Car Insurance for Doctors in Delaware

Doctors treat their patients using traditional methods of treatment like surgery and prescription drugs.

While a doctor’s daily responsibilities will vary based on their specialty, it’s typical for a physician working in any area of medicine to assess and diagnose conditions, prescribe and administer treatment, and provide follow-up care for their patients.

If you’re a doctor in Delaware, you know that working long, irregular hours is part of the job. You’re expected to be ready for anything when you pull long shifts and even when you’re woken out of your sleep for an emergency call.

While it’s a fulfilling job, it’s not as glamorous as some would let on. As busy as you might be, you still have to be able to manage things like auto insurance during your off time.

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Becoming a Doctor in Delaware

Not everyone is fit to be a doctor. For some, it’s not the daily responsibilities or the demanding schedule that scares them off, it’s the fact that they will have to commit to completing years and years of educational programs before they will be eligible for their physician licensure.

The Delaware Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline is responsible for protecting residents of the state from unprofessional and unqualified healthcare professionals.

The board also develops uniform standards for professional competency so that all prospective doctors must complete the proper training before they are issued any licenses or certifications.

– Getting Your Degree

All doctors, no matter where they practice, must hold their Medical Doctorate degree before they are eligible to start the process of getting licensed. How long you’ll spend in school depends entirely on your enrollment status how long you take to complete the program.

If you’re already a doctor, you know that getting into medical school is a process. You must earn an undergraduate degree and prove your academic ability while you’re still studying prerequisites. Scoring high as a junior on your MCAT test is crucial.

You also have to become a part of the community and show your commitment to helping others if you want to compete for admissions.

After you’re academically ready, you’ll have to start the multi-step medical school application process. It costs a great deal of money and time to gain acceptance.

After you’re finally accepted to school, you’ll spend another four years in med school and then another three years completing your residency to get licensed in Delaware.

Medical Opportunities in Delaware

When you’re done with medical school it is time to decide what you want to do. Would you prefer to be a general practitioner or a specialist in an area of medicine who needs even more education?

Your decisions could play a huge role in how much opportunity that is available to you. Some of the many specialties you can choose from include:

• Anesthesiologists
• Pediatricians
• Obstetricians
• Psychiatrists
• Surgeons
• Pathologists
• Radiologists
• Cardiologists
• Allergists
• Gastroenterologists

– Most In Demand Opportunities

There is a growing demand for physician services all throughout the state of Delaware. Because there is a shortage of healthcare professionals in the state, there is a need for specialists in many different areas of medicine.

The Delaware Health Commission briefing has identified that there are 2,255 physicians actively practicing primary care.

The shortage isn’t as serious in oral healthcare. Other in-demand opportunities include:

• Orthopedic surgeons
• Cardiologists
• Psychiatrists
• Family medicine practitioner

– Work Setting Preferences

The number of physicians who own their own practices and handle everything from top to bottom is dwindling. More and more doctors are becoming part of a larger group so that they can balance their personal time and work. Only about 53 percent of all physicians have their own practice. This number is on the decline.

You must consider your work setting preferences. If you work in a private practice, your work environment will be much less chaotic and demanding than a physician who works in a hospital.

There are pros and cons to each work setting, but the healthcare system altogether is being revamped so seasoned doctors have to learn how to keep up.

Car Insurance for Doctors in Delaware

All of the decisions that you make in regards to your career can have an impact on your insurance portfolio.

One type of insurance that you should put a lot of focus on is your car insurance. As long as you’re driving a vehicle registered in Delaware, you need to be sure that you have the right insurance from the right provider.

Also, as a doctor you may find you’re at an increased risk of being sued, so make sure you have the right coverage. More on that below.

– Review Your Car Insurance Regularly

Don’t go years without reviewing or updating your insurance. You might be comfortable with your premiums but that doesn’t mean that there are not errors in your rating.

If you don’t review your insurance and get quotes with at least three or four carriers, you could be uninsured, paying too much for minimal coverage every year, or underinsured in the case of a major incident.

– Minimum Requirements in Delaware

In the state of Delaware, auto insurance is mandatory. No matter what your occupation is, if you have a vehicle registered in the state you must maintain at least liability insurance that pays for third-party expenses.

Here’s what you’re required to carry under DE law:

• Bodily Injury Liability – At least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident to pay for third-party medical treatment and funeral expenses when you’re at-fault in an accident
• Property Damage Liability – At least $10,000 per occurrence to pay for property repairs when you’re liable for an auto accident

– Basic Car Insurance Coverage Options

Legally, you’re only required by law to carry third-party liability insurance. You should definitely consider adding more protection to your basic insurance policy to safeguard yourself. Basic auto insurance policies can include some forms of first-party coverage.

Here are the options to add to your insurance policy:

• Medical Payments – Pays for immediate medical expenses for you and passengers
• Uninsured Motorist – Reimburses you for financial loss if you’re hit by someone and injured in an uninsured motorist accident
• Comprehensive/Collision – Pays for repairs if your car is damaged in a covered loss

– Additional Coverage

By law, someone who is injured in an accident in Delaware has the right to sue for pain and suffering. Since the state has a fault-based system, it’s crucial that you protect your income by purchasing additional layers of protection.

The average income in Delaware is $31,441. Since you make much more than this, additional coverage is pertinent.

Because doctors and lawyers are both huge targets for accident lawsuits, many experts recommend that doctors purchase a Personal Umbrella Policy to fill in liability coverage gaps.

If you have an accident and you don’t have high enough limits, your umbrella will activate. Umbrellas are sold in increments of $1 million of coverage.

– Factors That Influence Your Insurance Costs

Your occupation can be used to set your insurance rates. While doctors do get a credit for their level of educational attainment, they aren’t so lucky when it comes to occupation.

Doctors tend to pay more for car insurance not just because they earn higher incomes, but also because they are exposed to more risk.

There are a few reasons why doctors are more likely to get into accidents than other professionals.

Since most physicians work long hours, they often sleep at nighttime hours. Sleepy driving can lead to more accidents. Not to mention that doctors drive under more stress and often tend to be in a rush when they are on-call.

Discounts on Insurance for Doctors

The most effective way to save money on your insurance is to look for discounts. Some carriers will offer healthcare professionals special discounts for serving their communities. There are also standard discounts to look for that will cut your premiums in half.

Also, it may be worth joining an organization like American Medical Association.

Many car insurance providers offer discounts for members of groups like this. Do your research. Don’t settle for the discounts every other driver is receiving.

Getting personalized insurance quotes is the best way to save money. If you prefer to take care of business on your own, save time looking for insurance for doctors in Delaware by using an online rate comparison tool in between your shifts.

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