Life and Disability Insurance

Life and disability insurance protect a household's income. Life insurance pays a benefit to survivors when the insured person dies, and disability insurance replaces part of a paycheck when illness or injury keeps someone from working. People buy these policies on their own, get them through employers, or receive them through programs for military service members and their families. States regulate insurers, and federal agencies run some programs.

People usually bring questions about how the different kinds of coverage work, who can be covered, and how benefits reach survivors. They also ask how military programs compare with private policies, what happens to coverage when a service member leaves the military, and how survivor benefit plans protect a family.