Individual disability income policies typically limit the benefit to roughly 60 percent of the insured's earned income in order to:

a.Comply with Medicare requirements
b.Preserve the insured's incentive to return to work and avoid overinsurance
c.Match the way property insurance works
d.Reduce the insurer's advertising costs, which has nothing to do with how benefit limits are set

Explanation

Disability income benefits are capped at a portion of income (often around 60 percent) because disability benefits are generally received income-tax-free when the individual paid the premiums, so replacing too much income could leave the insured better off not working, creating a moral hazard. The limit is not about advertising costs, Medicare, or property insurance. Keeping the benefit below full pay maintains the insured's motivation to recover and return to work.

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Reviewed by John Zihao Zhang — California-Licensed Life Insurance Agent (CA Dept. of Insurance License #4396095 — verify)
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