When may an elimination (waiting) period NOT be imposed in disability income insurance?

An elimination (waiting) period in disability income insurance refers to the time that must pass after a disability occurs before benefits are payable. This period is typically imposed to mitigate the risk for the insurer by ensuring that benefits are not paid for temporary or minor disabilities that do not require long-term compensation.

Disability benefits typically do not have an elimination period imposed for incidents resulting from accidental injury. This is because accidental injuries are often unforeseen, and the intent of disability insurance is to provide immediate support when the insured is unable to work due to such incidents. This allows individuals to receive prompt financial assistance, reflecting the insurance's purpose of covering urgent and significant disruptions to one's ability to earn an income due to unforeseen circumstances.

In contrast, the other situations, such as being sick or while traveling, or even while working, may not necessarily involve immediate or acute incapacitation in the same way that an accidental injury might, leading insurers to apply waiting periods in those cases. Thus, the imposition of elimination periods is based on the nature of the cause of disability, with accidental injuries typically warranting immediate benefits.