Best Disability Insurance Companies

We chose Northwestern Mutual for our overall disability insurance pick because the company is the largest seller in the United States. It is ranked A+ or higher on several consumer ranking websites.

Northwestern Mutual holds an A++ rating from AM Best and has been around since 1857, making it a sound choice for our number-one long-term disability insurance. It also holds the highest rating of A+ from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

The company also received a perfect score on the Disability Equality Index administered by the American Association of People with Disabilities. Although the report assesses company performance for disability inclusion policies and practices rather than for their insurance offerings, it highlights Northwestern Mutual’s commitment to and understanding of disabilities.

Northwestern Mutual offers higher premium options with more generous benefits. It has four alternative definitions of total disability and has partial disability coverage options if someone can only work part-time.

The short-term policies cover illnesses, injuries, and pregnancy that a doctor confirms would prevent you from doing your normal work, like heart attacks, broken bones, bad sprains, or surgeries with a short recovery time.

Long-term benefits begin after 90 days and pay up to 65% of the salary, which maxes out at $12,000 per month for typical policies. Disability coverage has a maximum benefit period which you can customize when you choose your plan. Depending on the policy, it generally lasts until a certain age, usually 65, 67, or 70. Renewability depends on the policy, and you can purchase different renewable options.

Breeze is the best budget choice because plans begin at just $9 per month, which is extremely affordable compared to some other plans on our list.

Breeze is our budget top pick because of its economical price tag. Policies begin at just $9 per month. It is underwritten by Assurity Life Insurance Company which has an A- rating with AM Best and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Buying a policy is a breeze. You can get a quote and complete the online application process in less than 20 minutes; no insurance agent is necessary. 

Breeze offers policies countrywide, except for the state of New York. Elimination or waiting periods vary, and policies are guaranteed renewable through age 65 or 67.

Most people under 50 don’t need a medical exam unless they earn more than $4,000 per month. Coverage maxes out at $20,000 per month, with benefit periods varying by the policy.

Breeze sells long-term disability insurance with supplemental options for critical illnesses, catastrophic disability, and more. The company won’t cover pre-existing conditions or certain occupations, including the armed forces, pilots, and students.

Mutual of Omaha offers flexibility, and shorter waiting times, making it the ideal choice for our short-term disability insurance choice.

With an A+ rating from AM Best, Mutual of Omaha is our top short-term disability insurance because it covers from day one of a disability and has a benefit period of up to 70 years of age. 

Coverage extends to $20,000 per month, depending on your salary, and plans have an elimination period of 30 to 730 days. Plans are guaranteed renewable until age 67.

Besides short-term disability insurance, Mutual of Omaha provides long-term disability and accident-only insurance. It offers plans across the entire United States, but people must buy plans from an agent, even though they can quote their plan online.

Mutual of Omaha’s short-term disability policies dominate the competition with valuable included benefits, such as partial disability benefits, waiver of premiums for people disabled for 90 days or more, and guaranteed renewable status.

Guardian is our top pick for long-term disability insurance as it offers a range of optional riders for genuinely personalized coverage.

Guardian Life provides countrywide coverage and is underwritten through the Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America, which has an A++ rating from AM Best. It’s named our top long-term disability insurance as it offers its own occupation coverage. This means it covers a portion of your income if you can’t do your regular job but would be deemed able to do other work forms. 

It offers long- and short-term disability policies plus supplemental coverage, with some form of coverage available countrywide.

The premiums are not the cheapest. For example, a female 30-year-old teacher in California earning $50,000 would pay $128 monthly for $3000 of benefits, with an elimination period of 90 days. Plans are guaranteed renewable until age 65 or 70 under specific policies and conditions. You must contact an agent to purchase.

Assurity is best for risky occupations as it offers affordable cover for professionals, from electricians to machine operators, both full-time and self-employed.

People working in high-risk occupations can find it challenging to buy disability insurance. However, Assurity, with its A- financial rating from AM Best, is our top choice for those with risky occupations. It extends affordable cover to those working with construction, heavy machinery, bricklaying, and electrical installations, along with self-employed individuals.

Using their online quotation system, we found that a 40-year-old male in Texas who works in the labor occupation class earning $3,400 a month would pay $87.81 a month for $2,480 monthly coverage for a five-year benefit period. You’ll need an insurance agent to purchase.

Policies have elimination periods of 30, 60, 90, 180, or 365 days and include up to $20,000 in total benefits, making their plans ideal for higher earners. Plans are guaranteed renewable until age 67. 

Assurity offers short and long-term disability insurance options, although access to all features may be limited in some states.