If, due to accident or illness, you were not able to work in your occupation, but could potentially work in another, would you work at the other? If you are like most productive people, the thought of not being able to be productive in some capacity would probably not be appealing to you. That’s the reason true own-occupation disability insurance is selected by most professionals.

With a true own-occupation definition of disability, if, due to illness or injury, you cannot perform the duties of your occupation, you will receive disability benefits, even if you choose to work in another occupation. Notice the use of the word “choose.” With an own-occupation definition, the insurance company is not going to demand that you seek other employment if you are disabled. It’s your choice and, if you are like most professionals I speak to, you would probably seek other employment, provided you were physically capable of performing the duties of the new occupation.