If an illness or injury keeps you out of work for months, how long can you keep paying your mortgage, car payments, and everyday bills? Disability insurance replaces part of your paycheck while you recover. Spotlight Insurance helps Denver workers and business owners find the right policy.
Disability insurance pays you a monthly benefit, usually 50% to 70% of your income, when a covered illness or injury keeps you from working. Health insurance pays your medical bills; disability insurance replaces lost income, and you can use it however you need.
It isn't just for accidents. Illnesses like cancer, heart disease, and back conditions cause most long-term absences, and just over 1 in 4 of today's 20-year-olds will become disabled before retiring.
When you compare short term vs. long term disability insurance, the biggest differences are when benefits start and how long they last.
| Coverage | Short-Term Disability | Long-Term Disability |
|---|---|---|
| Benefits start | Within 0 to 14 days | After 90 to 180 days |
| Benefits last | A few weeks to about 1 year | Several years, or to age 65 or 67 |
| Common claims | Surgery, pregnancy, short illness | Cancer, heart disease, back and joint conditions |
| Best for | Covering bills during a quick recovery | Protecting your long-term earning power |
Long-term coverage matters most: the average long-term claim lasts 34.6 months. Short-term coverage can bridge the gap until it starts.
| Coverage | What it provides | The gap |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado FAMLI | Up to 12 weeks of paid leave a year for a serious health condition, capped at $1,448.02 per week for claims from July 1, 2026 | Ends after 12 weeks; higher earners get well under half their pay |
| Social Security Disability (SSDI) | About $1,630 a month on average in 2026, after a five-month wait | Strict approval rules; initial decisions averaged 193 days |
| Workers' compensation | Benefits for job-related injuries and illnesses | Doesn't cover off-the-job injuries or most illnesses |
| Group coverage through work | Low-cost or free | Capped benefits; ends when you leave the job |
Anyone who relies on their paycheck, especially:
Pair these with your business insurance and revisit them during your annual commercial insurance review.
As an independent Denver agency, we compare multiple disability insurance companies, account for coverage you already have so you don't pay for overlap, and coordinate disability coverage with your life insurance and business policies. Your Spotlight disability insurance agent stays with you at renewal and when you file a claim.
Searching for disability insurance near me in Denver? Visit us at 4800 Happy Canyon Rd, Ste 270. Protect the paycheck your family depends on. Call 720.923.1500, email office@spotlightins.com, or request a quote online.
Disability insurance replaces part of your income if a covered illness or injury keeps you from working.
If you're deciding where to buy short term disability insurance, start with your employer's group plan, then compare individual policies through an independent agent like Spotlight.
Credit disability insurance on a car loan covers only your loan payment and ends when you pay it off. An individual disability policy replaces income for all your bills, so it's usually the better value. Credit coverage may make sense if you can't qualify for an individual policy.
Group plans often cap benefits and end when you leave your job. An individual policy fills the gap and goes with you.
Yes. You can buy an individual policy and opt in to Colorado FAMLI.
Often about 1% to 3% of your annual income, depending on your age, health, occupation, benefit amount, and waiting period.
