People always imagine disaster will strike somewhere else, until it happens to them. The consequences of disability at work, while not overlooked, are often taken lightly by many. The numbers speak for themselves: in Canada, statistics show that one in three people will be disabled for at least three months before the age of 65.
It’s somewhat ironic that insuring cars, homes and possessions has become nearly automatic, while ensuring income, which grants access to all of the above, is still marginal for those who don’t benefit from a group insurance.
Many business owners and / or self-employed workers unfortunately still neglect this aspect by failing to examine it and understand the consequences that may result from lack of protection. The same entrepreneurs are often indispensable to their organization, the sustainability of which rests on their shoulders more often than not.
Knock on wood, but unfortunate endings can occur when disease strikes or an accident takes us by surprise. Take the example of businessman Pierre Daigle. Following a serious bicycle accident, Mr. Daigle, formerly head of one of Canada's most successful bicycle stores, had no choice but to turn to professional and personal bankruptcies. Although he took all the necessary precautions for his family in case of death, a simple formality deprived him of entitlement to his disability insurance, hence the importance of acquiring adequate protection. As a self-employed worker, you need to be well insured, because you can only rely on yourself if something goes wrong.
What you must know about disability insurance
- Duration of the benefits: Benefits until age 65 are the most common. However, compensation periods of 2 or 5 years are also possible. Isabelle Gaudreau, from La Capitale, mentions that the younger the insured, the more advantageous it is, especially since in the event of a disability occurring early in the work life, the lost income can easily be calculated in millions of dollars. Our ability to generate income during our work lives can generate millions of dollars, hence the importance of insuring it.
- Waiting time before obtaining your first benefit (waiting period): in general, it varies from 30 to 120 days. The shorter the time, the higher your premium will be. The delay often recommended to our customers is 90 days. Obviously, in these cases we suggest having an emergency fund if needed.
- The possibility of increasing the amount of your coverage in the future: this option allows you to increase the amount of your coverage in the future without having to go through the underwriting process. This is very useful when a health problem occurs later as it will not be taken into account. In addition, this option is particularly useful when you expect an increase in income.
- Coverage in case of incapacity to practice your usual profession: in general, disability insurance policies protect the profession pursued for a period of 2 years. After that, if the insured is able to perform another occupation to which their education or experience prepares them, the insurer could stop the payment of benefits. By protecting your profession, you may continue to receive benefits even if your insurer deems you fit to perform another type of employment.
Disability insurance needs from one person to another may differ. Each person is different, as is every professional situation. The important thing is to be well insured according to your needs. The financial security advisor will guide you on this subject. Advice, support and rigorous follow-up, the advisor is a key ally capable of guiding you to reach and even exceed your financial goals, while ensuring that you are well protected.
In short, a valuable asset and a winning collaboration on all fronts.