Under an income protection plan or permanent health insurance (PHI) policy, as it is sometimes known, an income benefit would be paid to you if you were unable to work because of disability caused by sickness or accident. The benefit is paid, basically, as compensation for loss of earnings. Benefit will normally start at the end of an initial waiting period, which is normally 4, 13, 26 or 52 weeks long and is payable until you either return to work, die or the policy term expires. The policy term is normally linked to your expected normal retirement age.
The level of premium for the required amount of cover will depend on the type of plan and the company chosen. Some companies offer guaranteed fixed premiums, other plans reserve the right to review premium levels, whilst others offer the potential to build up a surrender value.
For a slightly higher premium the option is normally available to have the level of cover automatically increased each year in order to provide protection against the effects of inflation.
The definitions of disability vary considerably. Generally, in order to make a valid claim, the policyholder must demonstrate that he is “totally unable by reason of sickness or accident to follow his own occupation or any other for which he is suited by reason of experience and/or qualifications” or, indeed, “any occupation whatsoever”. The definition of disability, i.e. whether “own occupation” or “any occupation”, is obviously crucial for underwriting and claim purposes and will affect premium rates.
The main objective of an income protection policy is to replace earnings lost through illness or disability without reducing the insured’s financial incentive to return to work. Otherwise the policyholder would simply be content to draw benefits for the rest of the term. All income protection policies therefore stipulate a maximum income benefit limit. Typically, this is in the region of 60% – 75% of the average monthly earnings of the insured in the year prior to disablement. Benefits from other income protection policies will usually be taken into account, and it is common for State incapacity benefit to be taken into account in calculating the benefit limit.
The benefit payable is tax free under current tax rules.