We always work hard to put food on the table and meet other financial needs. Like the way you protect your car, home, and family, you should also protect yourself against potential injury at the workplace.
Try to think about your source of income. What will happen if you are not able to work because of an illness or injury? Will you be able to sustain your current lifestyle? How about your mortgage and other bills?
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So you don’t have to worry about how you and your family will survive if something happens to you.
Some companies or employers provide long term disability insurance to their employees. However, if you are self-employed or your employer doesn’t have this type of insurance, it would be good to buy a personal disability insurance cover.
The first step in getting long term disability insurance is by getting in touch with an independent insurance agent. An insurance agent will help you understand how long term and short term disability insurance covers work.
- Disability: Don’t take it for granted
Any worker has a chance of getting disabled. That’s why it is not good to think that you can’t be a victim – regardless of your place of work. Some people think that only people who work at construction sites and manufacturing plants can get injured at work. This is not true.
Below are some of the statistics about disability:
- The chances of an average worker getting disabled are 30 percent
- 12 percent of the workforce in America receive disability benefits
- At least one in eight workers will be disabled for a minimum of eight years during their work-life
What is covered by long-term disability insurance?
Long term disability insurance covers for illnesses and injuries that limit a person from working. It, however, doesn’t cover pregnancy and childbirth. Long term disability insurance covers illness and injuries for a longer time compared to short term disunity.
Below is a list of the most common long term disability cases according to the Council of Disability Awareness:
- Cancer
- Connection/musculoskeletal tissue disorders such as osteoarthritis and back pain
- Poisoning/injuries
- Mental disorders
- Circulatory/cardiovascular disorders
If a person experiences a debilitating injury, they may have to wait for a longer period before getting the disability benefits. In most cases, long term disability insurance benefits take approximately 90 days to release or even longer.
After settling everything with the insurance, you will be able to receive the benefits for a long time – up to your retirement age (65 years) or until you heal. However, there are some insurance policies where the beneficiaries can receive benefits for the rest of their life.
Which is the best disability insurance cover?
You should ensure that you choose the right type of disability insurance to protect you and your family.
Nonetheless, sometimes it might not be easy to know which insurance policy is appropriate for you. This is because it is difficult for an injury or illness will keep you away from work or if ever you will be able to work again.
One major difference between long term disability insurance and short term disability insurance is that the premiums for a short term disability cover are much lower than a long-term cover.
There’s no doubt that a long term injury or illness can greatly affect your finances. Although your savings might help you whither the storm for a few months, a two or three-year battle with a chronic disease can drain your resources very fast.
If you were to choose between long-term and short-term disability insurance, it would wise to go for a long-term disability cover. This is because long term disability insurance provides more benefits for a longer period of time.
What should disability insurance companies know from you?
When applying for a long term disability insurance cover, there is some information that the insurance company will want to know – that you may not have provides for other insurance policies.
For example, they will want to know about your age and the status of your health. These are the two main factors that will be used to calculate the price of premiums.
In case you are buying the disability insurance policy from a private company, you will also be asked to take a medical exam.
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How to purchase a disability insurance policy
Some employers may provide both long term and short term insurance covers to their employees. Although some employees pay a small percentage of premiums, some deduct the entire premium amount from their salary.
An employer disability insurance plan is often a default choice for many workers. However, it is important to note that your employer will only pay 60 to 70 percent of your salary in case of an injury or illness.
In other words, the insurance benefits might not be enough, especially if the cost of medical treatment is high.
If you are going to purchase a disability insurance cover, it is good to ask pertinent questions to understand the policy properly.
Below are some of the questions you should ask the insurance company:
- What comprises a legitimate claim? – It is important to know the exact benefits you will be receiving in case of an injury or illness
- What is your specific waiting period? – Note that the waiting period for getting the insurance benefits will affect the cost of premiums.
- Find out if you will be able to change the policy without repercussions – Some insurance companies will require that you undergo another medical exam if you want to extend or make changes in your disability insurance. If they find out that your health status has deteriorated somehow, then the amount for premiums will be increased.
In general, long term disability insurance is important to every employee. You never know what the future holds.