Consider investing in disability insurance if you’re a dental hygienist. Disability insurance is basically income protection insurance — it pays out if you can’t work because of an injury or illness. Think of it as a way to insure your future earnings in case of an emergency.
A good disability insurance policy will protect you financially even if you’re unable to work for years. The best way to find affordable disability insurance as a dental hygienist is by comparing quotes from multiple disability insurance providers.
Why dental hygienists need disability insurance
It’s worth having disability insurance as a dental hygienist because the right policy can essentially replace your after-tax income if an injury or illness leaves you suddenly unable to work. It’s especially important if you have any dependents that rely on your income, like a spouse or children.
You can use your disability insurance benefits just like your regular income, on things like your mortgage, rent, or auto loan payments, as well as day-to-day expenses like groceries, childcare, or transportation.
If you have long-term disability insurance, it can replace your income for years — even up until you reach retirement age if you can never work again. You can collect benefits for a range of injuries and conditions, like:
Severe anxiety or depression
Nerve damage in your hands or fingers
An injury from an accident or fall
Complications from pregnancy or childbirth
Cancer or another serious illness
What is the best type of disability insurance for dental hygienists?
The best kind of disability insurance for dental hygienists is a long-term own occupation policy. Other types of disability insurance policies, like short-term disability, may provide coverage for only a few months.
An own-occupation policy means you can continue receiving benefits as long as your disability doesn’t allow you to work as a dental hygienist. So if you’re unable to go back to work as a hygienist but you can work from home in another job, you’ll still get your payments in addition to your income.
Unlike own-occupation coverage, an any-occupation policy only pays out if you can’t work in any other job that matches your education or experience level. Any-occupation coverage is cheaper and still allows you to insure your future earnings, but if you can afford it, own-occupation coverage is the better option.
What if you already have disability insurance through work?
You may get disability insurance through your job (either for free or at a discount), but this kind of coverage isn’t sufficient on its own. Employer-sponsored disability insurance, also called group disability insurance, may not provide enough coverage if you’re out of work for a long time.
Your employer, not you, picks the details of a group disability plan. Your employer-sponsored plan may only cover part of your income and may only pay benefits for up to a year. It’s also tied to your employment, so you don’t keep the coverage when you leave your current dental practice.
And you’ll probably have to pay taxes on any benefits you receive, since group plans are usually paid for with pre-tax dollars.
Disability insurance riders for dental hygienists
Disability insurance riders are policy add-ons that change or extend your coverage. Some are free while others cost extra. Useful riders for dental hygienists include:
Future increase rider: Lets you purchase more coverage without having to go through another medical exam, up to a certain age.
Non-cancelable/guaranteed premiums: Guarantees continuous coverage and the same premium for as long as you keep making your payments on time.
Partial disability benefit: Allows you to receive a benefit if a disability affects a part of your income, even if you can still work at your job.
Student loan rider: Continues paying off your student loans after you’re disabled.
How much is disability insurance for dental hygienists?
Disability insurance generally costs about 1% to 3% of your annual income, so you can reasonably expect to pay anywhere from $68 to $204 a month for long-term disability coverage based on the median income of dental hygienists.
The actual cost of a policy will vary from person to person, since it depends on details like your health, age, coverage amounts, and other factors.
Are graded premiums a good idea for dental hygienists?
Graded premiums, which start lower and get higher throughout the life of your policy, probably aren’t the best option for dental hygienists. That’s because the cost difference between graded premiums and level premiums, which stay the same over time, will likely be too high for a dental hygienist to afford.
→ Read more about graded and level premiums
Best disability insurance companies for dental hygienists
You should try to find a disability insurance company with affordable coverage for someone with a manual job, which is how insurance companies classify dental hygienists.
Two of the best disability insurance companies for dental hygienists are:
BBB rating | AM Best rating | What we like about it … | |
|---|---|---|---|
A+ | A- | Partially covers COBRA if you lose your employer-sponsored health insurance because of a disability. | |
A+ | A- | Applicants under age 60 can qualify for fast underwriting. |
How to get disability insurance for dental hygienists
You can get disability insurance in a few simple steps:
Frequently asked questions
Is there anything disability insurance won’t cover?
Disability insurance doesn’t cover self-inflicted, intentional injuries. It also doesn’t cover any injuries caused by doing something illegal or sustained during war.
Should dental hygienists get more disability insurance?
Dental hygienists need more disability insurance than someone with a lower-paying job, but less than doctors, dentists, and other medical professionals. The median pay of dental hygienists is about $81,000 a year, higher than the median in the US.
What waiting period is best for dental hygienists?
The standard waiting period is 90 days. A longer waiting period means cheaper premiums, but be aware that you will have to cover your expenses with your savings during this period.
