Disability plan enhanced

A major enhancement has been made to the Physicians’ Disability Insurance (PDI) Plan—the addition of a partial disability benefit. For disabilities occurring on or after 1 October 2008, the insurer will assess claims on the basis of total or partial disability. It will no longer be necessary to be totally disabled in order to receive a benefit. Partial disability benefits will now be available to claimants who, due to illness or injury, experience a reduction in their predisability income of at least 20%. Your predisability income is your highest net income (net of expenses but before personal or corporate taxes) for the 12 consecutive months out of the 24 months prior to the start of your total or partial disability claim. The monthly partial benefit would be paid proportionate to your loss of income. For example, if your loss of income is 40%, you would be entitled to 40% of your monthly benefit. 

Since partial disability benefits can be payable to age 65, there will no longer be a need for the rehabilitation benefit, and this provision will be removed from the PDI policy for claims incurred on or after 1 October. The cash flow benefit will still be available to those returning to practice following a period of total disability.

Physicians who are currently in­sured under the PDI Plan will receive a new certificate including these changes in the near future. If you have any questions regarding the new partial disability benefit provisions, please contact a BCMA insurance administrator.

Note that although PDI premiums are paid by the provincial government, coverage is not automatic. You must apply for this insurance, and coverage takes effect when approved by the insurer. If you are under age 65 and receive income greater than $10000 annually from fee-for-service or sessional billings or from a nonsalaried service contract, you are eligible to apply for coverage.

—Sandie Braid, CEBS
BCMA Insurance