It’s the New Professionals Program, designed specifically for students and recent graduates to protect their earning potential with disability insurance. The underwriting focuses on what they are capable of earning with their degrees; not what they are earning when they apply for DI.

The timing for you to read this couldn’t be more perfect. In July, med students will create their personal profiles in the Electronic Residency Application Service. And residency programs will create their profiles too. The process goes until the 3rd Friday in March, Match Day!

What types of professionals does this apply to? It’s available to students, residents, first-year professionals, attorneys, CPAs, veterinarians, engineers, architects, various medical professionals (including interns, residents, fellows and those in the first year of practice, along with nurse practitioners and physician assistants), and others. Medical professionals are generally able to enroll in the program as early as their third or fourth year of med school. And some other professions can enroll while still completing their undergraduate degrees. This can be especially valuable for high-income professionals like physicians, who would have a difficult time finding work at a comparable salary in the event of a disability.

Why do we mention NPs and PAs specifically? Because those are among the fastest growing occupations in the medical arena, expected to grow nearly 38% within the next decade.

A recent study by Hartford Financial Services Group, revealed that only 45% of young professionals across the country have any form of short-term disability insurance and, even worse, only 39% have any form of long-term disability insurance.

But for new professionals, the ability to earn future income (human capital) may be their largest (or only) asset. In fact, no financial documentation is required in the underwriting process. And when it comes to medical residencies, they typically involve long hours and low pay; especially compared to what these new professionals can earn later. A typical 30-year-old earning $50,000 a year could earn $4.5 million by age 65.

You may hear this from young clients: “Why would I need disability insurance? I’m young!” It’s easy for these busy young professionals to think that way. After all, they’re young and healthy. But will their future be bright and sunny if, due to a disability, they can't earn an income? The facts are:

• Even if they're not healthy, some insurance companies don't require an exam/labs.
• The chances of becoming disabled are higher than they think.

• A 30-year-old is 4 times as likely to become disabled than to die before age 65

• 3,000 Americans become disabled every hour. Many of them live paycheck to paycheck.

So is it important for FOFAs to stress the importance of putting the appropriate protections in place now to help these young clients remain independent well into the future? We think so.

When you have the conversation with them, your NPP-eligible clients may tell you: "My new employer is giving me disability insurance." How would you reply to that? We hope your reply includes:

• But if you leave that employer, your DI won’t go with you. You’ll lose it.
• That coverage probably only gets you about 60% of your earnings. Will you be able to survive on 60% of your earnings if you become disabled? (Let’s say you make $200,000. You’re paying a decent size mortgage, you’ve got a sweet car now, gotta have that wi-fi, you enjoy your daily Starbucks. You know, the good life types of things. You’d get no more than $120,000. That’s a big difference!)
• How do they define disability? If it’s any-occ, you will be required to find a job … any job. If it’s own-occ, you’ll be considered disabled if you cannot work in your field.
• Your employer can cancel that coverage at any time.
• Their coverage doesn't take into account bonuses and commissions. An individual NPP policy will. (So if your base salary is $200K and you get annual bonuses averaging $50K, your $250K salary will still get you only the $120K in benefits.)
• Let’s talk taxes. If you or your employer pays for a policy with pre-tax dollars, benefits paid to you upon a disability will be taxable. However, if you have an individual DI policy, you’re paying with after-tax dollars and your benefits will be tax-free.

And the big question: What's in it for them? NPP benefits payments that will help them maintain their lifestyles and their bank accounts if they become disabled.

We can help you help them find the appropriate coverage. And, as a bonus, a graded premium option can help to make the initial cost of coverage more affordable while your young clients are establishing their new career. Let’s look at the example of Carl, who is an invasive radiology student.

For more information, please contact Kathy Bilodeau. She’s not your typical insurance agent.