Own Occupation
A provision in disability insurance that defines disability as the inability to perform the duties of your specific occupation or profession, regardless of whether you could work in another capacity.
Detailed Explanation
Own occupation coverage is considered the most comprehensive type of disability definition. Under this provision, you are considered disabled if you cannot perform the substantial duties of your specific occupation, even if you are able to work in another job. This is particularly valuable for highly specialized professionals such as surgeons, dentists, or pilots, who would suffer significant income loss if forced to work in another field. Own occupation policies typically have higher premiums than any occupation policies due to their more favorable terms for policyholders.
Practical Example
Dr. Johnson, a neurosurgeon, developed a hand tremor that made performing surgery impossible. Although he could still work as a medical consultant or professor, his own occupation disability policy recognized him as totally disabled based on his inability to perform surgery, and he received full disability benefits despite having the capacity to earn income in other medical roles.
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