Guardian Disability Insurance Brokerage

Berkshire's Catastrophic Disability Rider
Second To None
by Jack Le

The Catastrophic (CAT) Disability Benefit Rider provides an indemnity benefit above and beyond benefits for total or residual disability. A Catastrophic disability is one that:

1. prevents the insured from performing two or more activities of daily living without human standby assistance; or
2. causes cognitive impairment; or
3. is irrecoverable.

This CAT rider, along with the base benefit amount could replace up to 100% of an insured’s taxable income.

The activities of daily living are; bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, toileting and continence (see policy for complete detail).

A cognitive impairment or cognitively impaired means that the insured have suffered a severe deterioration or loss in cognitive capacity which requires substantial supervision by another person to protect the insured or others from threats to health and safety. The cognitive impairment must be from a sickness, an injury, Alzheimer’s disease, senility or an irreversible case of dementia.

An irrevocable disability means, even if the insured can and is working, an injury or sickness that results in the insured’s complete, and irrevocable loss of:

1. sight in both eyes; or
2. hearing in both ears; or
3. speech; or
4. use of both hands, both feet, or one hand and one foot, in it’s entirety.

One of the key features of this CAT rider is the indexation of benefits. If the insured is Catastrophically disabled, the monthly CAT benefit will increase by 3% compounded each year. This indexation of benefits will help protect from the effects of inflation during a claim. The maximum increase will not exceed twice the original CAT Benefit.

To speak with me or any other disability insurance specialist call (888) 513-2300 M-F 9AM-5PM EST. You can also request a disability insurance quote on-line.

Jack Q. Le, January 2008 Field Representative, the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY

Policy Form 1400 and 1500 underwritten and issued by Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America, Pittsfield, MA.

This publication is provided as a courtesy and does not modify the provisions of any policy. It is offered for the purpose of education and information only and is not intended to constitute tax or legal advice. For information on your specific situation, please consult your personal legal or tax advisor.