However, take a good look at what the employer-offered policy covers, and buy a private policy if you decide you need it. Many employer-provided group policies are inadequate in that they limit either the term of the coverage or the amount of benefits paid. For instance, benefits may last only a few years, or benefit payments may represent only a small part of executive salaries. Individual plans may also have such a cap. If not, and if bonuses or commissions make up a substantial part of your income, you ll probably need supplemental coverage.
Benefits vary widely from state to state, since benefit amounts depend on state provisions.
Most states pay benefits for the employee s lifetime in cases of permanent total disability. To get details on worker s comp benefits, contact your state's Department of Labor. In addition to the requirement that an injury be work-related, the payments you would receive under worker s comp may be inadequate. Veterans whose disability is related to a service-related injury may be eligible to receive disability benefits in certain states. If you are a veteran, find out whether a disability fund exists in your state.