Disability Income✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 1/5
Why does the distinction between accident and sickness matter in disability insurance?
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
Disability policies commonly define accident and sickness separately and apply different rules to each. Accidental injuries may begin benefits immediately or after a short period, while sicknesses are often subject to a probationary or longer elimination period, and the policy may define the covered injury by an accidental-means or accidental-injury standard. These definitional differences determine whether and when a claim is payable, so understanding the distinction is essential when matching a client's needs to a policy.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) Disability benefits are paid as periodic income, not lump sums, regardless of whether the cause is accident or sickness.
- C) Individual policies routinely cover both accident and sickness; accident only is a separate, limited product.
- D) The distinction affects benefit triggers and coverage, not merely the premium.
Memory hook
Accident or sickness changes when the checks start and what the policy pays. Definitions drive the claim.