What Every Dentist Needs to Know About Filing a Disability Insurance Claim

Credit Details
This electronically delivered self-instructional program is designated for 1.25 hours of ADA CERP and AGD PACE CE credit by Farran Media. AGD Code: 550.

The fee to view this course is $36. This cost includes the fee to take the exam and claim your CE credits.

Synopsis:
One-third of Americans will become disabled long enough to qualify for disability insurance benefits, and this rate is even higher for dentists. Three in four dentists suffer from musculoskeletal and other progressive conditions, leading nearly half to reduce their work hours during their careers. Despite these challenges, dentists often face denied disability claims. Our practice focuses on professional disability insurance claims, with 80% of our clients being dentists. Dentists are underinsured due to dental school debt and high-interest rates, leading many to work for large MSOs and DSOs with less control and higher stress. This course will explain the differences between individual, association (e.g., ADA), and employer-sponsored policies, helping dentists make informed decisions. It will also address why common disabilities among dentists are easily contested by insurers, outline claim investigation practices, and discuss unfair insurer practices. The course will cover the regulatory overhaul of a major carrier and the complexity of modern disability policies, highlighting how insurers have tightened key provisions, narrowing the scope of "true own-occupation" policies.

Educational Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand you must have disability insurance in a sufficient amount should you be unable to practice.
• Recognize important differences between individual, group and employer-sponsored/corporate policies.
• Know what to look for when choosing a policy, including the definition of a “true own-occupation policy” and other provisions that impact coverage if a claim needs to be filed.
• Understand how corporate dentistry has impacted disability insurance and disability insurance claims, and why it is important to have other policies to supplement this coverage.
• Be aware of dentists' top mistakes while filing claims and how to avoid them.

Description of Speaker:
Ed Comitz, Esq. is a founding partner of Comitz Stanley, PLLC, an Arizona-based law firm specializing in healthcare and professional disability insurance. With over three decades of experience, Ed excels in securing "own-occupation" and specialty-specific disability insurance benefits for professionals, resolving coverage disputes and litigating insurance bad faith cases. He has developed credibility with major insurance carriers and built a practice dedicated to professional disability claims. Comitz has been recognized as one of Arizona's "Top 100 Attorneys," a "Top 5 Business Leader" in Healthcare, and a "Top 500 Business Leader" overall by Arizona Business Magazine. His firm has consistently been ranked #1 in healthcare law by Ranking Arizona Magazine. He has also served as an adjunct professor at ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and as a Judge Pro Tem for the Maricopa County Superior Court.

Disclosure:
The speakers disclose that they have a financial interest in consulting dental professionals in the subject matter that they are lecturing on.

Legal Disclaimer:
The CE provider (Farran Media) uses reasonable care in selecting and providing content that is accurate. The CE provider, however, does not independently verify the content or materials. The CE provider does not represent that the instructional materials are error-free or that the content or materials are comprehensive. Any opinions expressed in the materials are those of the author of the materials and not the CE provider. Completing one or more continuing education courses does not provide sufficient information to qualify the participant as an expert in the field related to the course topic or in any specific technique or procedure. The instructional materials are intended to supplement, but are not a substitute for, the knowledge, expertise, skill and judgment of a trained health care professional.

Licensure:
Continuing education credits issued for completion of online CE courses may not apply toward license renewal in all licensing jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of each registrant to verify the CE requirements of his/her licensing or regulatory agency.

State CE Requirements:
Click Here for CE requirements by state. Please note that this information is current as of the time of listing. This information is subject to change at any time from the state boards. For the most up-to-date information, please contact your state board directly.

Refund Policy
There are no refunds for Online CE courses. Please contact technical support if you run into technical difficulty.

CE Contact
For any questions, please contact Nareg Apelian, DMD, Director of Continuing Education at nareg@farranmedia.com