There are two types of long term disability insurance. There are those policies that are considered “group” policies. These are usually bought through the workplace or through participation in certain organizations. The other type is “private”. Private long term disability insurance is purchased by the individual and is usually more expensive than policies purchased through group policies.

There are also those group policies that allow participants to add more coverage to an individual policy as long as the person is willing to make the added payment himself. For those who have group coverage this can be a good way to get added protection at discounted prices.

In the area of private long term disability insurance the first thing to understand is that this type of insurance can be expensive. It is almost certainly going to be more expensive than life insurance. However, this type of protection is actually more valuable than life insurance in many ways. Its main value is that it allows you to maintain a close semblance of your lifestyle should you be forced out of work due to illness or injury.

There are some advantages to having private long term disability insurance as well.

The benefits that you receive if you become disabled will be tax-free, as long as you paid the insurance premiums with after-tax money. Another benefit to having private coverage is that the coverage is not bound to your job. In other words, if you change jobs your coverage does not end as would be the case with most group coverage policies.

If your occupation allows for exceptionally high earnings you may need to purchase a special type of private long term disability insurance that will lock in that level of earning should you become disabled. Most group policies use what is known as the “any-occupation” scheme which allows for the less expensive premiums, but also provides a lower amount of benefits. High earners need to take this into consideration when thinking of long term disability insurance.

There are some important things to look for in private disability insurance: You want a policy that is “non-cancellable”. This guarantees that premiums will not be changed as long as you pay them on time and in full. You also want to look for a policy that is to age 65.

You want to avoid policies that are termed as “accident only”. These polices will not pay if you become disabled through illness rather than injury, and some of the accident conditions can be hard to meet.

There are a number of riders that can be bought with most private long term disability insurance and you should go through those carefully as some of them can be very important. Most riders will cost a bit more to implement into the policy but they can be worthwhile should you ever need to use them.

A look at the statistics tells you why. Most people don’t know the actual data of the likelihood of disability or the devastation that a loss of income can cause. Without getting pessimistic one can still take a rational look at one’s own life and see what would happen if income stopped for a long period of time or worse, for the rest of one’s life.

A study was done where people were asked what the chances were of becoming disabled before they retired. The survey showed that the average estimate was a 16% chance. The actual statistics are that men have a 43% chance of a long term disability and women a 54% chance. Also, since most people, especially families get life insurance, to compare the statistics for death and disability, for example, it is four times more likely at age 42 that a person would have a long term disability than die before age 65.

So what is the solution? Take the time to investigate, learn about and then obtain a disability insurance policy. This is not quite as easy a process as getting other kinds of insurance. Why is it not simple?

First of all there is a great difference among the disability insurance programs available. Contract provisions differ among companies. The biggest difference is how each one defines disability. The wording you should look for in a disability insurance contract is one that defines disability as the inability to perform the duties of one’s own occupation.

Also, look for a policy that has a generous recovery and residual benefit. This covers the important area of what happens when or if one returns to work after disability and the likely continuing partial loss of income for some time when one rebuilds one’s business. How this is treated is different from company to company.

So, how do you investigate? With the internet, there is now abundant material available. At one site, Protectyourincome.com, you can watch educational videos on disability insurance, read more on the different details and obtain quotes from the leading disability insurance companies.

A. Office overhead spend of key person disability insurance:
It is the insurance that reimburses the individual for actual business expenses incurred after the key person disability commences such as such as rent, staff salaries, business mortgage loan interest, depreciation or loan principal, and leased or rented equipment. Included would also be telephone, utilities, property taxes. and this kind of insurance generally have below figures
1. Waiting period: 30, 60, 90. 180 days are common.
2. Benefit in general is between $1,000 to $20,000+ and paid monthly.
3. Benefit period: 6 – 36 months.

B. Buy out key person disability insurance for Partnership and small corporation
As we mention in the other article, after a lengthy or permanent disability becomes apparent, buying the disabled party’s business interest becomes increasingly important. because
1.The business may lose money and suffer
2. The survivors face increased difficulties and frustration.
3. The financial position of the disabled person will deteriorate and both sides fear loss of income and assets.
4. In the event of disability without insurance, the buy-out is left open to the uncertainties of chance and negotiation. In such cases, the seller will usually be under a lot of stress/distress. The best solution is required that the parties enter into a buy-sell agreement prior to the disability of the key person and it is funded by criss-cross agreement. Insurance companies will issue both personal disability policies and buy-out insurance on the same life payable on the same disability.

C. Advantages of key person disability insurance
The amount of the benefit provided to the disabled key persons are generally advantageous to the business as well as to the insured.
1. Premium paid to the insurance company can be included in the budget as a fixed expense.
2. The insurance policy automatically provides the funds at the time of greatest need.
3. The premium paid in generally is cheaper than any of the alternatives.

D. The following conditions will usually apply when insurance is used to provide the funding for the buy-out:
1. Third party insurance (owned by a partner or shareholder) must be issued for the agreed upon price and ownership is not transferable.
2. Usually the company needs to be in business for two years or more and show signs of profitability.
3. Financial statements of the business must be submitted prior to issue of the insurance.
4. Normally this type of disability insurance buy-out agreements insurance have a long waiting period of one to two years. The benefit, if monthly, may have a payout period of up to five years.

E. Paid out
There are 2 types of paid out:
1. Monthly Pay-out: the pay-out is paid in monthly installments for the guaranteed term
2. Lump Sum: the pay-out is paid in one large lump sum payment.

I hope this information will help. If you need more information of the above subject, please visit my home page at:

Kyle J. Norton
http://lifeanddisabitityinsuranceunderwriter.blogspot.com/
http://businessinsurance23.blodspot.com

http://businessinsurance11.blodspot.com

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