Disability Nightmare!
Imagine traveling down Interstate I-75 towards Orlando. The kids are singing “it’s a small world after all” the most annoying song on the planet. You’re so excited you even sing along. Your first vacation since the financial world crashed in 2008.
In an instant, your world has flipped. You wake up and find you’re upside down, held only by the strap of your seat belt.
Your wife and kids, are dazed but seem OK. Your legs are at a funny angle, but don’t hurt.
In a couple of days you awake in a hospital room to find your injuries are more extensive than you could imagine. Your wife is sobbing at your bedside. The words after “paralyzed” don’t sink in….
The recent massive vehicular pile up in Florida brought a disability nightmare to many families. Zero visibility brought on by a roadside fire on one of the busiest stretches of road in the Southeast caused ten deaths and more than twice as many injured. Many of those injured will probably be out of work for months or even years.
For some, their working career may have ended in that brief moment.
You can’t prevent accidents such as this from happening. Living in a cushioned bubble isn’t an option or even desirable.
You owe it to your family, however, to make prudent plans to protect them in the event you are injured and can’t work. That’s the goal.
I hate the damn duck, the little smart ass know-it-all, but…..When you’re hurt and can’t work, having income to cover your bills is a god-send. That ‘s the goal of long term disability insurance.
What is long term disability insurance?
For most people, that goal is best served by a combination of an emergency fund and a long term disability policy. The emergency fund is used to handle the short term bills, a long-term disability policy will cover your families’ needs if you can’t work for a prolonged period.
The longer you can make the waiting period for your disability policy to kick in after your injury or illness, the lower the premium. That means your waiting period should match your liquid savings. If you have enough money for 6 months expenses put away, then by all means, get a disability policy with a 6 months waiting period before benefits begin.
If you only have 3 months, then you may need the shorter waiting period, but remember, you will pay for the privilege.
Shopping for a disability policy:
What should you look for when shopping for disability insurance?
- Get a policy that pays when you can’t work at your major source of income. For instance, if you lost an arm, you might be able to work, but not in your profession.
- Get a policy whose benefits last until you’re eligible for full retirement.
- Use other potential income, such as interest on your investments, to lower your monthly needs, which may allow you to purchase a less expensive policy.
- Check with your employer about possible additional insurance as part of your benefits plan. This may allow you to buy a smaller amount of coverage on your own.
- Remember your spouse’s salary when determining your income needs.
- Your disability replacement income will be adjusted to a figure well below your current salary. No one will sell you a policy for 80 grand/year pay when you only make 20 grand a year. It’s usually made on a fixed percentage of your income.
- Group policies are less expensive. Joining a professional organization in your field may be well worth the annual dues if you become eligible for a group disability policy.
The recent tragedy in Florida should be a wake up call. Your odds of becoming disabled are significantly higher than the chance of an unexpected death. If you are currently without a long-term disability policy, take the time to start investigating your options.
Your family deserves it.
I hate writing that bi-annual check for my long term disability, but I figure it’s money well spent.
Reader questions:
Do you have long term disability insurance? If not, why not?
Recent articles on Disability Insurance:
Money QA has this take on disability.
Smart Money worksheet on disability.
Neal at Wealth Pilgrim has advice for disability for the self-employed.
{photo credit: cdaltonrowe c.c.}
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