Cardiologists, whether with invasive duties or not, have special considerations when it comes to selecting a disability income insurance policy. The definition of disability should be specialty-specific so that cardiology is the relevant reference, but it is even better if surgery itself may be an independent determinant.

In a disability scenario, a Cardiologist would want to be paid full benefits due to being disabled as a Cardiologist, even if he or she could work as another kind of physician; or perhaps could still practice cardiology but couldn't do surgery. Furthermore, the definition of disabled should permit working in a different occupation (or medical specialty) without compromising benefits. This is because disability benefits are rarely adequate to provide the same standard of living, and the disabled Cardiologist may have to re-train for another specialty.