The Insurance Buying Guide: Disability Income Insurance Introduction

People will insure their home, their cars, their things, but they'll often forget to insure the asset that pays for all of these -- their ability to earn money.

If you have a family, you probably have life insurance to protect them in case you die. But what if you don't die? What if you suffer a stroke tomorrow and can no longer work? What if you are diagnosed with a debilitating illness?

If you died, your life insurance would pay off. Your family also would get Social Security survivor's benefits, and they might be able to sell any assets you have.

But if you live and you can no longer earn a living, what will happen? Will you be able to pay your bills? Will your family suffer? You may live for many years totally disabled -- and, therefore, unable to generate an income to pay for the higher medical and living expenses caused by the disability.

Did you know that, in the United States, the most common cause of mortgage foreclosures is the disability of the borrower?