Though Breeze is a fairly new digital insurance company founded in 2019, its simple buying process makes it our top choice for individual long-term disability coverage.

Despite the fact that Breeze is a newcomer, its policies are underwritten by Assurity, an insurer rated A- by AM Best that has been providing coverage since 1890.2 Breeze uses automated underwriting technology and algorithms to offer quick online quotes and coverage nationwide. 

Applying for coverage takes 10 minutes or less through the 100% online process. You can even purchase this coverage with just a few clicks if you're eligible, and a medical exam is not required for many customers. For instance, if you’re between 18 and 50, a medical exam probably won’t be necessary as long as you’re buying $4,000 or less in monthly coverage.

Elimination (or waiting) periods on Breeze policies range from 30 to 180 days. Benefits can run one, two, five, or 10 years in length, or they can last until you reach retirement age (65 or 67, depending on your policy). Typically, your benefit options will max out at around 60% to 80% of your income.

Available options on Breeze long-term disability policies include automatic benefit increase, guaranteed insurability, own occupation, supplemental DI, and residual disability benefit riders. While Breeze offers coverage to a variety of occupations and industries, laborers may find that their policy options are a bit more limited. Also, some products and rates will not be available to residents of New York, where Breeze policies are underwritten by a separate arm of Assurity.

Assurity holds an A- rating from AM Best and has roots dating back to 1890.2 They offer policies with full or partial coverage depending on whether you’re able to work at all.

If you work in a higher-risk profession, such as an electrician, welder, state patrol officer, or mechanic, you may find that buying disability income insurance coverage is tricky and often expensive. Many companies will refuse to insure these occupations altogether.

Assurity is one company that seems to welcome high-risk professions with its Century+ Individual Disability policy, making it our preferred provider for those risky occupations. You can choose benefit periods from one, two, five, or 10 years, or through retirement age (65 or 67, depending on underwriting class and your age). Elimination periods are 30 to 365 days.

Getting a quote online isn’t as intuitive as with other insurers, though. You’re unable to really personalize your benefits or waiting period and are forced to choose between the handful of options that Assurity’s quote tool automatically generates. Since you will need to contact an agent to finalize your coverage and purchase a policy anyway, though, this may not matter.

Founded in 1860 and backed by Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America, Guardian Life offers a number of disability insurance options including long-term coverage. The company holds an A++ rating from AM Best.3

Long-term policies can replace up to 60% of your income, with benefits lasting five years, 10 years, 20 years, or until you reach retirement. Some policies will allow you to renew your coverage beyond age 65 (or 67) if you are still employed and not disabled. Every policy is different, but a typical elimination period is usually three months long. 

Depending on your age, location, and occupation, you may be able to get a quote online; others will need to contact a Guardian representative to get a price for coverage. If and when you’re ready to move forward with purchasing a policy, you’ll need to connect with an agent directly.

While Guardian Life offers individual long-term disability policies, as well as group coverage and supplemental policies, there are more products available to groups. Guardian offers long-term disability policies for a variety of professions, but they admittedly prefer certain occupations, many of which are in the medical or dental fields. In fact, Guardian even offers a 10% discount if you hold one of those “preferred occupations.”

With a history dating back to 1879, Principal Financial Group has a long and successful track record of offering quality insurance coverage. They hold an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best and offer a variety of disability insurance products to suit consumers’ needs.4

Principal offers individual disability income insurance policies with up to about $20,000 in monthly benefits, though this maxes out at $6,000 if you want simplified underwriting and no medical exam. Elimination periods range from 8 to 90 days, with benefits lasting two or five years, or through retirement (ages 65, 67, or 70, depending on your policy).

While you can get online quotes, the application process is not offered online with Principal’s Simplified DI policy. Instead, you’ll need to answer a few questions with your advisor, then complete a 15-minute phone interview with one of Principal’s trained professionals. You’ll find out if you’re approved for coverage within a few days; this easy, exam-free policy option is why Principal earns our top spot for providing long-term disability insurance with no medical exam.

Unlike many other companies that require 30 hours of weekly work to be considered, Principal only requires you to work a minimum of 20 hours a week in order to qualify for a policy.

There are many different discounts available through Principal, including a 10% affiliation discount and discounts for certain associations or organizations. Policy options include waiver of premium, future benefits increase, benefits update, and transitional occupation rider, all so you can create the policy that suits you best.

Providing insurance coverage since 1909, Mutual of Omaha has become a trusted name throughout the United States. They hold an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best and are a Fortune 500 company with more than 13 million members.5

Mutual of Omaha’s long-term disability insurance offers full-scale and personalized income protection for individuals with any budget or preference. Applicants do have to choose between a policy that is either noncancellable with premiums locked in for the duration of the benefit period or guaranteed renewable with premiums that could be increased if the company's coverage offerings change.

With this long-term policy, you’ll enjoy a plethora of built-in benefits that include total disability income, waiver of premium, proportionate disability benefit, guaranteed renewable, terminal illness benefit, rehabilitation benefit, and a survivor benefit. If you want or need more, you can also add a critical illness rider, future insurability option, accidental medical expense benefits rider, or return of premium benefits rider, thus earning Mutual of Omaha our nod as best for rider options.

Waiting periods for the long-term disability policy are between 60 and 365 days, with benefits paying out for periods from six months to retirement age (67). You also can continue coverage through age 70, however, premiums increase after age 67.

In order to get a quote or purchase a policy, you’ll need to go through a Mutual of Omaha agent directly.