Mortgages and Retirement at Risk -- It Isn't Just a Sub-Prime/Economy
Issue
-- If employees lost 6 or 12 months of income, which financial
obligations do they feel would be most at risk?
* 55% said their retirement contributions after 12 months/ 48% after 6
months
* 48% said their mortgage payments after 12 months/ 39% after 6 months
* 43% said their credit card payments after 12 months/ 37% after 6
months
* 36% said car payments after 12 months/ 30% after 6 months
* 29% said college contributions or college loan payments after 12
months/ 25% after 6 months
"The sub-prime mortgage crisis placed a spotlight on how a spike in mortgage rates put American families in financial peril," noted Hazzard. "Going without group or individual disability coverage can have even graver consequences for an ill or injured employee who has to stop working. If your mortgage increases unexpectedly, your ability to pay for shelter is at risk; if you lose your income and aren't independently wealthy, you can't pay for much of anything."
Can I Afford Disability Insurance When Gas is $4 a Gallon?
Some personal finance articles and news reports have suggested that disability insurance is expensive. But disability insurance, particularly a combination of group and individual coverage, can be very affordable.
"Our research shows that many employees overestimate the cost of
disability coverage," said Barry Petruzzi, 2nd vice president, Group Life
and Disability, Guardian. "Most employees can secure group coverage for
just a few dollars each month and then supplement their discounted group
insurance with a robust individual or voluntary (employer sponsored,
employee-paid) policy. Most employees and business owners can purchase a
top quality individual policy for significantly less
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| SOURCE The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America Copyright©2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved |