What Is Disability Insurance?
Disability insurance protects your income if you cannot work due to illness or injury. The policy pays out a percentage of your monthly income while you’re unable to work. Short-term disability insurance covers a few weeks or months, while long-term disability insurance can cover someone for many years.
- Written By Jennifer Schell
Jennifer Schell
Financial Writer
Jennifer Schell is a professional writer focused on demystifying annuities and other financial topics including banking, financial advising and insurance. She is proud to be a member of the National Association for Fixed Annuities (NAFA) as well as the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA).
Read More- Edited By
Savannah HansonSavannah Hanson
Senior Financial Editor
Savannah Hanson is an accomplished writer, editor and content marketer. She joined Annuity.org as a financial editor in 2021 and uses her passion for educating readers on complex topics to guide visitors toward the path of financial literacy.
Read More- Financially Reviewed By
Daniel J. Adams, MBA, CFP®, CLU®Daniel J. Adams, MBA, CFP®, CLU®
Certified Financial Planner™ Professional and Chartered Life Underwriter®
As the founder of CEG Life Insurance Services, Daniel J. Adams has extensive experience with life and health insurance products. Daniel assists clients in building a secure financial future as a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and independent insurance agent. He also trains new agents and advises other financial professionals.
Read More- Updated: March 15, 2023
- 8 min read time
- This page features 13 Cited Research Articles
Key Takeaways- Disability insurance replaces a portion of your income if you become disabled and cannot work.
- Short-term disability insurance covers conditions that will resolve in a few weeks or years, such as surgery recovery or childbirth.
- Long-term disability insurance covers long-lasting disabilities, like cancer, arthritis or mental health problems.
- Disability insurance is more affordable the younger and healthier you are, and people with pre-existing conditions might be charged high premiums or denied coverage.
What Is Disability Insurance?
Disability insurance works by replacing some of your income if you become sick or injured and cannot work. Different policies have different rules about what qualifies someone as having a disability, when the benefits can start and how long the benefits last.
You may be able to get disability insurance through your employer, or you can purchase a policy yourself. The federal government offers benefits for people with disabilities through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.
If your disability insurance is provided through your employer, your eligibility for the insurance is based on your employment status. The premiums on employer-provided disability insurance are calculated using general factors like your age, so an examination isn’t usually required. If your employer pays the premium, any benefits you receive from the insurance policy are counted as taxable income.
People who do not receive disability insurance coverage through their employer can purchase a policy as an individual. Individual policies are underwritten, which means your eligibility for a policy and the premium you’ll pay depend on your medical history and other characteristics.
Before you purchase an individual disability policy, your insurer will likely ask you to submit three to five years of medical history and may require you to undergo a medical examination. Because of this, it is often recommended to purchase a disability policy while you are in good health, as it may be more difficult to get affordable insurance if you have an illness or disability.
The length of a disability insurance policy varies depending on the type of policy. Group employer-sponsored policies tend to last longer, some even extending coverage until retirement age.
Individual policies, on the other hand, might only cover two to five years, although some may provide coverage until retirement or up to age 70. However, individual insurance does have the benefit of providing non-taxable benefits, since the premium is paid with previously taxed income.
What Does Disability Insurance Cover?
Disability insurance covers lost income due to an illness or injury. If you become disabled and can no longer work, the policy will pay a percentage of your salary for anywhere from a few weeks to the rest of your working life.
Insurers won’t replace 100% of your income in an attempt to limit the number of fraudulent disability claims. Most disability insurance policies cover between 40%-60% of the policy owner’s salary.
Insurance policies often have income caps and reimbursement limits, so there’s a maximum amount of income you can receive from a policy. If you’re a high-income earner, you may exceed the income cap, and as a result might consider supplemental disability insurance to fill in the gaps in coverage.
Disability insurance coverage is designed to replace working income. Because of this, disability insurance does not cover medical care or long-term care services. Additionally, once you are over 65, disability insurance may no longer provide benefits.
