"Disabled" May Not Mean What You Think

Before we begin, a question: you have disability insurance, right? You can often get it via your employer, though it can sometimes make sense to buy your own policy that will cover you from job to job. You can learn more here.

In the disability insurance field, the term "disabled" varies by policy, so make sure you understand the terms of any coverage you have or are considering and what does and doesn't count as disability. A disability might be anything from a broken leg to brain damage incurred in a stroke -- basically, it's something that prevents you from performing your job. Even pregnancy and recovery from it can qualify as disabilities in some plans.

Some policies are in effect only until you can be employed in some way. So, if you were a dentist and, after being on disability a while, you regain enough mobility to become employed as a receptionist, your disability payments will end. With other policies, you're considered disabled until you can resume your original line of work.

Disability insurance is a dangerous thing to ignore, and it's just one kind of insurance that you may not have thought about. Other types of insurance, such as long-term care insurance, can be vital for many people. Take a little time to check out our insurance center and learn more, and you may be very happy you did, if some calamity occurs in the future.

You can also learn a lot in our retirement area, which tackles many related topics. And here are some related articles:

• Prepare to Be Disabled
• Got Disability Insurance?
• Do I Need Disability Insurance?

If you're in the market for insurance, another way to learn about options is to spend some time at insurers' websites. Some companies that are members of the Council of Disability Insurers include:

MetLife
Mutual of Omaha
Principal Financial Group
Standard Insurance Company
Sun Life Financial
The Guardian
The Hartford