Disability insurance for your earning power
Your ability to earn a paycheck may be worth millions over a career, yet it's the asset most people never insure. Disability insurance replaces a share of your income if illness or injury stops you from working.
Replaces 60–70% of income · Often tax-free · Portable
What happens if the paycheck stops?
Health insurance covers your medical bills. It does nothing for the income that keeps the household running. That's the gap disability insurance fills.
Mortgage & rent
Could you keep making housing payments with no paycheck?
Family support
How long could your family hold their standard of living?
Savings & retirement
Would you be forced to drain accounts meant for later?
Medical bills
Health coverage pays the doctor, not your lost income.
How we size a benefit
We start with your income and the years left until 65. Assuming roughly 3% annual raises, that future income is the earning power a policy protects. A typical benefit targets about 60% of current income, paid monthly.
Actual issue limits depend on the insurer's issue-and-participation limits, your occupation class, other coverage, health and policy design. For physicians and specialists we generally prioritize a true own-occupation policy; for executives and attorneys, an individual own-occupation policy layered over any group plan; for business owners, an individual policy paired with Business Overhead Expense; for other professionals, a strong long-term policy with a residual rider.
Types of disability coverage
Most strong plans layer more than one.
Short-term disability (STD)
Replaces income for temporary disabilities, typically the first 3 to 6 months after a waiting period of 0–14 days. It bridges the gap before long-term coverage begins.
- Covers pregnancy, surgery recovery and injuries
- STD alone won't protect you from a serious, lasting disability
Long-term disability (LTD)
The core of income protection. Pays for disabilities lasting months or years, often to retirement age, after a waiting period of 30–180 days.
- Benefit period: 2 years up to age 65+
- Covers chronic illness, serious injury and cancer
- Group LTD is often capped and taxable; an individual policy fills the gap and moves with you
Own-occupation coverage
Pays benefits if you can't perform your specific occupation, even if you could earn income in another field. For specialists this definition is the most important part of the policy.
- Ideal for physicians, dentists, attorneys and specialists
- Watch for true own-occupation versus modified definitions
- A modified or any-occupation definition can deny benefits if you can work any job
Business Overhead Expense (BOE)
Covers your business's fixed operating costs if you become disabled, so rent, utilities and staff are paid while you recover.
- Built for owners and the self-employed
- Premiums are typically tax-deductible
- Reimburses business expenses, not personal income; pair it with an individual policy
The riders that make a policy strong
These details separate a real income-protection plan from a checkbox one. We'll help you choose what's worth paying for.
Elimination period
The wait before benefits begin. Longer waits (90–180 days) lower premiums; match it to your emergency savings.
Benefit period
How long benefits pay, from 2 years to age 65 or longer.
Cost-of-living (COLA)
Grows your benefit with inflation each year, which matters when a disability lasts many years.
Future increase option
Raise coverage as your income grows, with no new medical underwriting.
Residual / partial benefits
Pays a partial benefit if you can work but earn less while recovering.
Non-cancelable & guaranteed renewable
Locks in your policy and premium; the insurer can't cancel or raise rates while you pay on time.
Who benefits most
Anyone whose family depends on their paycheck should protect it, but a few groups have the most on the line.
Medical professionals
Physicians, surgeons, dentists and nurses with specialized skills and high incomes.
Attorneys & executives
High earners with significant obligations and career-specific expertise.
Business owners
Entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals without employer benefits.
Primary breadwinners
Anyone whose family relies on their income for the mortgage, bills and daily life.
Tech professionals
Engineers, developers and IT specialists with high-demand skills.
Young professionals
Early-career earners, when coverage is most affordable and future income is greatest.
Protect your income with an experienced advisor
Michael Oskouian, co-founder of First Underwriters, has helped professionals, business owners and families protect their income for more than three decades, comparing true own-occupation coverage across A-rated carriers.
“People insure their cars and their homes but forget the engine behind all of it — their income. My job is to make sure that if your paycheck ever stops, your family's life doesn't have to.”
Protect your income today
Tell us a little about you and we'll build a personalized disability quote. For a full quote with health and coverage details, use the complete disability quote form.
- We compare true own-occupation coverage across A-rated carriers
- Straight talk on which riders are worth paying for
- No cost to compare
Ready for a full disability quote?
The complete quote form covers your occupation, income, current coverage and health, so we can bring back accurate options.
Coverage descriptions are general summaries for education. They are not a quote, a contract, or financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Actual disability benefit amounts, definitions and eligibility are set by the issuing insurer and depend on your occupation class, income, other coverage, health and the policy you choose. Statistics shown are general industry figures. Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer.