AMA vs Individual · Alberta Physicians · Disability Insurance
AMA's group disability plan is a genuinely competitive plan — this isn't about switching you off it. The real difference is contract structure: AMA is a group policy with attained-age, non-guaranteed premiums that Manulife reprices annually, versus an individually owned policy that can lock in level premiums and contractual guarantees that don't depend on your AMA membership. Here's the actual comparison, not a sales pitch.
Gavin Dyer · Independent Broker · AIC-Licensed · Calgary, Alberta · Not affiliated with AMA or any carrier
Quick Answer
AMA's group disability plan (administered by ADIUM, underwritten by Manulife) and an individually owned disability policy aren't good-vs-bad — they're structured differently. AMA coverage is attained-age, renewable annually, and not guaranteed: Manulife can adjust rates as you move into the next age band, and your coverage sits under a master group contract held by the Association rather than a policy you personally own. An individual policy is yours — the definition, the premium structure, and the guarantees are locked into a contract between you and the carrier, independent of your AMA membership. Which one should be primary, or whether you need both, depends on your specialty, income structure, and what's actually written in your current AMA certificate.
The most consequential difference between AMA's base group coverage and an individual own-occupation policy is the disability definition.
AMA's disability plan does not include a true own-occupation definition by default — own-occupation is available as an optional rider, at roughly 15% of the base plan premium. Without that rider, you're generally considered disabled only if you cannot perform your regular occupation and are not working in another occupation. If you can work in any other medical capacity — even one that pays significantly less — a claim under the base definition can be denied or reduced.
Base AMA Definition — At-Risk Scenario
A Calgary orthopedic surgeon develops severe arthritis in both hands and can no longer perform surgery. Without the own-occupation rider, the insurer may take the position that the surgeon can work as a general practitioner or medical educator — and deny or reduce disability benefits.
With the Own-Occupation Rider, or an Individual Own-Occ Policy — Same Scenario
Under a true own-occupation definition, the same surgeon can collect benefits because they cannot perform the material duties of orthopedic surgery specifically — their own occupation — regardless of whether they take other work.
Answer Box: Does the AMA Plan Include Own-Occupation Coverage?
Not by default. Own-occupation is an optional rider on the AMA plan, priced at roughly 15% of the base premium. Without it, the base definition is narrower. For surgeons and proceduralists in particular, confirming whether you've elected this rider — and reading exactly how it's worded — is one of the most important five-minute checks you can do on your existing coverage.
| Feature | AMA / ADIUM Group DI | Individual Professional DI |
|---|---|---|
| Underwriter / ownership | Manulife — group policy issued to the Alberta Medical Association; you're a certificate holder under the master contract | Individually owned by you |
| Own occupation | Optional rider, ~15% of base premium | Available, depending on contract |
| Residual / partial disability | Confirm in your current certificate | Available, depending on contract |
| COLA | Rider — CPI-based, capped 6%/yr, starts after 12 months of continuous disability, to age 65 | Available, depending on contract |
| Future increase (guaranteed insurability) | Available — confirm current maximum amount and age cutoff with ADIUM | Available, depending on contract |
| Benefit period | To age 65 if disability starts before 63; a shorter maximum period if it starts later — confirm exact cutoffs | Commonly to age 65, contract-specific |
| Portability | Worldwide while an AMA member; continuity after leaving membership is plan-specific — confirm directly | Contract-specific — generally follows you regardless of employer or association |
| Premium structure | Attained-age, renewable annually, not guaranteed | Can be level or guaranteed, depending on contract |
| Elimination period options | 30 / 60 / 90 / 120 days | Commonly 30–180+ days, contract-specific |
| Max monthly benefit | $500–$25,000/month, based on income | Carrier- and income-dependent |
Figures above reflect AMA/ADIUM public materials at the time of writing. Group plan terms change — confirm current details in your own certificate or with ADIUM before making a decision. Individual contract features vary by carrier and are never guaranteed without underwriting.
Already Have AMA Coverage?
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Compare My Coverage →Not Covered Yet?
I'll compare available individual disability insurance options based on your specialty, income, and corporate structure.
Compare Physician DI Options →Most Alberta specialists operate through a professional corporation and draw some mix of T4 salary and dividends. How a disability plan calculates your insurable income — and whether corporate/dividend income factors in at all — depends on the specific plan and how your income is documented. This is true of group and individual coverage alike: it's a question to ask directly of ADIUM for your AMA plan, and of any carrier you're considering for individual coverage, rather than assume one way or the other.
Why This Matters
The majority of Alberta specialists are incorporated, and dividend-based compensation is common. If you draw a modest T4 salary and take the rest as dividends, it's worth confirming — in writing — exactly how much of your real income each option would actually insure before assuming either one covers you adequately.
Is AMA disability insurance a bad plan?
No — it's a genuinely competitive group plan and a reasonable baseline for many Alberta physicians. The question isn't whether it's good or bad, it's whether its contract structure (attained-age, non-guaranteed premiums, group ownership, definition without the own-occ rider) fits your specific situation as well as an individually owned policy would.
Does the AMA plan include own-occupation coverage?
Not by default. Own-occupation is available as an optional rider on the AMA plan, priced at roughly 15% of the base premium. Confirm whether you've elected it and read the exact wording.
Are AMA disability insurance premiums guaranteed?
No. AMA/ADIUM premiums are attained-age and renewable annually — rates are reviewed and can change as you move into the next age band. Some individually owned policies can offer level or guaranteed premium structures instead; whether that trade-off is worth it depends on your situation.
Does AMA disability insurance cover incorporated physician income, including dividends?
This depends on the specific plan terms and how your income is documented — it's worth confirming directly with ADIUM rather than assuming either way. The same question applies to any individual carrier you're considering.
What happens to my AMA disability insurance if I leave the Alberta Medical Association?
AMA coverage is portable worldwide while you're a member. What happens if your membership ends is a plan-specific detail worth confirming directly with ADIUM — an individually owned policy, by contrast, is a personal contract between you and the carrier and doesn't depend on any association membership.
Should Alberta physicians have both AMA and individual disability insurance?
Many physicians do. AMA can provide a reasonable baseline; an individually owned policy can add contract guarantees — a locked definition, and potentially a level or guaranteed premium structure — that don't depend on group membership. Whether individual coverage should supplement or replace AMA coverage depends on comparing the actual contracts.
Independent. Alberta-based. No carrier affiliation. Send Gavin your current AMA certificate details, or start from scratch — either way, you'll get an honest comparison, not a pitch.
Compare My Coverage →Gavin Dyer · AIC Licence M-124004-SP-2025 · Q-124004-SP-2025 · Not affiliated with AMA or any single carrier