DISABILITY INSURANCE
Disabling injuries affect millions of Americans each year. Disability insurance, which complements health insurance, helps replace lost income if an individual is unable to work due to a disability.
There are three basic ways to replace income.
1. Employer-Paid Disability Insurance
This is required in most states, including New York. Most employers provide some short-term sick leave. Many larger employers provide long-term disability coverage as well, typically with benefits of up to 60 percent of salary lasting for a period of up to five years until the age of 65, and in some cases extended for life.
2. Social Security Disability Benefits
This is paid to workers whose disability is expected to last at least 12 months and is so severe that no gainful employment can be expected.
3. Individual Disability Income Insurance Policies
Other limited replacement income is available for workers under some circumstances from workers compensation (if the injury or illness is job-related), auto insurance (if disability results form an auto accident) and the Department of Veterans Affairs. For most workers, even those with some employer-paid coverage, an individual disability income policy is the best way to ensure adequate income in the event of disability. Workers who buy a private disability income policy can expect to replace from 50 percent to 70 percent of income. Disability benefits paid out on individual disability policies are not taxed; benefits from employer-paid policies are subject to income tax.
Types of Disability Insurance
There are two types of disability policies: Short-term disability and Long-term disability. Short-term policies have a waiting period of 0-14 days with a maximum benefit period of no longer than two years. Long-term policies have a waiting period of several weeks to several months with a maximum benefits period ranging from a few years to a lifetime.
Disability policies have two different protection features: noncancelable and guaranteed renewable. Noncancelable means that the policy cannot be canceled by the insurance company, except for nonpayment of premiums. This gives the policyholder the right to renew the policy every year without an increase in the premium or a reduction in benefits. Guaranteed renewable gives the policyholder the right to renew the policy with the same benefits and not have the policy canceled by the company. However, the insurer has the right to increase premiums as long as it does so for all other policyholders in the same rating class.
There are several options and factors to consider when purchasing a disability policy.
- Additional Purchase Options
The insurance company gives the policyholder the right to buy additional insurance at a later time.
- Coordination of Benefits
The amount of benefits policyholders receive from their insurance companies is dependent on other benefits they receive because of the disability. The policy specifies a target amount the policyholder will receive from all the policies combined and will make up the difference not paid by other policies.
- Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
The COLA increases disability benefits over time based on the increased cost of living measured by the Consumer Price Index. Policyholders will pay a higher premium if they select the COLA.
- Residual or Partial Disability Rider
This provision allows workers to return to work part-time, collecting part of their salaries and receiving a partial disability payment if they are still partially disabled.
- Return of Premium
This provision requires the insurance company to refund part of the premium if no claims are made for a specific period of time declared in the policy.
- Waiver of Premium Provision
This clause means that the policyholder does not have to pay premiums on the policy after he or she is disabled for 90 days.
Source: Insurance Information Institute www.iii.org
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