue for your maximum benefit period as long as you remain residually disabled.
We will increase your monthly earnings before disability each year you remain disabled by the percentage increase in the consumer price index-urban dwellers (CPI-U). At no time may we reduce your adjusted monthly earnings before disability if the CPI-U is negative.
Mass Mutual
This rider provides a benefit if you are working and you suffer a minimum 15% loss of income resulting from a reduced capacity to perform your occupation due to sickness or injury. In addition, during the first 6 months of disability, you may also qualify as partially disabled if due to sickness or injury, you suffer a 15% loss of time from work or you can do some, but not all, of the main duties of your occupation.
During the first 6 months of partial disability, we will pay the total disability benefit for any portion of the 6 month period that is not used to satisfy the waiting period and during which, due to sickness or injury, you are working less than 20% of the time worked just prior to the start of disability.
Otherwise, for the first 12 months of partial disability benefits, any monthly payment for partial disability will never be less than 50% of the extended partial disability monthly benefit. If your income loss is more than 50% of the extended partial disability monthly benefit, the monthly payment will be the actual loss of income up to the extended partial disability monthly benefit. If the income loss is more than 75%, the monthly payment will be the total disability monthly benefit. Beginning in the 13th month of partial disability benefits, monthly payments will be based on your loss of income.
Standard
Enhanced Residual Disability Benefit Qualify as residually disabled while working in your regular occupation or another occupation if, during the benefit waiting period, you have a loss of income or duties or time due to injury or sickness. After the benefit waiting period, you’ll be eligible for residual disability benefits if you’re still working but you have a loss of income. This rider pays at least 50 percent of your basic monthly benefit for the first 12 months. After that, the benefit is proportional to your loss of income.
Guardian
This option provides partial disability benefits when you are not totally disabled but, solely due to injury or sickness, you suffer a loss of income of 15% or more while working.
Ameritas
We will pay you a residual benefit while you are residually disabled if you suffer a loss of at least 15% of your net earned income, and you are able to perform one or more, but not all, of the material and substantial duties of your occupation or you are unable to engage in your occupation for more than 80% of the time as was usual prior to the start of your disability.
Principal
You are considered residually disabled and receive a benefit proportionate to your loss if you.
Working in another occupation
- Lose at least 20% of your prior earnings due solely to an injury or sickness and
- Are able to perform some, but not all, of the substantial and material duties or
- Are unable to work full time in your occupation or
