Dr. Haddad, 52, a cardiac surgeon in Halifax, develops a tremor and can no longer operate. His individual disability policy uses a 'regular occupation' definition: he is totally disabled if he cannot perform his regular occupation and is not working in any other occupation. He decides to accept a full-time teaching post at a medical school. What happens to his benefits?
A regular-occupation definition (sometimes called modified own occupation) pays when the insured cannot do his regular occupation and is not gainfully working in another one. By choosing to teach full time, he no longer meets the definition, although a residual benefit may apply depending on the contract. Source: standard Canadian individual disability contract wording (industry practice, as at 12 Oct 2026); CISRO LLQP Curriculum (May 2015), Accident and Sickness module, component 2 (types of contracts and riders) (as at 12 Oct 2026).
Confusing regular occupation with true own occupation.
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