June 30 th.

Saturday, 30 June 2007
Got up this morning, just in time to see the sun disappearing for the day as the grey cloud covered the sky, once again.
Really turning out to be a poor month, weather wise.

About one-third of 20-year-old workers today will become disabled before they hit retirement age.
And the primary cause of disability is chronic disease — cardiovascular, musculoskeletal problems and cancer are leading diagnoses — rather than work-related mishaps or non workplace accidents,

While job-related expenses decrease if someone cannot work, other expenses can soar, especially if homes must be altered to accommodate a disability

There are two major types of disability insurance.
Short-term coverage, often offered by employers,
Covers the first part of a disability and may provide income for a week up to a year or two, depending on the policy.
Long-term insurance starts after short-term coverage ends and helps replace income for a predetermined period, usually two or five years or when the disabled person retires.
It can be offered through work — though usually not free —as well as through private policies.

Even those with a policy through work should consider buying private coverage, as an employer’s policy may be bare-bones, could take a while to begin and will not continue when the employee changes jobs.
It may also exclude pre-existing health problems.

Specialists agree that if you can afford only one type of disability insurance,
buy long-term coverage since being without an income for several months would be a burden but being without an income ever again could be devastating.
Because independent disability insurance tends to be expensive — and becomes more so as people age — specialists urge workers to buy it as soon as they start working so they can lock in lower rates.

Besides, young workers often have not yet developed health problems that will hinder coverage later.
The policy should replace at least 60 percent of take-home salary and ideally up to 80 percent,
if that level of coverage is affordable.
Disability insurance will not cover the whole salary for fear that there would be no incentive to work if the entire pay check could be collected for staying home
Plans vary.
Some pay if someone is unable to work in her own professions; others pay if a person cannot do any job,