Securing Your Future With
Disability Insurance
There may be a
time in life when you may not be able to work due to illness or some
other medical condition, whether temporarily or permanently. Such a
condition may result in a loss of income during that period. While
the state does provide compensation at such times through social
security programs, many insurance companies too offer insurance
against loss of income during the disability period.
Although
nearly all insurance companies offer disability insurance, the terms
may differ according to each company’s policies. Since insurance
companies are in business, they keep their business interests
foremost. Hence, it is advisable to understand the implications of
the terms before buying disability insurance. The terms and
conditions laid out in the policy document should be studied
carefully, and any ambiguities should be clarified with the
insurance broker.
Disability is
defined as a medical condition that prevents working in an
occupation which a person has ’enjoyed or has become accustomed to’.
When you buy a disability insurance policy, make sure that the terms
of the policy articulates an express statement about this. This is
important, because under the terms of many companies, disability is
a condition that prevents you from being gainfully employed in ‘any’
occupation.
The
implication of this being, that even though you may be unable to
work in the occupation you were engaged in just before being
disabled, but are able to work elsewhere, you would not be entitled
to receive the disability benefit. Therefore, in order to enable you
to receive the disability benefit when you are unable to pursue the
job in which you are skilled, the terms should state that
entitlement shall accrue when you are unable to pursue your ‘own
occupation’.
Then, check
the elimination or the waiting period, which denotes the time
between the beginning of the disability, and the first payment under
the policy. You can opt for an elimination period of 30, 60, 90,180,
360 or 720 days. Your choice would govern the amount of the premium.
A shorter elimination period would attract a higher premium.
Finally, check
the benefit period, which is the duration for which the benefit is
payable. This can be a 2 to 5 year period, depending on the type of
policy. Some companies have policies that cover payments of up to 65
years of age. Longer benefit periods have higher premiums.
Disability has
been divided into two categories: the first being short-term
disability, and the other long-term disability. Illness, physical
injury or pregnancy is covered under the short-term disability.
However, no benefits are payable under this category, if the
policyholder is qualified for workers’ compensation. Besides, the
period of disability without medical supervision is also excluded.
This category of coverage elapses after 180 days. Any disability
beyond 180 days comes under the long-term category. The coverage
starts from the 181st day of the disability, and the benefits are
payable up to regular retirement age, based on the date of birth.
A disability
insurance policy can be purchased to pay monthly payments from $300
to $5000, subject to a maximum of one third of the gross monthly
salary.
By Joseph
Kenny (http://www.selectloans.co.uk)
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Yes - You
Do Need A Disability Insurance
People are
often unsure whether or not they actually need disability insurance.
This is a decisional problem. Considering the fact that with all
those bills to be paid every month, one is often not ready to get
another sum on one's head.
We all go for
spending only when we feel that the thing is actually needed. No
doubt, the insurance comes in as a saving grace when the going gets
tough in times of injury and illness, but we still have the
question- is it really important? Yes, it is. It is important for
nearly everyone because misfortune does not have a merit list to
follow. It can fall on anyone, anytime. There is no logic to it and
the weatherman can't predict the hail. So, be prepared. If you still
need reasons, here are few:
1.Ask yourself
if you could get seriously sick. No matter how good a shape you are
in currently. There is always a chance of your getting serious sick
without any initial warnings, medical or divine. So, on that count
nearly everyone's case tests positive.
2.Can I suffer
and accidental injury? Nearly everyone can. Even if you do not go
out, and do not drive at a breakneck speed, there is still a chance
of an unforeseen injury. How? Well, haven't you heard of
slipping-in-the-bathroom stories? If you have, there is a good
chance that some of them were true and not just excuses for escaping
a lunch commitment or a day's office work. However, if you work in
an industry that employs heavy machinery or makes it, your chances
of accidental injury are particularly higher. And this necessitates
disability insurance for you.
3.Another
important question is if you can afford to self-finance your medical
bills and recovery. Some can, most can't. There may be many of us
who are relatively well off and can deal with it pretty much.
However, there is no way one could gauge as to how serious will be
ailment or injury and how much money would it require for treatment.
An additional safety net means additional security. What's the harm
in it?
Therefore,
nearly every one of us, irrespective of one's financial standing,
needs an additional coverage. It is just an additional assurance
that no matter how rough the weather is, there is sufficient
resources tucked away to live on. This makes one live more fully,
more freely and with greater freedom. So, once you get a disability
insurance policy for yourself, you can take a deep breath of peace.
Isn’t that wonderful?
By Joann Grant
(www.about-disability.com)
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