Oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Christopher C. “Chris” Babcock has leveraged his MD and DMD in a Louisville practice for more than two decades. In 2014, Christopher C. Babcock, DMD, took a break from his career after enduring a severe spinal injury. His comprehensive disability insurance coverage contributed to his ability to maintain financial security. Since then, he has advocated for the widespread purchase of disability policies.
One out of every three working-age Americans will experience a disability or illness that will prevent them from working for 90 days or longer. Disability insurance serves as a financial buffer by replacing a percentage of a policyholder’s income until they are able to return to work. Coverage is provided at varying levels, with higher payouts usually incurring higher premiums. Before starting a policy, people should determine how much coverage they need.
No disability insurance plan will replace 100 percent of income, but the ideal payout amount should cover basic monthly expenses. There are also other factors to take into account. For example, people on disability leave often reduce their discretionary spending due to little or no commuting costs.
Depending on the extent of the disability, some people may choose to reduce their necessary costs even more by moving to an area with a lower cost of living. Further, the insurance payout may be subject to taxes. For these reasons, financial experts advise selecting a policy that compensates up to 70 percent of lost income. Higher-income earners can also purchase supplemental policies.
