brokeasshemonc
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- Jun 12, 2025
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I'm a physician scientist in a non-surgical specialty (medical oncology). I'm graduating fellowship at the end of the month. I've heard generic advice that physicians should sign up for disability insurance before graduating, because premiums skyrocket.
However, I'm in a bit of an unusual situation:
- My goal is to remain 80% research, even in a challenging funding environment.
- In a few weeks, I will be switching into a 100% research role as a postdoc. This was the most palatable option in this funding environment made possible by the external grants I've received, but also somewhat disappointing due to budgetary issues at my institution. However, this means that paying insurance premiums on a non-physician salary when I'm not seeing patients (unless I choose to moonlight) is completely unappealing.
- If the funding environment does not improve to the point where I can't establish my own lab, I am likely to go into industry, with academic clinical investigator as my next option. I am very unlikely to go into private practice.
I don't know the very basics about disability insurance. Does it make sense to reach out to one of the insurance companies that have been sending me unsolicited emails since I started residency? Or should I be viewing them with skepticism?
However, I'm in a bit of an unusual situation:
- My goal is to remain 80% research, even in a challenging funding environment.
- In a few weeks, I will be switching into a 100% research role as a postdoc. This was the most palatable option in this funding environment made possible by the external grants I've received, but also somewhat disappointing due to budgetary issues at my institution. However, this means that paying insurance premiums on a non-physician salary when I'm not seeing patients (unless I choose to moonlight) is completely unappealing.
- If the funding environment does not improve to the point where I can't establish my own lab, I am likely to go into industry, with academic clinical investigator as my next option. I am very unlikely to go into private practice.
I don't know the very basics about disability insurance. Does it make sense to reach out to one of the insurance companies that have been sending me unsolicited emails since I started residency? Or should I be viewing them with skepticism?
