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Is Your Income Protected if You Become Disabled?
Kenneth McCreery • August 25, 2021
Is Your Income Protected if You Become Disabled?
You likely have life insurance. You know that your family will be okay should your life end prematurely. But what if you become disabled? There’s a good chance that you don’t have sufficient resources or insurance to replace lost income if you find yourself unable to work. Most Americans fail to consider the ramifications of short or long-term disability.
If you’re self-employed, the likelihood that you have sufficient disability protection is even less. Disability insurance is pricey, yet imperative, unless you have the financial resources to survive without an income for an extended period of time.
Avoid financial disaster by preparing yourself for the possibility of disability:
1. An emergency fund offers short-term protection against income loss. An emergency fund isn’t just for replacing a broken refrigerator or paying the bills after the loss of a job. Your emergency fund can replace wages lost due to disability. Unless your emergency fund is substantial, it will be insufficient if you’re disabled in the long-term.
2. A few states have disability programs. If you’re lucky enough to live in Rhode Island, California, New York, New Jersey, or Hawaii, you might be already covered for short-term disability.
3. Social Security can provide disability assistance. However, the definition of disabled isn’t easily met. Your disability must be expected to last for at least 12 months or likely to result in death. You must be unable to do your current job and unable to adjust to other employment.
• Roughly only 30% of applicants are approved. The monthly payment is based on a percentage of your usual pay. Only around $1,200 each month is the average amount.
4. Your employer may offer disability insurance. The limits of group disability insurance plans are normally up to 60% of your salary or $5,000 per month, whichever is less. If you’re used to going through life with a $150,000 salary, a few changes might be in order if you ever have to use your disability insurance.
5. Purchase your own disability policy. Disability insurance is expensive to acquire on your own, but there are many options available. Keep in mind that there is a waiting period, typically 90 days before the policy goes into effect.
• Pay attention to the definition of “disabled.” It might mean you’re unable to work at your current job. It might mean that you’re unable to work any job. The cost of the policy is largely dependent on the definition of “disabled.”
• The benefits period can vary. It might end at a certain age, or only be in effect for a set number of years.
• The elimination period is the amount of time after your disability before the policy begins to pay.
• The monthly benefit amount can be chosen. You might need more or less than someone else.
• While life insurance costs around 25 cents per $1,000 of coverage, disability insurance is around $20 per $1,000 of coverage. That’s 80 times more expensive! However, if you’re under 65, you’re much more likely to become disabled for at least 90 days than you are to die.
6. Worker’s compensation. If you’re injured at your place of employment and unable to work, you’re covered under workers’ compensation. However, you’re three times more likely to receive an injury outside of work that limits your ability to work. You don’t receive workers’ compensation if that happens.
Review your financial situation and decide if you’re adequately covered should you be unable to work for an extended period of time. Your income is your most important asset. It’s important to protect it. For your financial security, ensure that you and your family will have a sufficient income if you can’t work.
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Are your retirement assets are protected from creditors? Just like anything with retirement planning, it depends on the circumstance. Consider a few things to consider while planning for your retirement. Articles about retirement planning typically discuss saving for the future and using different investment vehicles to help grow savings. You also may encounter articles about distribution methods for tax efficiency and longevity in retirement. How about protecting investments? No, not protection from the market, inflation, or other retirement risks, but protection from outside parties such as creditors. Here are a few things to know: Employer-sponsored plans covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) are pr otected from creditors under federal law (certain exceptions apply). Simple IRAs and SEP-IRAs, though considered ERISA, are not covered under federal law. Non-ERISA employer plans are not protected under federal law; however, they may be protected under state law. IRAs and Roth IRAs may be covered under state law. Each state has different thresholds of protection and exemptions vary. These are just general items to know regarding asset protection. The plan is to get ahead of a situation before it happens with the hope it doesn’t happen at all. It is also wise to seek legal advice in their specific states so there are no surprises in the long run. Retirement planning is a process. A good plan does not mean just protection just from the market, but also from creditors and third parties. Laying out a plan and understanding your risks could lead to success in retirement.
9 Important Medicare Mistakes to Avoid Medicare is complicated. This is the major criticism against it. Many Medicare mistakes occur on a regular basis. Avoiding these mistakes ensures that you’ll have far fewer challenges in getting the care you require. If you haven’t enrolled in Medicare yet, you’ll be well ahead of the game by keeping these mistakes in mind. Prevention is the best medicine. If you’re currently enrolled, you can save yourself a lot of money and grief by determining that you’re not committing any of these common mistakes. Avoid these common Medicare mistakes: Assuming that the best Part D Plan is the same as that of your spouse. Consider your prescription needs. They may not be the same as your spouse’s needs. Be sure to determine the coverage for the specific medications you take on a regular basis. Determine your out-of-pocket expenses separately for yourself and your spouse. Ensure that you’re both on the best plan for your individual situations. Assuming you haven’t worked enough to qualify for Medicare. It’s only necessary to work for 40 quarters, or 10 years, in order to avoid paying the dreaded Part A premiums. Part A covers hospital expenses. Be certain that you don’t qualify instead of making assumptions. Believing that open enrollment is the only time you can make a change. There are qualifying circumstances that will allow you to change your plan outside of the usual October 15th through December 7th window. Do your research to see if any apply to you. Not realizing that you can sign up for Medicare when you turn 65: If you’re not receiving social security benefits, you’ll have to sign up for Medicare manually. It’s possible to sign up online. If you are receiving social security benefits, you’re automatically enrolled in Medicare. Paying significantly more in premiums due to a slight increase in income. Earning more than $85,000 per year can increase your premiums significantly. If you’re close to the limit, it’s worthwhile to make a few adjustments to stay below the $85,000 ceiling. Attempting to combine a health savings account and Medicare Part A. You can’t do both. You can continue contributing to your HSA after the age of 65, but you can’t enroll for Part A coverage. Determine which is more valuable for you. Failing to get expert advice. Given how complicated Medicare can be, one of the worst things you can do is to trust the advice of a friend. Your unique financial and health situations are important factors to consider when making Medicare decisions. Your friend’s advice is influenced by his own situation. If you have questions, find a true expert. Failing to sign up because you’re still employed. Depending on the quality of your employer’s insurance plan, it can be very advantageous to sign up for Medicare when you reach 65. Assuming your healthcare providers will still be part of your Medicare Advantage plan. Advantage plans require that your hospital and healthcare providers be part of the plan. Otherwise, you’ll pay more in co-payments. You can even be denied full coverage for a medical emergency. Choose a plan that includes your doctor or find another doctor. By avoiding these common Medicare mistakes, you can ensure that you have the most economical coverage for your situation. For financial benefits and your own peace of mind, take the time to examine your current coverage.
This information is provided as general information and is not intended to be specific financial guidance. The information and opinions expressed herein are from sources believed to be reliable; however, we make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness. Before you make any decisions regarding your personal financial situation, you should consult a financial, legal or tax professional to discuss your individual circumstances and objectives.