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A long-term illness or injury can affect your ability to work and make it harder to keep up with everyday expenses. Long-term disability insurance can help replace part of your income while you're unable to work, giving you added financial support during an extended recovery. Aflac offers short-term disability insurance and long-term disability insurance, which you may be able to apply for through your employer. Read on to learn how long-term disability insurance works, what it covers and how it compares to short-term disability insurance.
Table of Contents
Long-term disability insurance is a policy that may help supplement up to 60% of your income while you're unable to work because of a qualifying illness or injury.1 This coverage can help you keep up with everyday expenses while you recover.
Long-term disability insurance functions like most other insurance policies. You must pay your monthly premiums to keep your coverage active. Your policy may also include an elimination period for disability insurance, which is the waiting period before approved benefits begin.3
If you develop a qualifying sickness or injury that prevents you from working, you can submit a claim to help replace some of your lost income. If your disability claim is approved, you'll receive payments from your insurance provider. To continue receiving benefits, you must regularly submit proof of disability. If you develop a qualifying sickness or injury that prevents you from working, you can submit a claim to help replace some of your lost income. If your disability claim is approved, you'll receive payments from your insurance provider. To continue receiving benefits, you must regularly submit proof of disability.
If your disability is work-related, you may be able to receive both long-term disability and workers' compensation benefits. However, some insurers may deduct your workers' compensation benefits from your long-term disability insurance payout, so make sure to clarify your policy details.4
Long-term disability coverage varies by provider and policy, but qualifying disabilities must usually be severe enough to prevent you from working. Some common conditions long-term disability insurance may cover include:5
Long-term disability insurance typically doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, but you may still qualify for coverage if an unrelated disability occurs later. You can review your policy to clarify your plan's exclusions.
Depending on your plan's coverage details, you may also want to consider supplemental coverage, such as an accident insurance policy or a hospital insurance policy.
Long-term disability insurance can provide benefits for qualifying injuries and illnesses that last several years or, in some cases, through the end of your life. Policies vary, and there may be coverage limits, benefit duration limits, waiting periods and other factors to consider.
You can receive your long-term disability benefits in the following ways:
To keep receiving benefits, you'll typically need to submit ongoing documentation from your doctor or another medical professional.
Don't wait until it's too late. Protect yourself and your family with coverage from Aflac.
Get StartedSome employers may offer long-term disability insurance to their employees. If your employer offers this benefit, you can enroll in the policy:
If your employer doesn't offer long-term disability, you can apply for individual long-term disability with a private insurer. As you explore private insurance options, compare each policy's premiums, benefits and exclusions and consider working with an insurance agent if you need help understanding the details.
The Social Security Administration estimates that nearly 25% of today's 20-year-old Americans will develop a disability at some point.6 Depending on the severity of the disability, they may qualify for short-term or long-term disability insurance.
As a result, it's helpful to understand the differences between short-term vs. long-term disability insurance. The key differences include:7
Being unable to work — even for a short period — can have serious financial consequences. Long-term disability insurance can help cover your living expenses while you recover from a qualifying illness or injury.
Aflac offers competitive long-term and short-term disability insurance through worksite payroll deduction. Check with your employer to see if they offer these policies. If they don't, consider asking whether disability insurance may be available as a future workplace benefit. You can also contact an Aflac agent today to learn more.
Learn More
Short-term disability insurance can help protect your income if you're unable to work. Learn how short-term disability works and what it covers.
Short-term disability insurance can offer affordable coverage if you're out of work due to an injury or sickness. Learn how much short-term disability costs.
Short-term disability insurance can help protect your income if you're unable to work. Learn how short-term disability works and what it covers.
Short-term disability insurance can offer affordable coverage if you're out of work due to an injury or sickness. Learn how much short-term disability costs.
1U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Short-Term vs. Long-Term Disability: What’s the Difference? Published January 31, 2025. https://www.uschamber.com/co/run/finance/short-term-vs-long-term-disability. Accessed on June 18, 2028.
2 Policygenius - How much does long-term disability insurance cost? Updated July 22, 2024. https://www.policygenius.com/disability-insurance/how-much-does-long-term-disability-insurance-cost/. Accessed on June 18, 2028.
3 Investopedia - Understanding Elimination Periods in Disability Insurance Policies. Updated on December 14, 2025. https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/09/elimination-period.asp. Accessed on June 18, 2028.
4 Disability Advice. SSDI and Workers' Comp. Updated on February 14, 2025. https://disabilityadvice.org/additional-benefits/workers-comp/. Accessed on June 18, 2028.
5 SokoloveLaw - Long-Term Disability Qualifications. Updated on April 1, 2026. https://www.sokolovelaw.com/disability-insurance-denial/long-term-disability-denial/medical-conditions/. Accessed on June 18, 2028.
6 CDIA - Millions of working Americans face a growing crisis: a lack of adequate disability insurance coverage. Updated on N/A. https://thecdia.org/disability-statistics/. Accessed on June 18, 2028.
7 Disability Advocates Group – Understanding the Difference Between Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance. Updated July 2, 2025. https://ssdisabilityaccess.com/blog/entry/understanding-the-difference-between-short-term-and-long-term-disability-insurance/. Accessed April 24, 2026.
This is a brief product overview only. The plans advertised herein offer supplemental insurance coverage and are not major medical insurance plans.
Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.
Individual coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. Group coverage is underwritten by Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aflac Incorporated. CAIC is not licensed to solicit business in New York, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands. For groups sitused in California, group coverage is underwritten by Continental American Life Insurance Company. For individual coverage in New York or coverage for groups sitused in New York, coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
Individual coverage: In Arkansas, Policies A57600AR & A57600LBAR. In Delaware, Policies A57600DE & A57600LB. In Idaho, Policy A57600IDR. In New York, Policy NY57600. In Oklahoma, Policies A57600OK & A57600LBOK. In Oregon, Policies A57600OR & A57600LBOR. In Pennsylvania, Policies A57600PA & A57600LBPA. In Texas, Policies A57600TX & A57600LBTX. In Virginia, Policies A57600VA & A57600LBVA.
Group coverage:
Policy Series C50000: In Idaho, Policy C50100ID. In Oklahoma, Policy C50100OK. In Oregon, Policy C50100OR. In Pennsylvania, Policy C50100PA. In Texas, Policy C50100.1TX. Policy Series C41000 & 54000: In Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon and Pennsylvania Policy ICC20 CDL1100. In New York, Policy AFDI1100NY.
Coverage may not be available in all states including but not limited to PR & RI. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on plan selected. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders contain limitations and exclusions that may affect benefits payable. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the policy for complete details, limitations, and exclusions. For costs and complete details of the coverage, please contact your local Aflac agent.
Aflac WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999
Continental American Insurance Company | Columbia, SC
Z2500245R1
EXP 5/27
