Depression and Your Office Environment: What You Need to Know

Depression, while often hiding in plain sight, ranks among the top three workplace problems for employee assistance professionals, resulting in 3% of total short-term disability days. For context, that’s more disability than what’s caused by heart disease, hypertension and diabetes—all in the form of an illness that isn’t nearly as visible as a broken bone.…

Open Enrollment 2022: The financial risk of Alzheimer’s disease

The Financial Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

By Amy Fontinelle Editor’s Note: This blog post from The Council for Disability Awareness’ member company, MassMutual, defines how much of a problem Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are becoming as people live longer; points out how significant the direct and indirect costs of caring for someone with dementia are becoming; and recommends steps for estate planning and preparation that…

Young professionals in a meeting at work

Disability Insurance Is Important No Matter Your Age —What To Consider

By John Feeney, vice president, group sales and market development for the Renaissance Life & Health Insurance Company of America.   Attention Gen Z and Millennials: disability insurance is an important coverage for you, too. Some view employer-sponsored group disability insurance as an ancillary benefit reserved for older individuals, when in fact, disability insurance should…

The importance of disability insurance for Gen X

Hey Gen X: Time to Protect Your Income

If you’re in your mid-to-late 40s, the options to protect your income may be coming to an end. If you don’t have income-protection disability insurance, you may find it’s more difficult to get it and that the cost is increasing.   Disability insurance? Yes, basic disability insurance is most affordable way to protect your income…

Disability can happen - a personal story

Disability can Happen – But Preparation Makes all the Difference

After Cris Martin discovered a lump on her chest wall, she went into self-advocacy mode – and learned several lessons along the way, including the importance of taking early action, and having group and supplemental individual disability coverage with a good carrier. Three years ago, my life was exactly the way it was supposed to…

LGBTQ+ health challenges

LGBTQ+ Confronted by Increased Disabilities and Reduced Medical Care

As we celebrate Pride Month this June, the world’s LGBTQ+ communities have many hard-won achievements to recognize. In the United States, where the Pride movement began, acceptance of LGBTQ+ people is greater than in many other countries. Yet, the weight of continued discrimination and poor physical health and mental distress is taking a unique toll…

Disability insurance is income insurance. Plan. Prepare. Protect.

Is Disability Income Insurance Worth It?

By Kristina Smith Editor’s Note: You insure your most valuable assets like your home, your car, and your life. Most people would agree that they’re worth protection; however, disability income (DI) insurance is something people tend to be less certain about. They’re not sure if they really need it, or if it’s worth the cost. So, the…

How disability insurance protected my family and finances

Discovering the Real Value of Employer-Provided Benefits

One spring evening, around 8:00pm, my husband, my six-year-old son, my newborn son, and I were headed home after getting dinner. I don’t remember anything else from that night. My name is Emily, and I’ve worked at IBI for five years, assisting with all aspects of Social Security claims. Daily, I’d interact with dozens of…