Phenomenal experience working with the team. After a year or two with my insurance, they helped me negotiate a different rate and then handled the billing issues for me since we were halfway through a cycle. Would recommend, 10/10.
Independent & Carrier-Neutral
Disability insurance matched to your specialty and income.
We analyze Own-Occupation contracts across the top carriers and match coverage to your profession, income, and risk profile. No captive products. No generic recommendations.
$5B Protection Placed
15 Years Focused
50 States Covered
5 Carriers Compared
100% Fully Neutral
What is own-occupation disability insurance?
Own-occupation disability insurance pays benefits if you cannot perform the specific duties of your profession, even if you could work in another capacity. A surgeon who develops a hand tremor and can no longer operate but could consult or teach receives full benefits under a true own-occupation policy. Under an any-occupation policy, that same claim is denied.
This distinction is the single most important provision in any disability contract for a high-income professional. Not all carriers define it the same way. Some limit own-occupation protection to a set number of years. Others require you to stop working entirely. The differences are substantial, and they determine whether a claim pays or not.
We compare own-occupation language across every top carrier and show you exactly how each contract would respond to a claim in your specific specialty. The right policy depends on your profession, your income structure, and the clinical or professional duties that define your career. That level of precision is what separates adequate coverage from coverage that actually protects you.
This is not theory for us. Of the individual policies we have placed over 15+ years, about 28% drew an exclusion or rating at underwriting, mental and nervous conditions the most common reason, so the definition you lock in and the timing of your application both shape what a claim actually pays. Our State of Disability Underwriting report breaks the patterns down by profession from our own book.
Learn how own-occupation works →Own-Occupation in Practice
ProfessionAnesthesiologist
Annual Income$350,000
Monthly Benefit$15,000
What happened
Dr. Patel is rear-ended at a stoplight and suffers a severe cervical disc herniation with radiculopathy. She can no longer stand through multi-hour procedures or maintain the sustained neck positioning required to manage airways. She transitions to a pain management consulting role, earning $180,000 per year.
Own-Occupation Result
Dr. Patel collects her full $15,000 monthly benefit ($180,000/year) on top of her consulting income. The policy recognizes she can no longer deliver anesthesia, which is her defined occupation. Total annual income: $360,000 instead of $180,000 without coverage. Under an any-occupation policy, this claim is denied because she can still work in a medical capacity. The contract language makes all the difference.
Who we work with
Every profession has a different risk profile. We structure coverage around yours.
Physicians & surgeons
Physicians and surgeons face unique disability risks tied to clinical duties, procedural demands, and specialty-specific physical requirements.
Tech professionals
Software engineers, developers, data scientists, and tech sales often earn as much as physicians or more, and sit in one of the most favorable occupation classes. Coverage should be sized to total earned income, base and bonus plus the vested equity you can document, not just salary.
CRNAs
Hundreds of CRNAs served. Anesthesia delivery carries procedural and infectious-disease risk, and only a true own-occupation policy keeps paying if you can no longer practice anesthesia.
Dentists
Musculoskeletal strain and repetitive injury define dental disability. Coverage must protect the ability to practice hands-on.
Business & finance
High income ceilings and fiduciary responsibilities require stacking policies across carriers to protect the full earning range.
Other professionals
Engineers, architects, pharmacists, accountants, and other licensed professionals need own-occupation coverage matched to their specific duties.
How it works
1
Tell us about your situation
Your profession, income, career stage, and any existing coverage. Takes about two minutes.
2
We run the comparison
We submit your profile to every major carrier simultaneously and build a side-by-side analysis of contract language, riders, and cost.
3
You choose with clarity
No pressure. You see exactly what each carrier offers based on your unique circumstances, and you pick the contract that fits.
What our clients say
Verified reviews on GooglePhil went above and beyond to help us. He was diligent, engaged, and thorough. He has been helping us for years and is dedicated and reliable. Highly recommend!
Phil is the best! He's helped me get the best possible coverage from the insurance companies when other agents came back with tons of exclusions.
I highly recommend Phil and his team when looking for disability insurance. He is very knowledgeable and made the process straightforward. He and his team were quick to respond to any questions I had during the application process.
I had a wonderful experience working with Phil. He was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and responsive throughout the entire process of setting up my disability and life insurance. He took the time to explain all of my options, answered every question thoroughly, and made what could have been an overwhelming process feel straightforward and stress-free.
Phil and his crew have been very helpful in getting me set up with all my life and disability insurance needs. Phil and Jack reached out to me personally with any suggestions. I believe they have had my best interest at heart through the process. Overall, good communicators and good advice.
I have had the pleasure of working with Phil N. for many years to obtain professional disability insurance. He is incredibly knowledgeable, prompt, and friendly. I would recommend any of my colleagues to him and to Seaworthy Insurance!
Phil has been my broker for years and I make several referrals to him. He has kept our family well prepared.
Phil was recommended to me by an advisor and I could not be more pleased with the experience. He handled updating my life and disability insurance with ease. The process was seamless and quick.
Phil was the best! So patient, so knowledgeable. He walked me through it all and answered all of my questions. If anyone needs disability insurance I would recommend him without reservations!
Phil has been incredibly helpful through multiple adjustments to my disability insurance as my career and stage of life has evolved! He is very responsive and easy to work with! Highly recommend.
So helpful and willing to answer any question I have. Truly made the process so easy.
I took disability insurance from Phil. Very helpful. Highly recommend him.
About Seaworthy Insurance
Seaworthy Insurance is an independent disability insurance brokerage founded in 2011 and serving clients in all 50 states (CA license #0H52962, with the full state-by-state record published). The firm has placed more than $5 billion in disability and life insurance protection for high-income professionals across 100+ occupations. The firm compares own-occupation contracts from Guardian, Principal, MassMutual, Ameritas, and The Standard for physicians, CRNAs, dentists, software engineers, and other high-income professionals, and is compensated through carrier commissions. Clients pay no fee for the comparison. How coverage gets ranked is documented in our placement methodology, how content gets sourced in our editorial policy, and what clients say on our reviews page. The longer version, including the team behind the name, is in the company backgrounder.
Your income is your most valuable asset.
Protecting it matters.
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