Disability Insurance: Short-Term, Long-Term, and Social Security Compared

Types of disability coverage

Long-term terms: Guardian: long-term disability insurance. Five states and Puerto Rico also run state short-term disability programs.

Social Security disability

SSDI requires a condition expected to last at least a year or result in death that keeps you from substantial work. Guardian reports only about 20% of initial applications are approved and an average 2026 benefit of about $1,630 a month (Guardian: long-term disability insurance).

How much coverage you need

1. Add up monthly essentials: housing, utilities, food, insurance, and debt payments.
2. Subtract any group coverage you already have.
3. Choose an elimination period your savings can cover.
4. Buy individual coverage for the gap, up to the insurer’s limit, often about 60% of income.

See long-term disability insurance.

Questions to ask about disability insurance

• Do I have short- or long-term coverage through work?
• Does my group coverage end if I leave the job?
• How many months of expenses can my savings cover?
• Does my state have a disability program?
• Is an individual own-occupation policy worth it for my job?

Checking an insurer or agent

Before you buy, confirm that the insurer and agent are licensed in your state through your state insurance department or the NAIC's company and producer searches, and check the NAIC complaint index. Financial strength ratings from agencies such as AM Best or S&P are also worth a look.

How we work

Blake Insurance Group serves clients by phone, email, and online in states where we are licensed. The insurers and plans we can offer depend on our appointments and your location; a company named on this page may not be available through us.

What an independent agency does

An independent insurance agency is licensed to sell policies from several insurance companies. Instead of quoting one company's products, an independent agent can compare options from the insurers the agency represents, explain the differences in coverage, and help you re-shop at renewal. The insurance company, not the agent, makes underwriting and claim decisions.

Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency. We work with clients by phone, email, and online in states where we are licensed, and we will tell you which insurers we can quote for your situation.

How our quote process works

• Tell us what you want to insure and share current declarations pages.
• We review coverage, limits, and deductibles with you.
• We request quotes from insurers available to us using matching coverage.
• We explain differences in price and coverage so you can choose.
• After you buy, contact us for changes, renewals, and claim questions.

Questions to ask before you buy

• What is the legal name of the insurance company that will issue the policy?
• Is this price a final, bindable quote, or an estimate that can change?
• Which discounts are included, and do I qualify for each one?
• Are there installment fees, policy fees, or broker fees?
• How do I report a claim, and who handles it?
• Who do I contact for policy changes, such as adding a driver or vehicle?
• When does coverage start, and when should I cancel my current policy?

Questions to ask any insurer

Whatever company you are considering, a short list of questions can prevent surprises later:

1. What is the legal name of the company that will issue my policy, and is it licensed in my state?
2. Which coverages and limits does this price include, and what would it cost to raise liability limits?
3. How will my price be recalculated at renewal, and which factors can raise it?
4. Are there installment, late, or cancellation fees?
5. How do I report a claim, and will I work with a staff adjuster or an outside firm?
6. If I use a driving-data or app feature, what data is collected and how long is it kept?
7. What happens if I move to another state where the company does not sell?

Write down the answers, or ask for them in writing, so you can compare companies on the same terms.

Protecting your personal information

Every quote platform needs personal details to price insurance: names, dates of birth, license numbers, vehicle details, and insurance history. Before you submit:

• Read the consent text beside the submit button. It explains who may contact you and how, including calls, texts, and automated or prerecorded messages.
• Check who receives your information. Some services share it with named partners or partner categories; others say they do not sell it.
• Understand credit checks. Many insurers use a credit-based insurance score where state law allows. Viewing quotes usually involves a soft inquiry, but confirm with each company.
• Keep records. Save screenshots of quotes and the consent you agreed to, and note the legal name of any insurer that quotes you.

How to check any insurer

Before you buy from any company, take a few minutes to check it:

• License. Confirm the insurer is licensed in your state through the state insurance department's company lookup.
• Complaints. The NAIC's Consumer Insurance Search shows complaint counts and a complaint index for each company, where 1.00 is the expected level for the company's size.
• Financial strength. Ratings from agencies such as A.M. Best describe an insurer's ability to pay claims.
• Legal name on the quote. Large groups write policies through several companies with different rates and rules. Make sure you know which one issues your policy.
• Claims process. Ask how claims are reported, whether there is a preferred repair-shop program, and how quickly adjusters respond after storms.

