disability · insurance

Disability

Insurance (general/international)

Definition

Inability to work, triggering income-replacement benefits.

Prerequisite chain

Condition. Illness or injury exists
Functional status. Occupational duties can't be performed
Applied test. Own Occupation (early) vs Any Occupation (later) - accounts heavily for treatment

Assessment basis (treatment / aids) — Heavily accounts for medication and aids. Insurers will typically deny or reduce claims if aids/meds restore the ability to work, especially under "Any Occupation" policy definitions. The claimant is only considered disabled if, even with optimal treatment, they cannot work.

Qualifiers

Severity. N/A
Duration. Temporary vs. Permanent
Scope. Own Occupation vs. Any Occupation; Partial (residual) vs. Total
Other. N/A

Impact

Negatively affects the ability to perform occupational duties or earn an income.

Example

A surgeon with a hand tremor is paid under an "Own Occupation" definition (cannot operate) but would not qualify under an "Any Occupation" definition if able to work in another role.

Source: General international insurance industry practice

Language map: disability · Incapacity · Mitigated-state trap