Insurance Plan
Quality disability insurance at no cost while you're a student — it doesn't get better than this!
Get this: If your education or career path is interrupted (or halted altogether) by disability, disabling
illness or injury, this insurance can pay you cash every month to help cover student loans and living expenses.
Your most valuable asset isn't your bank account or investments — it's YOU! It's smart
to protect the investment you're making in yourself and in your future as a dentist by getting disability insurance
now, while you're young and healthy. Why is it a big deal? Because statistics show that 1 out of 4 dentists
will be disabled long enough to collect benefits at some point before retirement1. Your future in
dentistry could be lost if your ability to practice clinically becomes compromised.
The ADA knows the value of disability insurance to dentists which is why they provide group disability insurance to
ADA student members at no cost as an ADA student member benefit. Your insurance will help you transition after dental
school to your next career step, and can be renewed all the way into retirement! Coverage is provided at no cost
to you through dental school and residency, so it's easy to take advantage and get better prepared for what lies ahead.
Features of the ADA Student Members Disability Insurance Plan include:
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$2,000/month for up to 7 years
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Up to $150,000 to help repay student loans
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Coverage continues at no cost through December of the year you complete your studies
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Opportunity to convert coverage as early as January of your graduation year to the more comprehensive coverage
for ADA members who are practicing dentists: $2,000/month of Disability Income Protection insurance and
$2,000/month of Office Overhead Expense insurance
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Beginning in January of your graduation year, the ability to apply for an additional $3,000/month of Disability
Income Protection insurance (after conversion) for a total of $5,000/month when combined with the $2,000/month of
guaranteed-issue coverage
1Odds of disability determined by Great-West Life in 2013
after studying years of disability claims submitted by insured ADA members.
Coverage is issued regardless of your medical condition if you are under 45, but benefits are not payable, as defined by
the respective policy, for disability resulting from a sickness, disorder, physical condition, or symptom that existed or
was treated 12 months prior to enrollment.
Rates
Student Disability Plan - No Cost to ADA Student Members
The American Dental Association makes it possible for dental students to receive disability insurance at no cost during
dental school. Why? Because the ADA knows you have many other financial obligations right now, but still need to safeguard
your ability to earn an income from your chosen profession. It's a tangible way the ADA invests in YOU as the future of
organized dentistry.
Protection for the future means peace of mind today.
"After making such a big investment in dental school, I wanted to have some income in case something happened. A
disability can be temporary, but I also know that if something happened to my eyes or hands, I could be permanently
prevented from practicing dentistry."
Martin Braud
Louisiana, 2007
Coverage is issued regardless of your medical condition if you are under 45, but benefits are not payable, as defined
by the respective policy, for disability resulting from a sickness, disorder, physical condition, or symptom that existed
or was treated 12 months prior to enrollment.
Features
Student Disability Plan Features
The ADA Student Members Disability Insurance Plan includes comprehensive features designed by ADA members
exclusively for dental students:
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Coverage: $2,000/month in disability coverage, and up to $150,000 to repay student loans
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Two-year “own occupation” coverage: If you become
totally disabled and unable to perform the normal duties of a full-time dental student, you can receive monthly benefits for
up to 2 years. The two-year own occupation period is followed by “any occupation” period for up to 5 additional years, so you
could receive benefits for an additional 5 years if you cannot perform the duties of any occupation for which you’re qualified.
Note: After graduation, if you choose to convert your coverage to the ADA members disability insurance plans for
ADA members who are practicing dentists, the "own occupation" provision expands and can provide benefits every month until you turn age 67.
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Loan repayment benefit: If you can't complete dental school because of disability, you'll likely still have
to repay much of what you borrowed to study dentistry. To help you repay that investment, the ADA Student Members
Disability Insurance Plan provides up to $150,000 in student loan repayment benefits. This benefit may be available even if
you no longer qualify for basic benefits under the plan, or are denied benefits from another loan repayment program.
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Automatic renewal: Coverage renews automatically every academic year, providing you with uninterrupted
protection as your career advances. Residents and students in post-doc programs have the option to renew the no-cost
student coverage too.
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90-day waiting period: Under this insurance plan, you’re eligible for benefits after just 90 days of disability.
Use the monthly benefits to help cover your living expenses, pay down your debts, or train for another career. You could
even qualify for student loan repayment, depending on the length and severity of your disability.
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Built-In Conversion: As early as January of your graduation year, your student coverage can convert to
$4,000/month of combined, guaranteed-issue ADA members disability insurance — $2,000/month of Disability Income Protection
insurance to guarantee monthly income if you can't practice dentistry, and $2,000/month of Office Overhead Expense insurance
to help you repay student loans, practice loans, and other eligible professional expenses. These plans are for ADA members who are
practicing dentists, and coverage can be renewed to age 70. Both conversion and ongoing renewal occurs without any medical exam.
Should you decide not to convert early, you can continue your ADA student members disability insurance at no cost through
your graduation year. In December of that year, you'll receive a premium notice in the mail. Simply pay that and maintain
active ADA membership to convert your coverage.
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Additional coverage: Beginning in January of your graduation year, you have the ability to apply for an additional
$3,000/month of Disability Income Protection insurance (after conversion) for a total of $5,000/month when combined
with the $2,000/month of guaranteed-issue coverage.
Coverage is issued regardless of your medical condition if you are under 45, but benefits, as defined by the respective
policy, are not payable for disability resulting from a sickness, disorder, physical condition, or symptom that existed or
was treated 12 months prior to enrollment.