Whenever an employee has to step away from their job – whether from an illness, injury or other health condition – there’s the inevitable stress and concern that comes from considering the impact to their income. For millions of Americans, disability income (DI) insurance provides critical protection and peace of mind that comes from income protection over an extended period of time. Today, AHIP released the results of a new survey of disability income (DI) insurance claimants which offers strong evidence that this coverage provides essential financial protection and peace of mind for working Americans.
Conducted by Global Strategy Group (GSG) on behalf of AHIP, the findings confirm that DI insurance is a highly valued safeguard against income loss due to injury, illness or chronic health conditions. The study includes both employer-sponsored and individually purchased coverage and builds on data collected in previous surveys. “Alleviating the worry around incomes and finances allows people to focus on their health,” said Jeanette Thornton, Executive Vice President of Policy and Strategy at AHIP. “Disability income insurance protects Americans at their most vulnerable moments and is consistently the right choice for millions of Americans.”
The survey found that:
DI Insurance Is Delivering for Workers
- Over 90% of claimants reported satisfaction with their DI insurance plans.
Satisfaction levels were consistently high across all plan types—short-term and long-term, employer-provided and individually purchased. Claimants also reported positive experiences with the claims process and their interactions with insurers. - Claimants managing mental health and substance use conditions also reported strong satisfaction. Among the 14% of respondents who filed claims for mental health or substance use reasons, most expressed satisfaction with the length of benefit payments and insurer support.
A Reliable Financial Safeguard
- Two-thirds of DI insurance claimants said they would have faced financial hardship without coverage. Without DI insurance, nearly half (46%) said such hardship would have been “extremely likely,” and reported they would have needed to rely on personal savings, loans or support from family and friends to cover basic living expenses.
- DI insurance supports long-term financial well-being—not just short-term needs. In addition to providing immediate financial relief, claimants agreed that DI insurance helped preserve their long-term financial stability and gave them the ability to care for their families while recovering from illness or injury.
Americans Support Paid Leave—and the Role of DI Insurers
- More than 90% of DI claimants support establishing paid leave programs. Survey respondents voiced strong support for broad access to paid leave, including across industries and worker classifications.
- Over 80% believe private DI insurers should play an active role in managing and delivering paid leave benefits. Respondents cited insurers’ experience in administering disability claims, managing complex cases and ensuring timely benefit delivery.
- A majority agreed DI payments should not exceed pre-disability income. This reflects broad support for responsible benefit structures that balance adequate support with long-term sustainability.
Survey Methodology:
GSG fielded the online survey from April 1 – April 8, 2025, of 500 individuals who received DI insurance payments within the past 10 years, including claimants covered through employer-sponsored and individually purchased short-term and long-term policies. GSG took care to ensure that the geographic and demographic divisions of this population were properly represented by the survey’s respondents. The survey margin of error is +/- 4.4%.
Click here to view the survey results.
Click here for more AHIP Disability Income Insurance resources.
About AHIP
AHIP is the national trade association representing the health insurance industry. AHIP’s members provide health care coverage, services and solutions to more than 200 million Americans. We are committed to market-based solutions and public-private partnerships that make high-quality coverage and care more affordable, accessible and equitable for everyone.
###