First... 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. (Learn more about it.)
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.
With some policies, the payments are in effect only until you can be employed in some way. So, if you were a dentist and, after being on disability awhile, 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. Learn more about insurance in our Insurance Center. You may not have thought about some other kinds of insurance, such as long-term care insurance, but they're vital for many people. Take a little time to 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:
