Your ability to earn an income is worth more than your home or car. If illness or injury stops you from working, disability insurance can replace up to 60% of your monthly income.
Most people insure their car, home, and health — but not their paycheck. A 3-month disability at the average Texas household income of $74,000 means $18,500 in lost wages. An 18-month disability can wipe out savings built over years.
Source: Social Security Administration disability statistics. 90% of long-term disabilities are caused by illness, not accidents.
CIRS data. Illustrative percentages.
Most DI policies replace 50–70% of your pre-disability income as a monthly benefit — paid directly to you, typically tax-free when you pay the premiums.
True own-occupation DI pays if you can't perform the duties of your specific occupation — even if you could work in a different role. Critical for specialized professions.
Choose how long benefits last: 2 years, 5 years, to age 65, or to age 67. Longer benefit periods provide more comprehensive protection for career-limiting disabilities.
Short-term DI covers the first 3–6 months of disability (after a brief waiting period). Long-term DI takes over after short-term benefits are exhausted and can pay for years.
Disability insurance (DI) pays a monthly benefit if you become unable to work due to illness or injury. It replaces a portion of your income — typically 50–70% — and helps you meet living expenses, mortgage payments, and financial obligations while you recover.
Health insurance pays your medical bills. Disability insurance pays your income when you can't work. Most disabilities that result in lost work time are caused by illness, not accidents — and most people don't have six months of savings to cover an extended disability. Disability insurance bridges this gap.
Own-occupation DI defines disability based on your specific job — you are considered disabled if you can't perform the material duties of your own occupation. This is the gold standard for professionals. "Any occupation" DI requires that you can't perform any job, which is a much harder standard to meet.
The elimination period is the waiting period before benefits begin — typically 30, 60, 90, or 180 days after disability onset. A longer elimination period lowers your premium. Most people pair a 90-day elimination period with a 3-month emergency fund.
Benefits from a policy where you paid the premiums with after-tax dollars are generally received income-tax-free. Benefits from employer-paid group DI are typically taxable as income. An advisor can help you structure coverage for maximum after-tax efficiency.
Yes — individual DI is especially important for self-employed workers who don't have employer-provided group coverage. Our carrier network includes individual disability policies for self-employed professionals, business owners, and contractors. Income documentation (tax returns or profit/loss statements) is typically required.
Get a free disability insurance quote in 2 minutes. A licensed Texas advisor will help you find the right benefit amount and benefit period.
Benefits subject to underwriting approval and policy terms. Maximum benefit amount depends on income documentation.