The Best Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance in 2025

You may not be anticipating an injury or illness that prevents you from working for a short time. However, accidents and illnesses can happen to anyone, so it doesn't hurt to prepare. Knowing your options when it comes to voluntary short-term disability insurance can allow you to make an informed decision about which coverage could work best for you.

An independent insurance agent can also help you find the right voluntary short-term disability insurance. Your agent can shop and compare multiple plans for you to find the best solution. But first, check out our guide to the best voluntary short-term disability insurance and how to find the right policy.

What Is Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance?

Disability insurance can supplement your income for a specific amount of time should you be unable to work as a result of an injury or illness. You can choose between short-term and long-term policies, and just as the name suggests, one offers benefits for a longer period. Disability insurance is offered as group or voluntary and individual coverage.

An individual disability insurance policy is one you must obtain on your own because coverage is not provided by your employer. These policies leave you responsible for covering all of the premiums. In contrast, a group disability insurance policy is one offered by your employer to its workers. Group policies may cover a portion or all of the disability insurance premium. 

Voluntary short-term disability insurance provides the option to purchase disability coverage through your employer, through payroll deductions. This coverage is employee-paid vs. employer-paid. An independent insurance agent can help you find the right voluntary short-term disability insurance.

How Does Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance Work?

Voluntary short-term disability insurance works just like individual or group short-term disability insurance. When you purchase this coverage, you’ll pay a monthly premium that will come directly from your paycheck. 

If you become ill or get injured and can no longer work, your short-term disability insurance policy will pay a percentage of your income for a specific amount of time. The average policy pays about two-thirds or even up to 80% of your income for three to six months, but it can be longer. If you're unable to work after 13 weeks, short-term disability insurance benefits can often be extended to 26 weeks or up to 52 weeks.

Common Short-Term Disabilities

If you need to use your short-term disability coverage, you’ll be able to receive benefits after a waiting period of no longer than 14 days. Based on the extent of your injuries or illness, the insurance company will determine how many days, weeks, months, or years your coverage benefits are available. 

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When Would I Need Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance?

There are two instances in which you may need voluntary short-term disability insurance:

1. Your employer doesn’t offer a group short-term disability insurance option.
2. The disability insurance your employer offers isn’t enough to supplement your income if you miss work as a result of an illness or injury.

If a company offers their employees disability insurance, it might pay 100% of the premium for employees. But just because your employer offers and pays for group disability insurance doesn’t mean that coverage fits your needs. 

One of the most common reasons individuals purchase voluntary short-term disability insurance is for childbirth. If your company doesn’t offer disability or paid maternity leave, voluntary short-term disability insurance can be a cost-effective alternative. By signing up for voluntary short-term disability insurance, you can receive benefits during your pregnancy and after childbirth. The same goes for general unexpected illnesses and injuries.  

The Benefits of Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance

Depending on your current life situation, there can be a variety of benefits of voluntary short-term disability insurance.

Volunteering to pay for your own disability insurance can be more cost-effective than the alternative of individual insurance policies. An independent insurance agent can advise you on whether this is the best solution for you.

Who Sells the Best Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance?

When you're ready to buy voluntary short-term disability insurance, it's helpful to know which carriers have a reputation for delivering quality and reliable coverage. Here are our top recommendations for the best voluntary short-term disability insurance companies to get you started.


           

Top Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance Companies	Carrier Star Rating
Lincoln Financial	5 Stars
Prudential	4.5 Stars
Aflac	4 Stars
Assurity	4 Stars
Mutual of Omaha	4 Stars
Northwestern Mutual	3.5 Stars
The Hartford	3.5 Stars
MetLife	3.5 Stars

How Much Does Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance Cost?

The cost of voluntary short-term disability insurance can vary greatly depending on many factors, including your age, income, and coverage. On average, you can expect to pay between 1% and 3% of your income for voluntary short-term disability insurance. 

For example, if your annual income is $100,000, you might pay between $1,000 and $3,000 for short-term disability insurance. A local independent insurance agent can help you find affordable voluntary short-term disability insurance near you.

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The Benefits of an Independent Insurance Agent

When you're ready to find the right voluntary short-term disability insurance, no one's better equipped to help than a local independent insurance agent. These agents have access to multiple insurance companies, so they're free to shop and compare policies and rates for you. 

They'll present you with several quotes representing only the best options. And down the road, your agent can help you file claims and update your coverage when necessary.