Which carriers offer the best physician disability insurance in 2026?

The five carriers most physicians and dentists compare are Guardian (issued by Berkshire Life), MassMutual, Principal, The Standard, and Ameritas. All can be written as true own-occupation for most specialties. By financial strength, Guardian holds an A.M. Best rating of A++ and a Comdex of 100, MassMutual A++ and 98, Principal A+ and 90, The Standard A and 84, and Ameritas A and 83.

Do all physician disability insurance carriers offer the same riders?

All five major carriers (Guardian, MassMutual, Principal, The Standard, and Ameritas) offer residual/partial, cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), future-increase, catastrophic disability, and student loan riders. They differ on the retirement-protection rider, which Guardian, MassMutual, and Principal offer but The Standard and Ameritas generally do not, and on whether true own-occupation is built into the policy or added as a rider.

How much is the resident discount on physician disability insurance?

Resident and fellow discounts are carrier-specific and lock in at issue for the life of the policy. As of July 2026 they are typically about 10% at Guardian, up to 20% at MassMutual (varies by state), 20% at Principal, and 15% at The Standard and Ameritas (20% in California). The discount does not phase out when a resident becomes an attending. A larger discount does not automatically mean a lower cost — the carrier with the highest base rates may also offer the biggest discount, so the premium you pay after the discount is what matters.

Doctor Disability Insurance: Carrier Comparison

Disclaimer: DocPlanning is an independent broker. We are not direct representatives or employees of the insurance companies featured on our website. Our goal is to provide unbiased advice and assistance in selecting the most suitable insurance products for your needs. The information provided on our website is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular insurance company or policy.

The Standard is a marketing name for StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. and subsidiaries. Insurance products are offered by Standard Insurance Company of 1100 SW Sixth Avenue, Portland, Oregon in all states except New York. Product features and availability vary by state and are solely the responsibility of Standard Insurance Company.

Carrier comparison · 2026

The Big‑5 physician disability insurance carrier comparison

Five carriers write the bulk of true own-occupation coverage for physicians and dentists: Guardian, MassMutual, Principal, The Standard, and Ameritas. All five can be issued as true own-occupation for most specialties, so the real decision comes down to financial strength, contract language, the riders you need, and the discount you qualify for. Here's how they compare in 2026.

At a glance

Financial strength & contract

A Comdex score is a 1–100 composite of a carrier's ratings from the major agencies; higher is stronger. A.M. Best measures financial strength on its own scale, where A++ is the top rating.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column →

Independent individual disability income carriers for physicians & dentists. A.M. Best ratings and Comdex scores as of July 2026.
Carrier	Flagship physician policy	Definition of disability	A.M. Best	Comdex	Where it tends to stand out
Guardian issued by Berkshire Life	Provider Choice	Enhanced true own-occupation built into the policy	A++	100	Strongest contract language for procedural & surgical specialties.
MassMutual	Radius Choice	True own-occupation optional rider	A++	98	Precise specialty recognition; mutual-company dividend potential; RetireGuard retirement rider.
Principal	Income Protector	True own-occupation optional rider	A+	90	Most flexible underwriting; strong residual provisions; competitive for early-career doctors.
The Standard	Platinum Advantage	True own-occupation optional rider	A	84	Competitive pricing; includes a free Family Care Benefit.
Ameritas	DInamic Cornerstone	True own-occupation in the base contract	A	83	Often the lowest premium for certain procedural specialties (e.g. orthopedics).

Riders & discounts

Which riders and discounts each carrier offers

All five carriers offer the core riders most physicians want — residual, COLA, future-increase, catastrophic, and student loan. The meaningful differences show up lower in the table: how own-occupation is structured, whether a retirement-protection rider is available, and the trainee discount, which locks in at issue and stays with the policy for life. A bigger discount isn't automatically the better deal — the carrier with the highest base rates may also offer the largest discount. What actually matters is the premium you pay after the discount is applied.

Swipe the table sideways to compare all five carriers →

Rider availability and trainee discounts by carrier — 2026. Availability varies by state and occupation class.
Feature	Guardian	MassMutual	Principal	The Standard	Ameritas
True own-occupation definition	Base	Rider	Rider	Rider	Base
Residual / partial disability rider	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Future increase / benefit purchase option	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Catastrophic disability rider	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Student loan rider	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Retirement-protection rider replaces retirement savings while disabled	Yes	YesRetireGuard	Yes	—	—
Resident / trainee discount locks in at issue for life	10%	Up to 20%varies by state	20%	15%	15%20% in CA

Reading the table: "Base" means true own-occupation comes with the policy; "Rider" means it's added for an extra premium. Trainee discounts and rider availability vary by state, program, and occupation class — an independent broker confirms what actually applies to you at the quote stage.

Request Quotes

Educational comparison only — not an insurance quote, offer, or guarantee of coverage. Product names, definitions, riders, discounts, and availability are set by each carrier and vary by state, specialty, occupation class, and health history; all are subject to change. A.M. Best ratings and Comdex scores are third-party figures current as of July 2026 (A.M. Best; Comdex composite via EbixExchange/VitalSigns) and are subject to change — verify current ratings before purchase. Comdex is a composite percentile, not a rating-agency score. Resident/trainee discount figures are typical carrier discounts as of July 2026 and differ by program and state; a larger discount does not necessarily mean a lower net premium. DocPlanning is an independent insurance broker and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the carriers listed.