By Jason Goldenzweig · Co-owner, DoctorDisabilityQuotes.com · Last updated: May 12, 2026
Disability Insurance by State for Physicians & Healthcare Professionals
DoctorDisabilityQuotes.com is licensed in 35+ states and serves physicians, dentists, and healthcare professionals practicing across the country. Disability insurance pricing, carrier availability, and underwriting nuances vary state-by-state — and the academic medical centers eligible for Guaranteed Standard Issue (GSI) programs are concentrated in specific states. Browse our state-specific guides below for details that apply to your situation.
Why State Matters in Disability Insurance Selection
Disability insurance is regulated state-by-state by the individual state insurance departments, which means several practical factors vary depending on where you practice:- Carrier licensing: all five major US individual DI carriers — Guardian, MassMutual, Principal, Ameritas, The Standard — are licensed in all 50 states, but the broker who places coverage must also be licensed in your state.
- Rate variation: state-specific actuarial factors typically produce 5–15% premium variation between states for the same applicant.
- Rider availability: a small subset of policy riders is regulated state-by-state and may or may not be available depending on jurisdiction.
- GSI program availability: Guaranteed Standard Issue programs at academic medical centers are concentrated in specific cities and states. Knowing where your institution sits in the GSI landscape can dramatically change your coverage options.
- State tax treatment: while DI federal tax rules apply uniformly, state-specific income tax brackets affect the after-tax economics of individual vs. group LTD coverage.
State Guides
Pennsylvania
Physicians: ~40,000
Top metros: Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
Frequently Asked Questions — State Coverage
Does my disability insurance coverage need to match my practice state?
Generally yes — disability insurance policies are issued based on the state where you reside (or in some cases the state where you work). The insuring carrier must be licensed in that state to issue the policy. All five major US carriers are licensed in all 50 states, so practical coverage is available wherever you practice — but the broker who places the policy must also be licensed in your state. DDQ is licensed in 35+ states.
What happens to my coverage if I move to a different state?
Once issued, an individual disability insurance policy is yours — it travels with you regardless of where you move or practice. The policy terms (definition of disability, riders, benefit amount, premium) do not change based on your address. You simply update the carrier with your new mailing address. This portability is one of the key advantages of individual DI over employer-sponsored group LTD, which typically terminates when you leave the employer.
Do disability insurance rates vary by state?
Slightly, yes. Carriers price individual policies primarily on age, gender, occupation class, and benefit amount — but state-specific actuarial factors do enter the calculation, typically resulting in 5–15% premium variation between states. This is why side-by-side quotes from multiple carriers matter: the carrier that quotes lowest in California may not be the lowest in Texas.
Can I buy disability insurance if I practice in multiple states?
Yes. Many physicians — particularly locum tenens 1099 contractors, telemedicine providers, and multi-site practitioners — practice across multiple states. The policy is issued in your state of residence, and coverage applies regardless of where you work. Practicing in additional states does not require additional policies or coverage modifications.
Quotes Across All 50 States
Whether you're practicing in California, Texas, New York, or anywhere else — call us at 1-888-972-0024 or request a quote and we'll pull side-by-side offers from all five major carriers for your specific situation.
Further reading & authoritative sources
- NAIC: Disability Insurance — state regulatory framework
- BLS: Healthcare Occupations