Disability

We take many things for granted - until they're gone. For too many of us, these include our ability to earn an income. We insure our lives, our homes, our automobiles - but we often forget the asset that supports our lifestyles.

Consider The Facts
According to the 1998 edition of Accident Facts, Published by the National Safety Council...

• While someone makes a 10-minute safety speech, about 370 individuals will suffer a disabling injury.
• An Average of 2,200 disabling injuries occurs every hour during the year.
• In the United States three-fifths of the disabling injuries suffered by workers in 1997 occurred off the job.

Consider The Possibilites
If a disability temporarily keeps you from earning your full-time income, how will you pay your bills during your recovery?

• Will you have to use some of your savings?
• Will you have to sell some of your assets?
• Will you have to try to borrow money?

Your stable financial future is our #1 concern.

Shawn J. S. Vuocolo Health Benefits Specialist Group and Individual 570-323-3600

Every disability insurance plan has a definition of total disability in the policy; you should always know the exact language of this definition before you buy a policy. There are three basic types:

Own-Occupation Disability Insurance
The most comprehensive definition of total disability available. This type of policy will have a definition that says:
    The inability to perform the material and substantial duties of your regular occupation.
    The insurance company will consider your occupation to be the occupation you are engaged in
    at the time you become disabled, they will pay the claim even if you are working in some other capacity.

Income Replacement Insurance
This has become the most common definition of total disability in the industry today. Most insurance carriers that have stopped offering own-occupation disability insurance have moved to an income replacement definition. A typical income replacement definition will look something like this:
    Because of sickness or injury you are unable to perform the material and substantial
    duties of your occupation, and are not engaged in any other occupation.

Gainful Occupation Coverage
This definition of total disability is very common in an employer sponsored group long-term disability insurance policy. This definition leaves the determination of whether or not you are disabled up to the insurance company. A typical definition will look like this:
    Because of sickness or injury you are unable to perform the material and substantial duties
    or your occupation, or any occupation for which you are deemed reasonably qualified by education,
    training, or experience.