In many cases, yes — and the protection gap is often larger than people expect.

When an employer pays the LTD premiums, benefits are generally taxable as ordinary income. Once taxes, benefit caps, offsets, and excluded compensation are factored in, actual take-home income replacement can be significantly lower than expected. For some higher-income professionals, it may end up closer to 28 cents on the dollar of total compensation.

In addition, many Group LTD plans primarily cover base salary, while bonuses, commissions, and other variable compensation may be excluded entirely.

Many plans also transition to an "any occupation" definition after 24 months, meaning benefits could stop even if you are still unable to perform your specific profession.

An individual supplemental disability policy can help fill those gaps by providing portable coverage that you own personally, with benefits that may be tax-free when premiums are paid with after-tax dollars.

Own-occupation means the policy pays benefits if you can no longer perform the duties of your specific profession — even if you could work in a different capacity.

Example: A surgeon who loses the use of their hand can no longer operate. Under own-occupation coverage, they're still considered disabled and continue receiving benefits — even if they could teach medical school or consult.

Any-occupation is a much stricter standard. Under this definition, you must be unable to perform any gainful work at all to receive benefits. If you can do another job — even at a fraction of your previous income — benefits can be denied or stopped.

Most group LTD plans start with own-occupation coverage for the first 24 months, then automatically switch to any-occupation after that period. This is known as the "24-month definition cliff" — and it's one of the most important things to understand about your workplace coverage.

Individual policies with true own-occupation language to age 65 provide significantly stronger protection, especially for professionals whose income depends on a specific skill set.

The elimination period is the waiting period before your benefits begin — similar to a deductible, but measured in time rather than dollars.

Common options are 30, 60, 90, or 180 days. A longer elimination period means lower premiums, but it also means you need enough savings to cover that gap. A shorter elimination period costs more but provides faster relief.

Choosing the right elimination period depends on your emergency fund and how quickly you'd feel financial pressure if your income stopped.

The benefit period is how long you receive monthly payments if you become disabled and qualify for benefits. Common options include 2 years, 5 years, to age 65, or to age 67.

The average disability lasts 34.6 months — but serious conditions like cancer, heart disease, or neurological events can last much longer. A "to age 65" benefit period ensures you're protected all the way to retirement, not just for a couple of years.

Longer benefit periods cost more but provide significantly more protection. We compare options across carriers to find the right balance for your budget.

It depends on who paid the premiums. If your employer paid the premiums — as with most group LTD plans — the benefits are taxable as ordinary income.

If you pay the premiums with after-tax dollars on an individual policy, the benefits are 100% tax-free. That single difference can be worth hundreds of dollars per month in actual take-home income during a disability.

This is one of the most important reasons individual DI often provides more real protection than group LTD even when the stated benefit amount looks similar.

Very often yes. A previous decline or a health condition doesn't automatically mean you can't be covered — it means you need to work with someone who has access to the right markets.

We have access to simplified issue products that approve a wide range of conditions — including anxiety, diabetes, sleep apnea, cancer history, heart bypass, obesity, fibromyalgia, and many others — with no medical exam, no blood work, and no inspection report.

We also have specialty markets including Lloyd's of London for high-risk occupations that standard carriers won't touch. Don't assume you can't be covered until you've talked to us.

Yes — and self-employed people need it more than most. Without an employer providing group LTD, your income is 100% exposed from day one. There's no safety net at all if you can't work.

The main consideration for self-employed applicants is income documentation. Carriers typically look at tax returns to determine your insurable income — which means write-offs that lower your reported income can also lower how much coverage you can get.

We know how to navigate this and help self-employed clients document their income properly for underwriting. We also have products specifically designed for variable and irregular income.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays an average of $1,537 per month — after a 5-month waiting period. Most applicants are denied on the first application and must appeal, a process that can take 1–3 years.

SSDI also uses a very strict "any occupation" definition — meaning you must prove you can't perform any gainful work, not just your specific job. For most professionals, that bar is nearly impossible to meet while still being able to function at all.

Individual DI pays based on your own income, uses your specific occupation definition, and starts within your elimination period — no waiting years for a decision.

Workers' compensation only covers work-related injuries and illnesses. If you're injured on the job, workers' comp may help. If you're diagnosed with cancer, have a heart attack, or are injured off the job — workers' comp pays nothing.

The reality is that 90% of disabilities are caused by illness, not workplace accidents. Disability insurance covers you regardless of where or how the disability occurs.

Yes — and this is one of the most underused benefits available. When 3 or more people apply together — colleagues, employees, partners — everyone receives a discount on their individual policy. No formal group plan is required. Each person owns their own portable, non-cancelable policy.

For larger qualifying groups, Guaranteed Standard Issue (GSI) programs are available — meaning your entire team can get covered with no individual medical underwriting at all. No exams, no health questions per person.

If you're a business owner, employer, or part of a professional association, this is worth a conversation. Call Greg to discuss what's available for your group.

Premiums typically range from 1% to 3% of your annual income — though the actual cost depends heavily on your age, occupation, health history, benefit amount, elimination period, and benefit period.

A 35-year-old healthy professional might pay $150–$250 per month for a solid individual policy. A 50-year-old with a more physical occupation or health history will pay more.

The most accurate way to know what you'd pay is to run your profile across multiple carriers — which is exactly what our free quote process does. You see real numbers before committing to anything.

Yes. Coverage is available up to age 65 or beyond with many carriers, and roughly 20% of people 65 and older are still working — with real income worth protecting.

The benefit period will typically run to age 65 or 67, and premiums will be higher than for younger applicants. But the final 10 years of earning — when income is often at its peak and retirement assets are the most vulnerable — are exactly when disability coverage matters most.

A disability that prevents you from working for even 2–3 years before retirement can permanently alter your financial situation. Coverage in your 50s and 60s is very much worth reviewing.

It depends on the underwriting path. For instant or simplified issue products, qualified applicants can be approved quickly with same-day or next-day coverage possible.

For fully underwritten individual policies, the process typically takes 2–6 weeks depending on the carrier, health history, and benefit amount. We identify your likely underwriting path before you apply — so there are no surprises about timeline.

The free quote process itself is fast. Fill out the questionnaire and we'll come back to you with a full carrier comparison promptly.

No fee to you — ever. Like all independent insurance agents, Greg is compensated by the carrier when a policy is issued. You pay the same premium whether you go directly to the carrier or work with Greg.

The difference is that working with an independent agent gives you access to multiple carriers at once, professional guidance on which policy actually fits your situation, and ongoing service from someone who knows your file. All at no added cost.