Before choosing a disability insurance company (above), make sure:

• Shop among low-load (commission) disability insurance plans.
• If you’re young, weigh the difference between the annual renewable disability income policy and fixed premiums.
• If you're older, from an convert to a permanent disability insurance policy. Try to get group coverage from a trade association or other organization you belong to.
• If you’re female, look for an disability insurer that has unisex pricing, so some of the higher costs of insuring women are absorbed by the men.
• Always ask about any discounts that may be available.
• Make sure you can prove your income level, since disability insurance usually only pays a maximum of 60% of your gross income.
• Avoid any-occupation disability insurance coverage if you can, as it pays benefits if you can’t work at any occupation for which your education level and training has prepared you (choose Own-occupation or an Income-replacement policies)
• Get a disability insurance policy waiting comparable to your sick leave, short-term disability, and an emergency fund.
• If you are older, get a disability insurance benefit period that lasts until age 65, if possible
• If you are younger, consider a disability insurance policy with lifetime benefits, if you can afford it
• Avoid disability insurance policies that only cover you for two to five years, unless you qualify for SSI (Age 65)
• Make sure your disability insurance policy states (or add it as a rider) that you are entitled to residual benefits, if not, you won’t receive anything unless you are totally unable to work.
• Get a disability insurance policy that is "non-cancelable," so you will pay a fixed premium throughout the contract term.
• If your disability insurance plan is "guaranteed renewable," your premiums could go up.
• Consider a Social Security rider, so if you qualify for Social Security disability, the insurer gets to decrease your coverage (and your premiums are lower).
• Consider the Waiver-of-Premium rider that allows you to stop paying premiums once you become disabled.
• Avoid the Return-of-Premium rider, this option can double your premium. Don't buy disability insurance if you are only planning to cancel.
• Consider an increasing coverage rider that gives you the ability to buy more coverage without being turned down for health reasons. Your income may increase as your skills do.
• The cost-of-living rider, which can add 20 to 40% to your disability insurance plan's premium, pays you a higher benefits to offset inflation.