As a student at the UW School of Dentistry, you were likely much more focused on your oral health training than on the risks that could affect your ability to practice or earn a living.
Washington Dentists’ Insurance Agency (WDIA) has been supporting the UW School of Dentistry’s students for over 20 years helping them with their insurance needs. They help enroll all predoctoral students and residents with disability insurance that is sponsored by the Washington State Dental Association (WSDA), in case an accident or injury occurs while they are in dental school.
Formed in 1990 by the Washington State Dental Association, WDIA serves the unique insurance needs of dentists in Washington. Whether it’s covering an injury or sickness with disability coverage, a malpractice claim — on average, dentists are sued at least once in their careers — or a new office building for a private practice, insurance for dentists is critical.
“Unfortunately, several issues can arise if you are not properly insured,” said Matt French, WDIA’s Director of Insurance Services. “For example, if you are injured or sick, whether it is immediate or something that slowly prevents you from performing clinical dentistry, it can be financially devastating for you and your family. If you are not insured or underinsured, this will cause a snowball effect where you can no longer pay for your daily or monthly expenses.”
French, who’s seen many scenarios during his career with WDIA, explains to dentists all the time that getting insured is about protection. Protection from patient malpractice claims; physical damage to your office; disgruntled employees; and protecting yourself and family in case of disability or death due to injury or illness.
Of course, everyone wants to be safeguarded from the unexpected turbulences of life, but doing so efficiently and comprehensively can be daunting. Starting a business, finding employees, caring for patients are all time-consuming enough. That’s why the WDIA team makes it as easy as possible for recent graduates to get started on the right foot.
“The three main policies you need to review as a recent DDS graduate are personal disability, malpractice and term life insurance,” said French. “These build a strong foundation to help protect you presently and in the future — even if you’re pursuing more education. It is wiser to obtain coverage such as life and disability while you are younger and potentially healthier.”
Just as bad circumstances can snowball when you’re uninsured, the benefits of insurance can add up when you start early and update policies often. A meeting with an insurance agent to discuss options based on your circumstances is all it takes to make sure you’re setting yourself up for future success.
For dentists who are already insured, WDIA recommends routinely checking in on your insurance plan, particularly when deciding on major life events such as getting married, having children, purchasing a practice, changing employers or moving out of town.
“These are all good reasons to routinely update your insurance not only to protect yourself, but to protect those you love and care for,” said French. If no such life events are occurring, French recommends reviewing coverage options every two years to ensure no stone is left unturned.
“It really comes down to planning for the events that you hope will never happen in life,” said French. “Being prepared for them will help you sleep well at night, knowing that an unforeseen circumstance will not take everything away that you have worked so hard for.”
To learn more about insurance coverage options or to get in contact with the WDIA team, visit the WDIA website.