Definitions of Total Disability

• Own Occupation – protects the insured own specialty and typically states that the insured is unable to perform the important duties of his or her own occupation and is under the regular care of a physician.  It is usually made available only to individuals in the top occupational classes.  It is defined as a person’s usual work at the start of the total disability.  If the insured satisfies this definition, he or she would be considered totally disabled, and after the waiting period would be eligible to receive total disability benefits.

• Regular Occupation – states that insured would be totally disabled if he or she were unable to do the substantial and material duties of his or her occupation and that the insured is not working in another reasonable occupation.  These benefits are not payable if the insured chooses to work in another occupation. 

• Any Occupation  - does not protect the insured’s occupation at all but instead insures against the individual’s ability to earn an income.  Under this definition the insured is deemed totally disabled if he or she is unable to work in any reasonable occupation based on the insured’s education, training and experience.  If the insured is able to work based on this definition, he or she would not receive benefits.