Like clockwork, millions of Americans go to and from their job every day without incident. For an unfortunate few, today will be different.
That’s why disability insurance exists. If you’re one of the unlucky ones who gets injured or sick — maybe from COVID-19 — you’ll be covered while you’re unable to fulfill the duties of a full-time job.
It serves an obvious purpose, yet the Council for Disability Awareness reports that over 51 million working Americans have no disability insurance at all. That number should surprise you, considering that less than half of Americans have enough savings to cover a mere three months off work.
If you’re skeptical about adding another bill to the pile, here are three things you need to consider.
Table of Contents
1. ‘Disability’ and ‘injury’ are not synonymous
Mygate / Shutterstock
Injuries are a scary reality of the workplace. Each year, 2.8 workers out of 100 suffer a non-fatal injury or illness while on the job, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“But I work in a cubicle, so I’m safe,” you might think. What about arthritis? Digestive disorders? Depression? Even pregnancy can be considered a short-term disability if it hinders your income.
You don’t need to work on an oil rig to be at risk for disability. It pays to start looking at coverage now, which you can do online.
2. Primary earners need to be extra cautious
wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock
Half the country’s workers don’t have enough saved up to cover an unexpected $400 bill, according to the Council for Disability Awareness. Losing income for even a little while would be disastrous.
When you’re the primary earner in your household, you have to expect the unexpected. It doesn’t matter that you’re so physically fit you ran a marathon last year; even the healthiest people get hurt or sick through no fault of their own.
So if you’ve got a family that relies on your steady stream of income, it’s a terrible risk to assume “It won’t happen to me.”
3. Employer coverage is often limited
fizkes / Shutterstock
It’s true that you can obtain disability insurance through an employer-sponsored benefits plan. While your premiums may be less expensive, you get what you pay for.
Group insurance plans typically have a cap on benefits, which can be problematic if you’re one of the higher earners at your company. Plus, your group coverage will only cover a portion of your base salary and won’t account for bonuses earned, including commissions. Oh, and did your employer mention that your benefits can be taxed?
When you get your own disability insurance, you can tailor your coverage to your needs and won’t lose a chunk of your payout to the government.
How to find coverage
G-Stock Studio / Shutterstock
As always, the best time to get disability insurance is right now.
Not only will you be prepared if a serious injury or illness is right around the corner, but you’ll also pay lower premiums when you’re younger. In fact, if you act soon enough, some companies will charge as little as $9 a month.
Nowadays, it’s trivial to apply. A number of great providers will let you skip the medical exam entirely and apply online in minutes. You can find policies to match every income and every type of household.
Once you’re done, you’ll be protected no matter which way the dice fall. That’s peace of mind worth paying for.