Disability insurance is, perhaps, the most important of all insurance policies for individuals to own during their working years—yet possibly the least likely to be purchased. As such, it needs to be better understood by financial professionals and consumers alike.Who Should Get Disability Insurance?
Disability insurance can be beneficial for anyone who has a job and relies on the income they earn from that job. With disability insurance, you’re protecting your livelihood if something happens to you.
A person can become disabled and unable to work at any time, and most working people cannot afford to go more than a few months without a steady source of income. “Disability insurance is one of the best ways to protect your most important asset — your ability to earn an income,” said Barbara A. Pietrangelo, a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and chair at Life Happens. “People get insurance for their house and cars, but most overlook the importance of insuring your paycheck, particularly for unpredictable situations.”
A 2022 fact sheet from the Social Security Administration (SSA) reported that “About 1 in 4 of today’s 20 year-olds will become disabled before reaching age 67.” Despite this, the SSA found that “65% of the private sector workforce has no long-term disability insurance.”
Disability insurance can be even more important if a person has others in their household who depend on them. Parents or guardians with children to take care of or those who serve as the sole provider of their family might consider disability insurance as a backup plan to support their dependents if they can no longer work.
Finally, self-employed individuals and business owners should consider disability insurance. When you’re self-employed, you don’t have sick days or paid vacation to fall back on. Both short-term and long-term disability insurance can be the key to preserving your livelihood as a contractor, freelancer or entrepreneur.
What Counts as a Disability?
To receive the benefits of your disability insurance policy, you will likely have to submit medical records proving that you’ve contracted an illness or injury that prevents you from working. The qualifications for disability benefits vary based on which type of insurance policy you own.
Short-term disability insurance covers conditions such as surgery recovery or injuries from an accident. Pregnant people can also benefit from this insurance.
Long-term disability insurance covers illnesses and injuries, such as cancer, stroke, mental health issues or arthritis, that might prevent someone from working for multiple years.
Disability insurance does not usually cover pre-existing conditions. If an illness or injury was found before the disability coverage began, the condition is probably not covered.
Types of Disability Insurance
The two types of disability insurance are short-term and long-term disability insurance. Both policies provide benefits for people who are unable to work due to injury or illness. The main difference between the two types is how long they provide benefits for.
Short-term disability insurance covers lost income due to a disability for a short period of time, usually between a few weeks and a year. Long-term disability insurance coverage spans a longer time frame, from two years up to the rest of the policyholder’s working life.
Other differences include the type of conditions covered by each policy, when the coverage starts and how much of a person’s wages are provided by the policy.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Disability InsuranceShort-Term Disability Long-Term Disability Coverage Term A few weeks to a year 2 years to when the policyholder reaches retirement age Income Provided Up to 80% of monthly income Up to 60% of monthly income Coverage Start 7 to 30 days after the policyholder is unable to work 30 days to 2 years after the policyholder is unable to work Conditions Covered Surgery recovery, injuries from accidents, pregnancy, childbirth Cancer, mental illness, stroke, arthritis Source: U.S. Chamber of CommerceHow Much Does Disability Insurance Cost?
Both types of disability insurance cost about the same, roughly 1% to 3% of your annual salary. That said, the cost of disability insurance varies and is dependent on several factors, most importantly your age and your health.
Like life insurance, the younger and healthier you are, the less you will pay in premiums. If you have a pre-existing condition that makes you more likely to become disabled, you’ll probably be charged a higher premium. You may also be denied coverage altogether, or your condition might be excluded from coverage by the policy.
Your income also factors into disability insurance premiums. Because disability benefits are a percentage of the policyholder’s income, insurers will pay less benefits to a policyholder with lower income. Therefore, the less money you make, the less you’ll pay in premiums.
Where Can You Buy Disability Insurance?
If you aren’t provided disability insurance coverage through your employer, you can purchase a policy from a private insurance company.
As with purchasing any insurance policy, it’s important to research the provider extensively. You can check financial strength ratings from credit rating agencies like AM Best, which tell you how financially stable the provider is. You can also look at reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see what other customers have said about the company.
