Your own eyes are part of the job
Testing sight, examining the back of the eye and fitting contact lenses all rely on your own vision and fine control. A condition affecting your eyes, or a neck problem from years of leaning towards a slit lamp, could stop you testing safely while leaving you fit for many other jobs.
Insurers group occupations into risk classes, and optometry is usually seen as a lower risk role. The definition still matters. Own occupation cover asks whether you can practise as an optometrist, which is the test you want if your eyesight changes.
Employed, locum or owner
Optometrists employed by an optical chain get the sick pay their contract offers, which varies between employers. Locums are paid per clinic and have no sick pay. Those who own a practice or hold a joint venture share face lost profits and continuing costs when they are off.
Each needs a different deferred period. Locums and owners often choose a short one. Employees with a solid sick pay scheme can wait longer, which reduces the premium.
- Employees: check how long full sick pay lasts
- Locums: income stops on the first missed clinic
- Joint venture partners: profits fall while costs continue
- Independent owners: consider business expenses cover
Life insurance for optometrists
Some optical employers include death in service, but locums and independent owners usually have to arrange their own. A personal life policy can pay off your mortgage and provide for your children. If you have borrowed to buy into a practice, business loan protection can clear that debt so your family does not inherit it.
Critical illness cover and loss of sight
Many critical illness policies list permanent loss of sight among the conditions they cover, alongside cancer, heart attack and stroke. The definitions are strict and differ between insurers, so it pays to read them closely.
A critical illness lump sum can give you room to adapt, retrain or support the family while you work out what comes next. It works alongside income protection rather than instead of it. We can show you how the definitions compare across the insurers on our panel.
How Hi Tomorrow helps optometrists
We look at your mix of employed, locum and owner income and your sick pay. Then we compare own occupation terms from the insurers on our panel and help you answer the medical questions accurately, including any history of eye conditions.
If you are buying into a practice, we can look at personal and business cover together.