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What would be a complete and comprehensive disability insurance policy? Here are some of the factors that would make the policy complete:

1. It should have an own occupation definition of disability. This is covered on the disability insurance site, Protectyourincome.com, in detail but to summarize this means that one is considered disabled if, because of accident or illness, you can not perform the major duties of your occupation. This means that even if you are able to do another occupation or retrain in another occupation and make income in that occupation, you still would collect the monthly income shown in the policy. In California recently, the insurance department mandated the definition to say the 'usual and customary' duties of one's occupation.

2. You should have a residual and recovery benefit. This means that if you return to work on a part-time basis with a loss of income, a pro-rata amount of your benefit would be paid to you. That's residual coverage. Equally important is a recovery benefit. This is often missing or limited in even very good disability policies. This recovery benefit means that if you return to work, even if recovered and fully released from medical care, if you have a loss of income it will be paid on a pro-rata basis. This is a crucial benefit and it should last as long as the policy.

3. Other benefits that complete a disability insurance policy include a Cost of Living Benefit which increases the amount of monthly benefit based on changes in the consumer price index. Also, a future increase option can be important especially if you're beginning your career with a good chance of increasing income in the future. This future increase option lets you buy additional insurance when your income increases without having to prove health ' no medical exam or questions are asked. You just have to prove that your income would qualify you for more insurance under the normal insurance company guidelines.

Most importantly, because of the financial devastation that a disability can cause, one should definitely research and obtain adequate disability insurance.