It's so much easier for you if you have the right records up front. Non-cancelable vs. guaranteed renewable. Under either of these policies the insurer can't change the provisions or cancel the policy. Non-cancelable insurance is better but it is more expensive than guaranteed renewable insurance. Three to six months is common.
Some policies provide coverage only for two or five years, which many experts believe is inadequate.
It's more expensive, but safer, to get a policy that provides benefits to age 65, when the income you are protecting might end with retirement anyway. For More Information You can read about the ins and outs of disability insurance in our Basics section. To see if there is a disability insurance gap between your coverage under your employer's plan and what you need, use the calculator offered by Northwestern Mutual Life. Protection for You and Your Family. It includes a checklist for comparing policies.