Best Disability Insurance Companies
Disability insurance is a crucial yet often underestimated form of protection that safeguards your income in case an illness or injury prevents you from working.
We carefully reviewed and compared multiple disability insurance providers, assessing factors such as coverage benefits, pricing, elimination periods, and how each defines “disability.”
Keep reading to explore the top disability insurance companies and find out which one best suits your financial protection needs.
1. Breeze Financial & Insurance Services Group: Best Overall
Maximum Benefits: Up to 60% of income
Breeze Financial & Insurance Services Group stands out as the top overall provider for disability insurance thanks to its affordability, flexibility, and hassle-free process. The company provides both short-term and long-term disability plans with a 100% online application system that simplifies enrollment.
Premiums begin as low as $9 for younger, healthier applicants, and Breeze maintains a clear, transparent underwriting process so clients are informed at every stage. It also caters to a wide range of individuals, including small business owners and self-employed professionals with unique coverage requirements.
Additionally, Breeze offers instant approval for low-risk applicants—eliminating the need for medical exams or lengthy lab tests—making it one of the most convenient disability insurance options available.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Low premiums | Medical exam may be required |
| Large variety of coverage options | Underwriting can take a couple of weeks in some cases |
| Opportunities for individuals or employers to set up disability insurance |
2. MassMutual: Best for Salary and Retirement Income Protection
Maximum Benefits: 65% of income
MassMutual offers highly customizable disability insurance plans with unique optional riders that go beyond standard coverage. A standout feature is its retirement savings protection rider, which allocates a portion of your income to your retirement plan even while you’re unable to work—helping you stay on track with your long-term financial goals.
Policies can be tailored to replace 45% to 65% of your pre-disability income, allowing for flexible protection levels. The primary drawback, however, is that policies must be purchased through an agent rather than online, which can sometimes lead to a more sales-oriented experience.
Despite this, MassMutual remains a strong choice for those seeking robust income and retirement protection, offering competitive premiums and comprehensive coverage options.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Competitive premiums | Must work with insurance agent |
| Wide selection of riders | Only healthcare professionals eligible for higher maximum benefits |
| Retirement savings protection so you can save even while disabled |
3. Ameritas: Best Built-In Benefits
Maximum Benefits: Varies
Ameritas provides two main types of disability insurance—one offering monthly income replacement and another offering a one-time lump-sum payment. The DInamic Cornerstone Income Protection® plan delivers traditional income replacement with flexible terms, allowing policyholders to add riders like student loan repayment coverage or cost of living adjustments for greater protection.
The DInamic Fundamental® plan, on the other hand, provides a lump-sum payment if you’re disabled for at least 12 months. Rather than receiving monthly benefits, you receive the entire payout at once, which can be especially helpful for those who prefer upfront financial support.
Ameritas also offers additional services such as dental and vision insurance. Founded in 1887 as Old Line Bankers Life Insurance Company, it brings over a century of experience and a strong financial foundation. With an A+ BBB rating and fewer complaints than the industry average, Ameritas is a reliable choice for individuals seeking versatile disability insurance with strong built-in benefits.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable premiums | Only two policy options |
| Lump-sum benefit option | No option to apply online |
| Financially strong company |
4. Guardian Life Insurance Company of America: Best for Self-Employed Coverage
Maximum Benefits: 60% of income
Guardian Life Insurance Company of America offers short- and long-term disability insurance for self-employed individuals, group plans for employers, and supplemental policies for workers looking to add to their employer-sponsored coverage.
Because its policies are only available through licensed insurance brokers or employers themselves, Guardian requires all would-be policyholders to go through a middleman. They cater to small-business owners and executives looking to retain employees with attractive disability coverage, but supplemental policies are also available.
