Income Protection for Dentists Ireland

10-second summary: If illness or injury stops you practising as a dentist, income protection can replace up to 75% of your income. For dentists, own occupation wording is critical. Choosing the wrong insurer first can affect your options long term.

Dentistry is precise work.

You rely on fine motor control, posture, concentration and steady hands. If something affects your neck, back, shoulders, vision or mental health, you may not be able to practise safely.

That is where income protection comes in.

This guide explains how it works specifically for dentists, what to look for, and what can go wrong if it is set up poorly.

Why Dentists Claim More Than You Might Think

The most common income protection claims in Ireland are for musculoskeletal issues, mental health conditions, cancer and cardiovascular illness.

For dentists, back and neck problems related to posture are common. Long hours bent forward take their toll. Add stress, regulatory pressure and running a practice, and it is not unusual to see burnout or anxiety claims as well.

Aviva’s 2024 data shows the average claim lasted over 7 years. That is not a short interruption. That is a major income event.

If you are self-employed and unable to practise, your income drops immediately.

There is no employer cushion.

Why Own Occupation Is Critical for Dentists

This is the single most important feature of your policy.

Own occupation means the insurer pays if you cannot work as a dentist.

Not if you cannot work in any job.

Not if you cannot work in a suitable occupation.

As a dentist, your income depends on performing clinical procedures. If you lose dexterity in your hands, develop chronic neck pain, or experience significant anxiety, you may not be able to practise even if you could technically retrain.

The wording matters.

Two policies can look similar in price but have very different definitions once you are at the claim stage.

Employed vs Self-Employed Dentists

If you work for the HSE or another employer, sick pay is limited.

Public sector arrangements typically provide three months full pay and three months half pay. After that, you are relying on State Illness Benefit.

The State Illness Benefit is currently worth up to €12,688 per year, for only a limited period.

If you are self-employed, there is no employer’s sick pay. Your income can drop to zero immediately if you cannot work.

For self-employed dentists, income protection is often the only realistic source of backup income.

How Much Can You Insure?

You can protect up to 75% of your gross income, less any State illness benefit if you are eligible for it.

Premiums qualify for tax relief at your 40% marginal rate, significantly reducing the real cost.

The exact premium depends on age, health, occupation class, deferral period and whether the policy is guaranteed or reviewable.

Guaranteed vs Reviewable Premiums

This is one of those decisions that doesn’t feel important at first. It becomes very important later.

A guaranteed premium means the price you agree today is the price you keep. It does not change because the insurer’s claims go up or because they decide to reprice their book of business.

As long as you keep the policy, the cost stays the same.

A reviewable premium usually starts cheaper. That is why it looks attractive. The insurer reviews the price every few years, often every five. At that point, they can increase it, keep it the same or reduce it.

In reality, increases are far more common than reductions.

For a dentist in their 30s or 40s, that matters.

What feels like a small saving now can turn into a policy that becomes uncomfortable in your 50s, when replacing it is no longer straightforward.

There is nothing inherently wrong with reviewable cover. It just needs to be chosen consciously, not because it looked cheaper on a comparison screen.

Immediate Payment Schemes

Some schemes aimed at dental professionals advertise payment from day one of illness.

On the surface, that sounds reassuring. In practice, these policies often come with trade-offs in pricing structure, benefit limits or policy definitions.

What matters more than speed is the strength of the overall contract. A well-structured policy with strong own occupation wording and sensible terms is usually more important than immediate payment.

The Part Most Dentists Miss

Not all insurers look at dentists the same way.

Some are tougher on stress or anxiety history, while some take a stricter view on back and neck issues.

Others are more pragmatic. It depends on the insurer.

Here is the bit that catches dentists out.

If you apply to one insurer and they add an exclusion or a loading, you must disclose that outcome to every future insurer, even if you never proceed with that policy.

So applying to the wrong insurer first can quietly reduce your flexibility later.

Being accepted does not automatically mean you have the best policy. It just means you have an offer.

Choosing the right insurer first is often more important than chasing the lowest premium.

Order matters.

Getting it right the first time matters even more.

That’s where proper advice comes in.

Do Affinity Discounts Always Mean Better Value?

Some professional associations negotiate discounted premiums with a specific insurer.

A discount is attractive. Of course it is.

The real question is not whether there is a price reduction. The real question is whether that insurer is the right insurer for your medical history and the way you practise.

Not all insurers assess stress history the same way. Not all take the same view on back or neck issues. Not all offer identical occupation definitions.

A lower premium on a policy with weaker definitions or stricter underwriting can end up costing more in the long run.

The aim is not to find the cheapest quote.

It’s to secure the strongest structure with the right insurer first.

Advice vs Single-Provider Arrangements

When coverage is arranged through a single-provider partnership, your options may be limited to that insurer’s product range.

As a multi-agency broker, we work with all major insurers in Ireland. That allows us to assess which provider is most suitable for your specific health history, occupation details and income structure.

For dentists with complex income streams or a history of medical conditions, that flexibility can make a significant difference.

How a Claim Works

If your doctor signs you off work and your condition is expected to last beyond your deferred period, you notify the insurer.

You complete a claim form. Your GP provides medical confirmation. Financial evidence is reviewed.

Once approved, monthly payments begin after your waiting period and continue until you return to work or reach your policy end age.

Most modern policies also include rehabilitation support if appropriate.

Is Income Protection Worth It for Dentists?

If losing your clinical income would put you under financial pressure, then yes.

Dentistry is a high-income profession built on physical capability and precision. If that capability is disrupted, the financial impact is immediate.

Income protection is professional risk management.

You insure your equipment and premises.

Your income is the engine behind both.

What To Do Next

If you are a dentist considering income protection, the safest next step is not to chase the cheapest quote.

It is to choose the right insurer first, get the occupation definition right, structure the deferred period properly and avoid unnecessary exclusions.

If you would like a personalised recommendation, complete our short Income Protection Questionnaire, and I will review your situation properly.

Or schedule a call here, and we can talk it through.

Thanks for reading

Nick

Editor’s Note: First published in 2020. Fully rebuilt and updated in February 2026 to reflect current underwriting practices, public sector sick pay rules and insurer assessment differences for dentists.