As a veterinarian, you are regularly on your feet, treating and caring for animals. This can cause exposure to zoonotic diseases, workplace injuries, and other health risks that may impair your ability to continue your career. Disability insurance for soon to be veterinarians protects you from financial setbacks when you are unable to work due to injury or illness. Here are some types of veterinarians that benefit from disability insurance:
Companion Animal Veterinarians
Routine tasks as a companion animal veterinarian entail examining and treating pets. You conduct surgical procedures, prescribe medication, and perform preventive care for your clients’ pets. When working in a busy clinic, it is likely that you will administer vaccines for several animals daily.
Your work environment is prone to accidents, such as animal bites and scratches, that result in physical injuries that may limit your ability to work. Disability insurance for soon to be veterinarians helps secure your financial future if accidents prevent you from delivering your services. Investing in a policy early in your career allows you to accumulate benefits over time. This makes it easy to cover accident-related expenses in the long term.
Equine Veterinarians
Equine veterinarians often work in stables, farms, or ranches, where they provide medical care for horses and other animals. Attending to these large animals is often physically demanding as you lift heavy objects or restrain their movement during procedures. This can pose a risk to your physical health.
Injuries sustained from working with horses or other large animals can result in short- or long-term medical leave. Disability insurance helps cover the following:
- Missed paychecks
- Medical costs
- Daily living expenses
- Monthly rent
A policy that provides you with financial support when you are unable to work helps you focus on healing and recovery so you can return to work.
Zoo Veterinarians
Specializing in the care of animals at zoos and wildlife parks offers the opportunity to work with various species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. You may also care for exotic animals that require specific care and handling methods. In this position, you may encounter health risks that involve complex medical interventions. Some health risks veterinarians face include bird flu, Lyme disease, malaria, and cat scratch disease. Zoo environments are commonly unpredictable, and working with dangerous animals and in harsh weather conditions can also impact your health. Disability insurance helps cover medical expenses, including vaccinations, physical therapy, and follow-up testing required for complex diseases and injuries.
Specialty Veterinarians
Students of veterinary medicine can specialize in dentistry, ophthalmology, oncology, or dermatology. These areas often require extensive research, which may affect your physical and mental stability. Spending hours performing surgeries or treating critically ill patients often exposes you to health risks and accidents. Some disability insurance policies include mental health services to help you care for your mental and emotional health when under frequent stress. Therapy visits, anxiety medication, or other care may be covered by insurance. Other policies include vision care if intense surgeries or long-term research begins to impact your vision.
Mobile Veterinarians
As a mobile veterinarian, you care for your patients on-site, whether in a residential home or on a rural farm. This could entail long driving times and working in unfamiliar areas with uneven terrain or other slip-and-fall hazards. Mobile vets often face injury risks from territorial animals or face exposure to hazardous chemicals when working with large farm animals.
When these injuries or illnesses occur, it can be challenging to meet the demands of living expenses and educational debt while temporarily out of work. Monthly disability insurance payments offer financial security by assisting with these recurring costs. Insurance policies may also provide coverage for business expenses. This helps cover the costs of your mobile practice, like vehicle payments or equipment costs.
Invest in Disability Insurance for Soon to Be Veterinarians
Protecting your career through disability insurance for current and soon to be veterinarians is a wise investment in your future. Insurance helps you secure your financial future if you ever become ill or disabled and unable to work. It can also protect your private veterinary practice, helping to cover employee salaries and utility payments. Contact a disability insurance provider today for more information on protecting your career as a veterinarian.