Guardian offers a solid choice for self-employed workers with variable income, a group that tends to be perceived as high-risk (and is therefore underserved) by most disability insurance providers. They have an “A” rating with the Better Business Bureau and fewer than average complaints for a company of its size.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Offers partial disability benefits | The premiums can be high |
| Offers short and long-term policies | |
| Offers several definitions of disability |
5. Principal Financial Group: Best for Portable Coverage
Maximum Benefits: Up to $20,000/month
Principal Financial Group stands out for its portable disability insurance coverage, which stays active even if you change jobs. However, access to its disability insurance is limited—coverage is available only to existing Principal Financial Group clients or those who establish an advisory relationship, even on a temporary basis.
A key advantage of Principal’s policies is that they are individually owned, not employer-based. This ensures long-term protection and continuity, regardless of employment changes.
Additionally, because Principal customers often hold multiple financial products through the company, they may qualify for more competitive premiums than those offered through standalone policy purchases. Still, final pricing depends primarily on individual risk factors, such as health and occupation.
Overall, Principal Financial Group is an excellent option for those seeking flexible, portable disability insurance backed by strong financial stability and personalized service.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Offers many riders | Simplified underwriting policy (no medical exam) limits monthly benefits to $6,000 |
| User-friendly disability insurance calculator to estimate costs | Must pay for an additional rider to get residual benefits if you return to work part-time |
| Automatic benefit increases for the first six years to keep pace with inflation |
6. Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company: Best for Coverage After Age 65
Maximum Benefits: $12,000
Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company offers the potential — though not the guarantee — of coverage up to age 75, as long as you continue to work full-time and pay premiums.
Premiums remain level until age 67, but afterward, they can increase annually. All policies include a proportionate disability, terminal illness, rehabilitation, and survivor benefit. You can also add riders, such as a COLA, critical illness, or hospital confinement benefit for an additional cost.
Mutual of Omaha does reserve the right to cancel your policy after age 67. But its golden-years coverage is still unusual — and welcome.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great customer service | Must go through an agent |
| Offers coverage up to age 75 | Premiums increase after age 67 |
| Includes many benefits without additional cost |
7. Assurity: Best for “Any Occupation” Coverage
Maximum Benefits: $8,000 – $20,000
Assurity is a flexible option for workers with longer-term disability income insurance needs.
It really stands out for its commitment to “any occupation” coverage. What this means is that even if you’re able to perform some duties in a role or profession other than the one you held before your disability, you can remain out of the workforce (and earn benefits) until you’re once more able to do the job you were trained for.
That’s a much more generous standard than “own occupation,” which many insurers prefer for understandable reasons.
Assurity offers coverage options of 1, 2, 5, 10, or up to retirement age. If you earn $4,000 or less per month, you may not have to undergo a medical exam, and the policy is guaranteed renewable until age 65.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Offers a large number of add-ons | No online quote option |
| Offers a wide range of elimination periods | May require a medical exam |
| Includes many features in its standard policy |
How Disability Insurance Works
Disability insurance is designed to protect your income if an illness or injury prevents you from working. When you experience a qualifying disability, you file a claim with your insurance provider. The company then evaluates your situation to determine whether it meets their definition of disability.
Once approved, the policy typically pays 50% to 70% of your pre-disability income for the duration of the coverage period, as long as you remain disabled.
Like other insurance policies, you pay a monthly premium to maintain coverage. Most plans also include an elimination period—the waiting period before benefits begin—ranging from 30 days up to a year. Generally, a longer elimination period results in lower premiums, but it also delays when you start receiving benefits after a disability occurs.
Conclusion
Disability insurance is an essential safeguard for protecting your income and financial stability in the event of an illness or injury that prevents you from working. By understanding the coverage options, benefit levels, elimination periods, and additional riders offered by top providers like Breeze, MassMutual, Ameritas, and Principal Financial Group, you can choose a policy that best fits your personal and professional needs. Investing in disability insurance ensures peace of mind, helping you maintain your lifestyle and long-term financial goals even when unexpected health challenges arise.
