There are a number of things restrictions when it comes to income protection insurance, we’ve looked to 52 policies and compiled the most common restrictions:
- If the policyholder becomes unemployed for any other reason than sickness or illness then the policy becomes invalid and no payment is granted.
- Not all sickness or illnesses are eligible, for example anything resulting from alcohol or drug abuse is not eligible. Criminal acts, pregnancy and intentional self harm are also other common factors which can void an IPI policy.
- Differed period is quite long, the shortest period we were able to find was fourteen days and the longest was 52 weeks.
- If there is a change of employment status (either by the policyholder becoming unemployed or switching jobs) the policy needs to be updated before it becomes ‘valid’ again.
- Benefits are limited to 70-75% of the policyholders income so that there is an incentive for them to return to work.