Title: Disability Insurance: Why You Need It - NerdWallet
Headings: Disability Insurance: Why You Need It and How to Get It
Disability Insurance: Why You Need It and How to Get It
How much does life insurance cost?
Policy length
Coverage amount
Best health
Good health
Average health
Why you need disability insurance
Types of disability insurance
Short term vs. long-term
How to get disability insurance
Buying your own disability policy
4 questions to ask yourself
1. How much of your income would you need to replace to maintain your lifestyle if you became disabled and couldn't work?
2. How long could you wait before the disability benefits kicked in?
3. How long would you want the benefits to last?
4. How broadly would you define "disability"?
Features of employer-sponsored and individual disability insurance
Other ways to find disability insurance
Dive even deeper in Insurance
Life Insurance Quotes

Content: One reason people shrug off the risk is they think about worst-case scenarios, such as spinal cord injuries leading to quadriplegia or horrific accidents that result in amputation, Harnett says. But back injuries, cancer, heart attacks, diabetes and other illnesses lead to most disability claims. “The questions people have to ask are, ‘What would you do if you couldn’t work? How far could you go without a paycheck?' ” Harnett says. [Back to top]
Types of disability insurance
There are two main types of disability insurance — short-term and long-term coverage. Both replace a portion of your monthly base salary up to a cap, such as $10,000, during disability. Some long-term policies pay for additional services, such as training to return to the workforce. Short term vs. long-term
Short-term disability insurance
Long-term disability insurance
Typically replaces 60% to 70% of base salary
Typically replaces 40% to 60% of base salary
Pays out for a few months to one year, depending on the policy
Benefits end when the disability ends. If the disability continues, benefits end after a certain number o