| You probably wouldn't think twice about the fact that | | | | You also may be eligible for your company's long-term |
| health insurance is absolutely essential, but what about | | | | disability insurance plan, if they have one. This may |
| disability insurance? It's just as important. No matter | | | | cover you in a situation where an injury or illness |
| how careful you are about job safety or staying | | | | prevents you from working for a very long time, or |
| healthy, sometimes there is nothing you can do to | | | | even for your lifetime. Check with your state laws to |
| prevent an accident or illness. While your health | | | | see what your employer is required to provide you |
| insurance is vital in getting you treatment, what | | | | with, and ask your benefits department to explain the |
| happens when you can't go back to work right away | | | | plan in detail. |
| because you're recovering? Your bills need to be paid, | | | | While you are investigating your insurance options, you |
| and your family needs to eat. This is why disability | | | | may wonder what some of the terms used really |
| insurance is absolutely necessary. | | | | mean, like 'non-cancelable' or 'guaranteed renewable'. |
| Disability benefits will help you with your cost of living | | | | Non-cancelable means that your policy can never be |
| during the time that you are not well enough to return | | | | changed or canceled, unless you don't pay your |
| to work. They will usually not pay enough money to | | | | premiums. This helps to make sure you aren't |
| equal your working wages, but should be enough to | | | | discriminated against when you are not well enough to |
| pay your basic bills. Almost all disability insurance does | | | | work. Guaranteed renewable means that the policy will |
| not begin immediately, but requires a waiting period of | | | | be the same every year, and the premiums cannot be |
| two weeks to several months. | | | | increased, which means that you don't have to pay |
| If you are expected to be unable to work at all for at | | | | more after having a workplace accident, unlike a lot of |
| least a year, you may be eligible to have Social | | | | auto insurance. If you don't understand any other terms |
| Security pay you disability benefits. The amount you | | | | in your policy, be sure to ask your insurance |
| will receive will depend on your age and how much | | | | administrator to explain them, or look them up yourself. |
| money you were making at your job. | | | | You may think that this sounds like a lot of work, but |
| There are also types of disability insurance that your | | | | it's really not too difficult. Understanding the principles of |
| employer may offer, where the premiums are taken | | | | disability insurance will allow you to make the right |
| out of your paycheck. Almost all employers are | | | | choice of an insurance policy for your unique situation, |
| required by law to offer short-term disability insurance | | | | and to be reassured that your family and your home |
| of some sort, like paid sick leave, although the amount | | | | will be protected in the event of sudden illness or an |
| of time available may vary from just a few days up to | | | | accident on the job. |
| six months, or even two years. | | | | |