Disability Insurance Occupation Summary

This web site is designed to show some of the most common occupations purchasing disability insurance from Guardian and Berkshire. It would not be possible to list every occupation that our agency can quote, so on this page we have listed a detailed description of the occupational class system Berkshire uses. Review the descriptions, and make sure that when you request a disability insurance quote from the web site, that you list the occupational class you believe you fit into based upon the material and substantial duties of your occupation.

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Class 6 & 6M
This occupation class is the highest classification one could have on their disability insurance policy. It means you have the lowest rate available from the insurance company, and you are able to have the top tier definition of total disability. It is available to the following occupations, which have the most favorable experience: actuaries, architects, attorneys, CPAs, engineers (degreed with office and administrative duties only), optometrists and business owners or corporate executives who meet the following requirements:

• is employed full time in a business which is financially sound, has been in existence for five years, and has prospects for a stable future.
• works at a business location other than his or her personal residence.
• the business owner has 10+ full time employees other than the owner, with at least five employees qualifying for occupation class 5 or class 4.
• daily duties are office, managerial, administrative, or technical, little or no sales or travel, no physical or manual duties, and
• salary of $75,000+ for the past two years.

Class 5 & 5M
There is no difference in the policy offered from Berkshire or Guardian for somebody in class 5 or class 6, except for the rate. People in class 5 are charged more than people in class 6 because of company experience. Class 5 includes those professional and executive occupations that qualify for preferential classification and underwriting limits because of stability of employment and income, the demand for their service, educational, training and experience qualifications; whose duties are primarily office only and who would not be totally disabled if unable to travel.

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Class 4 & 4M
Again, there is no difference in the benefits of a disability insurance policy for people in occupation classes 6, 5 or 4 except for premium. People who receive class 4 & 4M policies just pay more than people in class 5. Duties of a class 4 occupation are generally limited to office, sales and travel with no manual duties involved. This is an occupation class for office, clerical, executive, professional or semi-professional occupations requiring a high degree of stability and responsibility. Some of the lowest risk medical specialties also fall into class 4M such as pediatrics. One of the most common class 4 occupations is consultants, although consultants can increase their occupation class higher as they become more successful. Several occupations in class 3 can also move up to a class 4 disability insurance policy if they are able to show a high level of success for an extended period of time such as real estate agents and other sales positions.

There is a special occupation class specifically for medical professionals. Some occupations that fall into class 4M that we have not yet built a special web page for are; Allergist, Endocrinologist, Hematologist, Immunologist, Internist, Neonatologist, Nephrologist, Pulmonologist and Rheumatologist. All medical specialties that get the occupation class 4M receive a medical specialty own-occupation definition of total disability to age 65. We recommend reviewing our medical disability insurance section for additional information. You can also request an individual disability insurance quote from here.

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An occupation in class 3 & 3M is eligible for a benefit period to age 65, own-occupation to age 65 or 67, and can also receive an X45 lifetime extension benefit period. The class includes occupations that require more physical activity than class 4, plus certain occupations which may not be hazardous but where the claim experience has not been the same as class 4. Some examples of common class 3 occupations not listed on this web site are; automotive dealers, office clerks, salespeople with incomes below $50,000, invasive physicians, lab technicians, retail business owners, college and professional coaches, and large animal veterinarians. If your occupation is listed here, or you feel your occupation would fit into this category just fill out the quote request form and list "Class 3" in the occupation section.

We are a sales agency, and we wish we could offer quotes to every occupation, unfortunately the major insurance company we sell for is quite selective when it comes to occupations. If your occupation requires quite a bit of manual duties such as carpentry or truck driving, has a relatively high level of risk, requires travel to countries that our government has travel warnings posted, or requires you to be on-site at construction sites, or visit potentially dangerous areas like mines we would not be able to offer a disability insurance proposal to you. Some examples of occupations that our agency cannot offer disability insurance quotes to include; laborers, foremen, inspectors, athletes, waiters, actors, pipe fitters, LPNs, paramedics, mechanics, orderlies, casino employees, farmers, and public school teachers.

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