These are some of the most financially strong and well-reviewed disability insurance providers in 2023:Learn About Disability Insurance Elimination Periods- Ameritas
- Guardian/Berkshire
- MassMutual
- MetLife
- Mutual of Omaha
- Northwestern Mutual
Frequently Asked Questions About Disability Insurance
Are workers’ compensation and disability insurance the same thing?The biggest difference between workers’ compensation and disability insurance is that workers’ comp covers injuries and illness related to the job, while disability insurance covers conditions that happen outside the workplace.Is disability insurance tax deductible?Premiums from private disability insurance cannot be deducted from your tax liability. If your disability insurance is sponsored by your employer using pre-tax money, the benefits you receive are taxable. Private disability insurance is funded from after-tax money, so the benefit is tax-free.AdvertisementConnect With a Financial Advisor Instantly
Our free tool can help you find an advisor who serves your needs. Get matched with a financial advisor who fits your unique criteria. Once you’ve been matched, consult for free with no obligation.
Please seek the advice of a qualified professional before making financial decisions.Last Modified: March 15, 2023Share This Page:13 Cited Research Articles
Annuity.org writers adhere to strict sourcing guidelines and use only credible sources of information, including authoritative financial publications, academic organizations, peer-reviewed journals, highly regarded nonprofit organizations, government reports, court records and interviews with qualified experts. You can read more about our commitment to accuracy, fairness and transparency in our editorial guidelines.
- Masterson, L. (2023, January 18). Disability Insurance: Learn Why You Need It. Retrieved from https://www.insurance.com/health-insurance/disability-insurance.aspx
- USA.gov. (2023, January 12). Benefits and Insurance for People with Disabilities. Retrieved from https://www.usa.gov/disability-benefits-insurance
- Social Security Administration. (2022, December). Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/basicfact-alt.pdf
- Insureon. (2022, November 7). What Is the Difference Between Workers’ Compensation vs. Disability Insurance? Retrieved from https://www.insureon.com/blog/workers-comp-vs-disability-insurance
- Blakely-Gray, R. (2022, September 7). Short-Term Disability vs. Long-Term Disability. Retrieved from https://www.patriotsoftware.com/blog/payroll/difference-short-term-long-term-disability-insurance-coverage-qualify/
- Fraraccio, M. (2022, August 25). Short-Term vs. Long-Term Disability: What’s the Difference? Retrieved from https://www.uschamber.com/co/run/finance/short-term-vs-long-term-disability
- Byman, J. (2021, December 21). Is Disability Insurance Tax Deductible? Retrieved from https://www.northwesternmutual.com/life-and-money/are-disability-insurance-premiums-tax-deductible
- LifeHappens.org. (2020, June 1). 2020 Insurance Barometer Study Reveals a Significant Decline in Life Insurance Ownership Over the Past Decade. Retrieved from https://lifehappens.org/press/2020-insurance-barometer-study-reveals-a-significant-decline-in-life-insurance-ownership-over-the-past-decade/
- Farm Bureau Financial Services. (2020, March 3). Four Types of People Who Need Disability Insurance. Retrieved from https://www.fbfs.com/learning-center/4-types-of-people-who-need-disability-insurance
- Administration for Community Living. (2020, February 18). What Is Covered by Health & Disability Insurance? Retrieved from https://acl.gov/ltc/costs-and-who-pays/what-is-covered
- Special Needs Alliance. (2012, March). Private Disability Insurance. Retrieved from https://www.specialneedsalliance.org/the-voice/private-disability-insurance-2/
- Freelancers’ Union. (n.d.). What Is Disability Insurance? Retrieved from https://www.freelancersunion.org/insurance/disability/
- LifeHappens.org. (n.d.). Why Is Disability Insurance Important? Retrieved from https://lifehappens.org/disability-insurance-101/why-is-disability-insurance-important/
- Edited By
Your web browser is no longer supported by Microsoft. Update your browser for more security, speed and compatibility.
If you are interested in learning more about buying or selling annuities, call us at 866-528-4784