As a self-employed dental associate, there is no employer sick pay. If you cannot work, your income stops on the day you stop treating patients. For a professional with a mortgage and financial commitments, that is a significant exposure — and one that income protection insurance is specifically designed to address.
Own occupation cover for dentists
The most important feature of income protection for a clinical professional is that it pays on an own occupation basis. This means the policy pays if you are unable to perform your specific role as a dentist — not merely if you are unable to do any form of work. For a profession where manual dexterity, clinical precision, and physical health are all relevant to your ability to practise, this distinction has real practical significance.
When to arrange cover
The cost of income protection increases with age and with any changes to your health. Arranging cover early in your career — when you are young and healthy — secures the best terms available and protects against future uninsurability if your health changes.
Does this replace the NHS sick pay I don't have?
Yes — for self-employed dental associates with no employer sick pay, income protection fills the role that NHS sick pay plays for employed colleagues. We design the policy to cover the income you need it to cover, for as long as you need it.