Independent vs. captive agents

An independent agent represents several insurance companies, so one conversation can produce quotes from multiple carriers. A captive agent represents one company. Direct writers sell online and by phone. Working with an independent agent can help when you want to bundle home and auto, need help with coverage choices, or want someone to re-shop at renewal. The insurer, not the agent, makes underwriting and claims decisions.

How to choose an agent

• Confirm the agent is licensed in your state through the state insurance department.
• Ask which companies the agency represents and whether the company you want is among them.
• Ask how the agency helps with claims and renewals.
• Compare quotes with identical limits and deductibles.
• Check the bundled total, not just the discount.

Checking an agent's license

Every agent who sells insurance must be licensed in the state where the customer lives. You can look up an agent or agency license through your state insurance department or the National Insurance Producer Registry. A license lookup shows the lines of authority, such as property and casualty or life and health, and whether the license is active.

Ask any agent which insurers they represent, how they are paid, and how they will help if you have a claim. A good agent explains coverage choices clearly and puts recommendations in writing when asked.

Working with an agency remotely

Many people now buy insurance from agencies by phone, email, video call, and e-signature. Remote service can widen your choice of agencies and insurers, as long as the agent is licensed in your state. Documents such as declarations pages, ID cards, and certificates are usually delivered electronically.

Local knowledge still matters. A good agent asks about local risks, such as hail, wildfire, hurricanes, flooding, theft, or traffic, and makes sure each quote addresses them.

Comparing agents fairly

When you compare agents, compare the advice and the coverage, not only the premium. Ask each agent to quote identical limits and deductibles so differences in price are real, and ask what each would recommend changing and why. Agents who explain trade-offs, such as a higher deductible versus a lower premium, help you make a better decision.

How an agent helps with claims

When something goes wrong, your insurer handles the claim, but an agent can help you understand what your policy covers, how to report the loss, and what to expect from the adjuster. Report claims promptly, document damage with photos, and keep receipts for emergency repairs and temporary living costs.

If you disagree with a claim decision, ask the insurer to explain it in writing and to point to the policy language. Your state insurance department can help if you cannot resolve a dispute.

Reviewing coverage at renewal

Insurance prices change at every renewal, and the insurer that was cheapest last year may not be this year. Review your declarations page before each renewal, update the agent on changes such as a new driver, a home renovation, or a move, and ask for a re-shop if the price rises significantly.

How to verify an insurer or agency

Before buying through any website or app, confirm who is selling you the policy and who will issue it:

1. Find the licensed agency or insurer named in the site's footer, terms, or license page.
2. Look up the agency or producer on your state insurance department's license search, or through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).
3. Look up the insurer on your state insurance department's company search to confirm it is authorized in your state.
4. Save the insurer's name and policy number once issued, since that is who handles claims.

A legitimate service will make this information easy to find. Be cautious if you cannot identify the licensed entity.

What to have ready for health insurance quotes

These details help produce accurate quotes.

1. People to cover. Names and dates of birth.
2. ZIP code. Plans vary by county.
3. Income estimate. For tax credit eligibility.
4. Doctors. Providers you want to keep.
5. Prescriptions. Drug names and doses.

Disability insurance by state

Some states run their own disability or paid medical leave programs, such as New Jersey, New York, California, and Washington, while most rely on employer plans and private coverage. Find your state’s guide:

• Alabama disability insurance
• Arizona disability insurance
• California disability insurance
• Florida disability insurance
• Georgia disability insurance
• Illinois disability insurance
• Iowa disability insurance
• Kansas disability insurance
• Michigan disability insurance
• Nebraska disability insurance
• New Jersey disability insurance
• New Mexico disability insurance
• New York disability insurance
• North Carolina disability insurance
• Ohio disability insurance
• Oklahoma disability insurance
• Pennsylvania disability insurance
• South Carolina disability insurance
• South Dakota disability insurance
• Tennessee disability insurance
• Texas disability insurance
• Virginia disability insurance
• Washington disability insurance
• West Virginia disability insurance

Disability insurance FAQs

Related guides

• Health insurance quotes
• Health insurance agent
• Medicare quote
• Long-term disability
• Income protection insurance
• Income protection planning
• Short-term disability insurance
• Elimination periods
• Own-occupation disability insurance
• SSDI vs. private disability insurance
• Filing a disability claim
• Disability insurance for doctors
• Disability insurance for nurses

Partner quote options

Your next step

Request a quote, and a licensed agent will compare options available to us using the coverage you choose.