Some interesting statistics I found on the Internet:

• 13% of Americans will die before age 65
• 28% of Americans will face a long-term disability before age 65 and be unable to work and/or earn an income

Despite these facts, Americans are twice as likely to insure their lives as their long-term health.
Life insurance is important, but is much less likely to be redeemed than a suitable long-term disability insurance policy.

Consider that 1 in 2 personal bankruptcies is the result of costly medical bills from costly long term medical treatments.

Then, consider that 75 percent of those bankrupted families actually had health insurance coverage. At some point, health insurance companies stop paying for long-term care, shifting the burden to the injured.

A person with a long-term disability cannot work his usual job and cannot earn his usual income. Many families go broke because of long-term health issues and many lose their homes to foreclosure during times like these. Adequate long-term disability insurance can help prevent the financial distress of both of these scenarios.

Do some homework and find out if your employer offers long-term disability insurance that can help protect against a long-term medical crisis. Consult with a qualified financial planner o ensure that your individual coverage suits your short and long-term financial goals.