According to "Disability Income Insurance: Penetrating the Small- Employer Market," nearly half of the respondents believe the likelihood of an employee becoming disabled is one in 50. The actual likelihood is one in three.
ACLI's survey examines why some small employers companies with 5-100 workers - offer disability income insurance coverage to employees and why others decide against it. The report highlights the misunderstanding among small employers about disability risk and its effects on benefit plan offerings.
According to government statistics, the majority of American workers in small private firms do not have disability income insurance. Long-term disability income insurance helps workers and their families pay living expenses while a wage earner is unable to work. It offers cash to help with mortgage payments, rent, groceries, utility bills and other expenses. This insurance typically pays a percentage of the policyholder's annual income.
"Since small businesses employ the majority of America's workforce, it is critical employers understand that disability income insurance plays a vital role in their workers' financial futures," says Terri Sorota, ACLI senior counsel.
Study findings show that small employers who do not offer disability income insurance cited that they would be more likely to do so should a worker become disabled (42 percent). However, many believe that the coverage is too expensive (77 percent), or their business activities do not present a high-enough disability risk to warrant coverage (58 percent).
"It is important that small employers understand employees can share in the cost and that disability coverage is not limited to work-related disabilities," adds Sorota. "It is clear from these findings that employer awareness of the features and benefits of disability income insurance is lacking. We hope this study will help change the way small employers manage disability risk."
The small employers who offer disability coverage to employees say they do so for several reasons:
- Added income protection improves employee attitudes and performance.
- It helps with employee recruitment and retention.
- Covering key employees is necessary to protect business.
- One or more employees have become disables.
- Employees work in occupations that pose significant risk of serious injury.
To access the report online, go to ACLI's Web site at www.acli.com.