Can a Disabled Physician Self Treat and Still Collect Benefits?
Many disabled physicians making a claim for disability benefits have asked our disability insurance attorneys whether they can treat themselves rather than spend additional time and money on another physician. The answer is no.
Most disability insurance policies contain provisions which require disability claimants to be under the continued care of a physician. Thus, even if a disabled doctor knows exactly what is wrong and how to be treated, the disabled doctor still must seek treatment from another physician in order to comply with the provisions of his or her disability insurance policy. Depending on the terms of the policy, this means the disabled doctor will typically need to meet with a physician at least every two to three months to assess the doctor’s disability. Failure to do this may enable a disability insurance company to deny or terminate disability benefits.
