Advanced planning can keep your income, and your practice, afloat

by Kurt Ullman •

“What is often overlooked is [the fact that] when staff is fearful and uncertain about their future, you need to address these issues, good news or bad,” said Long. “People jump ship if the reassurance is not there that the doctors and management are handling things. Decide ahead of time that you will be keeping the staff informed, especially as things change.”

Kurt Ullman is a freelance medical writer based in Indiana.

Disability, by the Numbers

25% Today’s 20-year-olds who will become disabled before they retire.
37 mil Americans classified as disabled.
50% Disabled Americans who are in their working years (aged 18 to 64).
24% Chance that a healthy woman age 35 has of becoming disabled for three months or longer in her working career.
21% Chance that a healthy man age 35 has of becoming disabled for three months or longer in his working career.
38% Chance that the disability will last five years or longer.
Source: Council for Disability Awareness

What to Look for in a Disability Policy

  1. The definition of what constitutes a disability, especially in your own specialty.
  2. The length of time the payments will last.
  3. The length of the elimination period (how long before the benefits start).
  4. The availability in the policy of extra money to pay off student loans.