Disability insurance elimination period

Also known as the “waiting period,” the elimination period is the length of time before you start receiving benefits. It’s up to you to decide how long you want this period to last.

What is the elimination period?

The elimination period is the amount of time you’ll need to wait before your disability benefits start paying out. During this time, you’ll have to cover your own living and medical expenses.

Think of it like a car insurance deductible. But instead of having to pay a certain amount of money before your insurer steps in, it’s measured by time.

Once the elimination period has passed, you’ll receive your first monthly check from your insurer — assuming you meet their definition of partial or total disability.

How does the elimination period work?

When you apply for a disability policy, you’ll be given a choice of elimination periods. The most common elimination period is 90 days — which means your benefits won’t be paid out for three months — but the options available to you will depend on your insurer and policy.

• Short-term disability. Short-term disability policies cover short-term needs, so there’s typically less time to wait before you start receiving benefits. Most policies have an elimination period of seven to 14 days, although a handful of policies may offer other options. The policy starts paying out once that period of time has elapsed, and will continue to pay until your benefit period is up.
• Long-term disability. Long-term disability plans usually come with elimination periods of 30, 60, 90, 180 or 365 days. Some insurers, like Guardian and MassMutual, offer a 720-day elimination period, too. The longer your elimination period, the cheaper your policy will be. This is because the range of illnesses and injuries that could put you out of commission — and work — for that long decreases over time.

Does the length of the elimination period affect premiums?

Yes. If you choose a shorter elimination period, you’ll pay more for coverage. And if you go with a longer one, you could save on your premium — but just know that you’ll need to pay for any living or medical expenses out of pocket during that time.

Which elimination period is right for me?

It depends how long you can support yourself without a paycheck. Remember, the shorter the elimination period, the more you’ll pay in premiums.

The key is choosing an elimination period that aligns with the premium you can afford. To do the math, consider how much money you have in savings, and whether or not you’ll have new financial obligations in the future, like a mortgage or baby.

Let’s say you have enough savings to cover a year’s worth of living expenses. You could cut down your disability premium by choosing a longer elimination period, like 180 or 365 days. If your spouse is the breadwinner and could support you both, you could stretch out the elimination period longer.

But if you don’t have an emergency fund to fall back on, you might want a shorter waiting period.

Compare disability insurance companies

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Name	Product	Coverage Amount	Benefit period	Waiting period	Own Occupation	Medical exam required	Online quote
Policygenius Disability Insurance		$100 to $20,000	2, 5, or 10 years or until age 65 or 67	60 - 365 days	Yes	Depends on provider	Yes	Get matched with one of 15 top life insurance companies to find the best coverage and rates for you.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Breeze		$500 to $20,000	1, 2, 5, or 10 years or until age 65 or 67	30 - 365 days	Yes	No	Yes	This startup offers some of the most riders and benefits backed by an established underwriter.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
LeverageRx		$100 to $20,000+	1, 2, 5, or 10 years or until age 65 or 67	30 - 365 days	Yes	Depends on provider	Yes	LeverageRx is a digital lending and insurance marketplace exclusively for medical professionals.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Bottom line

Choosing an elimination period is one of the key decisions you’ll make when buying a disability policy. Depending on the type of coverage you have, the elimination period ranges from seven to 720 days, and the length you choose has a direct impact on your premiums.

Explore your options by comparing disability insurance companies.

Frequently asked questions

• Is the elimination period the same thing as the waiting period?

  Mostly yes. The terms are interchangeable, and the “elimination period” is the more technical term. However, the waiting period may be used differently if you’re referring to group coverage. There might be a “waiting period” in which you have to work at your current job before you’re eligible for benefits.

• Does the elimination period begin on the day you file a claim?

  No. It starts on the day of the injury or diagnosis that left you disabled and unable to work. For example, if you were in a car crash and filed a claim 60 days later, your elimination period would begin on the day of the accident.

• What's the difference between elimination and probationary periods?

  A probationary period applies to other types of insurance — like health — and is the length of time before coverage takes effect. You can’t file a claim during that time. With disability insurance, you’re protected as soon as you purchase your policy.

• When will your disability check arrive?

  It depends on your insurer. Your check could take anywhere between two and 30 days to arrive — so keep that in mind when you choose an elimination period.