Differences to Know:
Association Plans vs. Individual Portable Plans

1. Definition of Disability
   1. Most Association plans offer a modified own-occupation form of protection. This level of coverage with pay a benefit if you cannot perform the material and substantial duties of your occupation due to an illness or injury but will NOT continue to pay you that benefit if you decide to return to work in any occupation.
   2. Some individual plans offer a true own-occupation form of protection. This contract will pay a benefit if you cannot perform the material and substantial duties of your occupation due to an illness or injury AND will still pay even if you decide to work in another occupation. A few contracts even offer medical or dental specialty language to protect your medical or dental specialty.
2. Elimination Period
   1. Some Association plans require you to be completely disabled for 90 consecutive days before paying your first benefit. In other words, if you decide to return to work for even 1 day, that waiting period resets back to day 1
   2. Many individual plans provide an accumulation period of up to 7 months to accrue those 90 days and will not require a consecutive period of time being totally disabled to qualify for a benefit.
3. Residual Disability Protection
   1. Some Association plans require a period of total disability before you even qualify for residual benefits. This means if you are able to work part-time due to an illness or injury and lose income from lost hours worked without being totally disabled for a period of time before, you may not receive a benefit
   2. Some individual plans provide a partial benefit if an illness or injury prevents you from working full-time and causes a loss of income. A contract such as Berkshire's Provider Plus policy simply requires only a loss of income of 15%.
   3. Berkshires Provider Plus policy also offers a recovery benefit included with their residual rider providing continued partial benefit payments to a policyholder that has returned to work full-time but still has a loss of income of 15% or greater.

These are just a few differences to look for when selecting your disability insurance plan. Please feel free to contact us if you have specific questions or would like to create your own proposal.

Please call us today to discuss some of your options. We can be reached at 1-866-680-8779.