Protecting Your Most Important Asset
What's your most important asset? Your home? Other property? Savings? For most Americans, one particular asset is more important than any of these. Everything most people own is dependent on their ability to earn an income. It's that steady paycheck that allows you to hold on to what you have.
If you became unable to work because of sickness or injury, how would you pay your monthly bills? Generations of Americans continue to depend on disability income insurance, which was introduced by Mutual of Omaha and other companies in the early 1900s. Disability income insurance provides protection for your income. It's an affordable solution that pays a monthly benefit while you are disabled and can't work due to a covered sickness or injury.
The Risk of Disability
According to The National Safety Council Injury Facts 2005-2006 Edition, a disabling injury occurs every second.
Nobody wants to think about becoming disabled, but ignoring the risks could result in a catastrophe. Research conducted by the Health Insurance Association of America indicates that most Americans cannot afford to miss more than two months of work without having to borrow money. However, borrowing often isn't feasible because it can be tough to get approved for a loan without an income. Social Security will pay disability benefits, but only after a lengthy waiting period. You can tap your savings, but that will exhaust most workers' savings in about two months. Selling your assets is a last resort - but you may not get fair value for your assets and then you'll have nothing.
Disability Income Insurance Provides a Bridge
Disability income insurance provides a bridge over times of trouble. Disability income insurance can be designed to provide a significant portion of your regular monthly income (generally 60 percent) and benefits can be timed to begin according to need.
Disability income policies can also continue to pay benefits during rehabilitation, job re-training and part-time employment. A survivor benefit can pay a lump-sum benefit to your beneficiary if you die during a period of disability. Optional features (riders) can be added to most disability income policies at extra cost. Riders include a cost of living adjustment to compensate for inflation and a return of premium rider. The Return of Premium rider allows the consumer to specify that a portion of the premiums (sometimes up to 80 percent) will be paid back - less any claims paid - after the insurance has been in force for 10 years. Owners of small businesses who select disability income insurance can have business operating expense coverage that will help pay business costs including rent, utilities and interest on business loans.
Disability income insurance also provides some benefits that are intangible, but still very important. One of the most important reasons people purchase disability income insurance is that it helps give them peace of mind to know that bills will be paid in the event of a disabling illness or injury.