Presumptive Disability

What Does Presumptive Disability Mean?

A presumptive disability refers to a total disability from which a person is not expected to recover, such as the permanent loss of sight.

Insuranceopedia Explains Presumptive Disability

Total loss of hearing or eyesight, permanent paralysis, or the dismemberment of a limb are examples of presumptive disability. These disabilities may occur at birth or be acquired later in life. An accidental death benefit rider on a life insurance policy can pay a lump sum for some of these same losses, such as dismemberment or the loss of sight.

Some private health insurance policies include provisions for covering these types of losses. Additionally, in the U.S., Social Security provides quick, temporary financial assistance to individuals with a presumptive disability while they are applying for long-term support. Beyond Social Security, working-age adults often buy disability insurance to replace a portion of their income if they suffer a loss that keeps them from working.