Why Your Disability Insurance Might Not Work When You Need It Most, Ep 29

It’s not like physicians wake up thinking about disability insurance. But you might wish you had. Today, Dr. Stephanie Pearson shares a raw, firsthand account of the career-ending injury that forced her to trade the OR for the insurance world. Her story doesn’t just highlight the importance of coverage, it exposes the hidden traps in policies that too many doctors assume are solid. The goal here isn’t fear; it’s preparation. And her lived experience lays out a compelling case for why most physicians walk around with a false sense of security.

We also get into what “true own-occupation” means, why group policies might leave you stranded, and how terms like “specialty-specific” can change everything when it comes time to file a claim. Alongside co-hosts Chad Chubb and Tyler Olson, Stephanie unpacks how to evaluate a policy, which riders matter, and why being a non-proceduralist doesn’t mean you’re safe. If you’re a physician who thinks you’re already covered, this conversation may be the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed.

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You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• (0:00) When “covered” doesn’t mean protected
• (06:28) Losing a career—and finding a calling
• (09:28) Why her team doesn’t work on commission
• (10:59) What “own-occupation” really covers
• (14:44) The fine print that costs doctors everything
• (24:55) The rider that looks helpful, but isn’t
• (34:42) Why cognitive issues can end any career

The injury that ended her clinical career and launched a mission

Dr. Stephanie Pearson was an OB/GYN who thought she’d retire on her own terms. But one emergency delivery changed everything. After being kicked during a high-stakes birth, she suffered a torn labrum, nerve damage, and frozen shoulder, ending her surgical career. Then came the shock: her group policy didn’t cover work injuries, her private policy had gaps, and workers’ comp denied her.

What began as devastation became a mission. She studied policy fine print, passed exams, and built a firm advocating for physicians. Her story isn’t just about injury, it’s about a failed system and the purpose she got out of it.

Why your disability policy may not mean what you think it does

Physicians often assume they’re covered, especially through an employer plan, but most don’t realize how misleading policy language can be. Stephanie explains how terms like “own occupation” or “specialty-specific” vary by carrier, and how group plans often include pitfalls like two-year limits or shifting definitions. Some define your job using national data, not what you actually do. That means you might still be able to work, but not in your specialty, and lose benefits.

Payouts aren’t automatic. Underwriting can be slow and frustrating. Stephanie shares questions physicians should ask: What’s excluded? How long is mental health coverage? Does the definition of disability change? If the answers aren’t clear, your policy might not catch you.

Disability insurance isn’t just for surgeons

It’s a myth that non-proceduralists don’t need coverage. Stephanie shares stories of psychiatrists, internists, and pathologists whose careers were derailed by illness or injury