Roughly 90 million families in the U.S. own pets or care for farm animals—but there are only about 121,000 veterinarians in the country. These professionals are the heartbeat of animal care, working long hours, often at great personal and physical cost.
Veterinary professionals face one of the highest rates of work-related injuries and emotional burnout, and yet most do not carry adequate income protection. If you’re a veterinarian or veterinary employer, it’s time to take a closer look at disability insurance—specifically coverage built for the realities of your profession.
🧯 Vets Face Higher Injury Risks Than First Responders
According to the Department of Labor, veterinarians rank higher than firefighters and police officers in workplace injury rates. And the risks aren’t just from aggressive animals.
Common sources of injury and illness include:
- Animal-inflicted injuries – From bites to kicks, animals often react out of fear or pain, and vets can’t exactly ask them what’s wrong.
- Musculoskeletal injuries – Lifting, restraining, and standing for hours leads to chronic joint and back issues.
- Exposure to chemicals and radiation – Anesthetic gases, cleaning agents, and X-rays pose long-term health risks.
- Zoonotic diseases – Treating sick animals can put vets at risk of contracting illnesses themselves.
These daily hazards make veterinarians more likely than the average American worker to experience a disability—and yet many don’t have coverage that fully protects their income.
💸 Rising Incomes and Student Debt = More to Lose
Veterinarians are increasingly the primary breadwinners in their households:
- 86% of board-certified specialists
- 69% of general practice vets
Many also carry significant student loan debt, with an average balance exceeding $140,000. As incomes grow and debt remains, the financial consequences of a disability grow with them.
Here’s the gap: while over 90% of vets say they know disability insurance is important, fewer than half actually have individual coverage.
Why? Often, they:
- Don’t know where to start
- Assume employer group coverage is enough
- Don’t realize how limited traditional group plans can be
🧠 Mental Health Disabilities Are a Real (and Rising) Concern
Veterinary professionals face a silent epidemic: mental health-related disability.
- 1 in 6 veterinarians have seriously considered suicide
- Female vets are 2.4x more likely to die by suicide than the general population
- Male vets are 1.6x more likely
This is driven by:
- Compassion fatigue
- Client abuse (verbal, digital, and in-person)
- Financial pressure from avoidable euthanasia decisions
Unfortunately, many disability insurance policies limit or exclude mental health coverage entirely—especially in traditional group offerings.
🔍 What to Look for in Disability Coverage for Veterinary Professionals
Not all policies are created equal. Generic long-term disability (LTD) plans may not reflect the specific risks and income structures of a veterinary career. Whether you’re an employee or a practice owner offering benefits, make sure your policy includes the following features:
✅ Own-Occupation Definition of Disability
Look for a policy that pays benefits if you can’t do your specific job—even if you can work in another role (like teaching or admin). This protects surgical and hands-on professionals.
✅ Per-Occurrence Mental Health Coverage
Avoid policies with lifetime caps on mental health-related claims. Instead, seek plans that renew benefits per occurrence, just like they would for a physical illness.
✅ Partial Disability Benefits with Return-to-Work Flexibility
The best plans offer income protection while you transition back to work part-time, with flexible formulas that favor the insured.
✅ Comprehensive Income Definitions
Make sure the policy includes production bonuses, profit share, owner draw, and not just base salary.
✅ No Mandatory Rehab Clause
Some plans require policyholders to follow a specific rehab protocol to keep receiving benefits. Look for options that support recovery but don’t penalize your autonomy.
✅ Accelerated Benefits in Case of Hospitalization
If you’re hospitalized early in the disability period, some plans pay benefits sooner than the standard waiting period.
📈 Group vs. Individual Disability Insurance: Know the Difference
Group policies (typically offered by employers) can be:
- Cost-effective
- Easier to enroll in (often no medical underwriting)
- A solid base layer of protection
But group policies can also:
- Be capped (e.g., 60% of income up to a certain amount)
- Be taxable if employer-paid
- Lack important customization options
- End when you change employers
Individual policies, though more expensive, offer:
- More generous definitions of disability
- Portable coverage throughout your career
- Custom riders (like COLA, student loan coverage, etc.)
For veterinarians, the ideal solution often includes both—a solid group LTD policy with vet-specific features and an optional individual policy to fill the gaps.
🐾 Your Income Deserves Protection—Just Like Your Patients
Veterinarians are compassionate, resilient, and essential—but also vulnerable to injuries and burnout that threaten their livelihood. The right disability insurance policy can mean the difference between financial stability and unexpected hardship.
At PlanSimple, we help veterinary professionals understand, evaluate, and secure disability coverage that fits your real-life risks and income.
Want to review your current coverage—or explore a better fit for your practice or team?
📩 Let’s start with a no-pressure conversation.
Because you take care of animals. We help take care of you.
CLICK HERE to schedule a call.