Principal review

Principal is the easiest insurer here to price on your own. Its Disability Income insurance page offers a quote in 5 minutes and a calculator that asks for annual income, monthly expenses and job details, then shows an estimated monthly cost and benefit. Principal positions the policy as a top-up to workplace cover, which it says typically pays about 60% of income and does not follow you when you leave a job, while its own policy is fully yours. A separate DI Retirement Security option keeps retirement saving going if you are too sick or hurt to work. The limits are that the calculator's numbers are illustrative, with final rates set by gender, age, smoking status, benefit amount, elimination period, state and occupation class after underwriting, and that Principal does not publish a sample price on the page, so we could not verify one.

Who it is for

workers who want an online quote before talking to anyone

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Quote in about 5 minutes online
• Calculator estimates the cover you need and its monthly cost
• Policy is yours and stays with you when you leave a job
• DI Retirement Security option keeps saving for retirement while disabled
• Issued by Principal Life Insurance Company, Des Moines, Iowa

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Fastest route to a price on this list: a quote in 5 minutes
• Strength: Calculator shows an estimated monthly cost and benefit
• Strength: Built to top up workplace cover that Principal says typically pays about 60% of income
• Weakness: No sample premium published on the product page
• Weakness: Calculator figures are illustrative; final rates depend on underwriting
• Weakness: Cost and coverage details still come through a Principal representative

Key facts

• Quote time: About 5 minutes
• Calculator: Yes, estimates monthly cost
• Retirement add-on: DI Retirement Security
• Issuer: Principal Life Insurance Company

Where it ranks

Principal is No. 3 in our Best Disability Insurance Companies verdict.