Five Income Protection Insurance Myths

By Paul Fromm, Principal Financial Group

Don’t think about income protection insurance for a moment. Instead, a simple yes or no question: If you could set aside a small portion of your current paycheck to protect millions of your future income, would you?

If you’re like most people, the answer to this question is, “yes!”

Now, another question: If you could get disability insurance to protect millions in future income, would you? If you’re like most people, now you’re not so sure.

The second we hear “disability insurance,” we tend to think, “It won’t happen to me” and the topic is closed. Income protection insurance myths like that are everywhere and get in the way of making progress toward financial security.

I think it’s time to set the record straight.

Myth #1—It Won’t Happen to Me, I Expect to Stay Healthy

It’s a nice thought, but optimism is not a financial strategy. One out of every four workers will become too sick or hurt to work before they retire.¹ What are the causes of those disabilities? Most people think it’s accidents.

The fact is, most are caused by illnesses (e.g., back pain, cancer, arthritis). That’s why income protection insurance is so important.

Myth #2—Income Protection Insurance is Too Expensive

Most of us tend to overestimate the cost of income protection insurance. The actual yearly cost is just one to three percent of your income. On a daily basis, that’s about what you’d spend on a latte each day (except your latte won’t help replace potentially millions in lost income).

Myth #3—The Government Has Me Covered

Your chances of getting approved for Social Security disability benefits are slim, and getting slimmer as the U.S. faces solvency issues with the fund.

Already, nearly six of 10 people who apply for Social Security disability benefits are declined. ²

Myth #4—I’ll Buy it Later

Sure, you can wait. But, just like saving for retirement, the sooner you take action, the better. The best time to get income protection insurance is now.

Since we don’t get healthier as we get older, the longer we wait, the more costly coverage becomes. And, if your health changes significantly, you may no longer qualify for a policy.

Myth #5—I Can Rely on My Savings and Retirement

If you have enough money to get through the loss of income for an extended period of time, congratulations—you’re in an exclusive club!

Most of us, however, can’t afford to deplete our savings or retirement accounts (this strategy merely takes future income to pay for current needs).

Now that those myths are cleared up, I’d like to end with one more question: What other myths or concerns do you have about income protection insurance? I’d love to help set the record straight.

¹ Social Security Administration, Fact Sheet, April 2014.

² Social Security Administration, Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2013.

Disability insurance has limitations and exclusions.

A version of this article originally appeared at the Principal Financial Group website.

Image via Principal Financial Group

About Council for Disability Awareness

Council for Disability Awareness has written 478 posts in this blog.

The Council for Disability Awareness is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the American public about the risk and consequences of experiencing an income-interrupting illness or injury. The CDA engages in research, communications, and educational activities that provide information and helpful resources to wage earners, employers, financial advisors, consultants, and others who are concerned about the personal and financial impact a disability can have on wage earners and their families.