If you get sick or injured, health insurance can pay for your medical expenses. But what if you can’t work?

Freelancers don’t have sick days. What about all that income you’ll lose?

It’s not fun to think about, but on average, you have a one in four chance of becoming disabled or sick after age 20. That’s why disability insurance exists. Here’s how it works:

• You get sick or injured (broken arm, accident, or a serious illness like cancer), and make a claim.
• Depending on your income and your premium, you get bi-weekly or monthly income replacement checks. These checks normally cover about 60% of your income.
• You receive these income replacement checks for months or years, depending on your plan -- they stop when you go back to work.

Illness, not accidents, are the cause of 90% of disabilities, according to the Council for Disability Awareness. One of the leading causes of claims in the US is cancer.

Disability insurance is notoriously difficult to get as a freelancer. That’s because most insurance companies often automatically disqualify you (you don’t have a regular “income” to replace). Freelancers Union has partnered with Guardian to provide disability insurance especially for freelancers, check it out here.

For more resources on disability insurance, check out these posts:

• Everything you need to know about disability insurance
• Disability Insurance 101 (VIDEO)
• Disability insurance: Who needs it and why?

Freelancers Union, Inc. (FU) is not a licensed insurance agent or insurer. Freelancers Union contracts with Guardian to provide you with disability insurance.