What is a key characteristic of disability income insurance?

Disability income insurance is specifically designed to provide financial support to individuals who are unable to work due to a disability. The primary function of this type of insurance is to replace a portion of the insured person's lost income resulting from an injury or illness that prevents them from performing their job. This is crucial for maintaining a person's standard of living during a difficult period when they are not earning a salary.

The focus of disability income insurance is not on covering medical expenses related to the disability, which is typically the purpose of health insurance. While some policies might provide care that could help a person return to work sooner, the essence of disability income insurance is to supplement lost wages, making option B the key characteristic of this type of policy.

Unlike some types of insurance that guarantee coverage, disability income policies often entail underwriting processes based on health evaluations, meaning not all applicants are guaranteed approval. There are also variations in coverage, including both short-term and long-term disability income options, which makes it inaccurate to suggest that such insurance is only offered as short-term coverage.