Disability insurance

What is disability insurance?

Disability insurance is an insurance policy that provides you with financial compensation if you become unable to work. The disability insurance payment is in addition to any entitlement you have to social security benefits from NAV.

How do I get disability insurance?

Disability insurance is not an insurance that you have automatically through public schemes. Disability insurance must therefore be taken out (purchased) with an insurance company.

Does everyone have the opportunity to take out disability insurance?

It is common for insurance companies to require a health certificate before you can take out disability insurance. If you have pre-existing physical or mental health problems, you may either be refused insurance, or exceptions may be made in the insurance policy for disability caused by the problems you had before you took out the insurance.

When am I entitled to payment under disability insurance?

If you have taken out disability insurance and become injured or ill, you may be entitled to payment through your disability insurance.

As a rule, you must have been incapacitated for work continuously for two years, and the incapacity for work must be judged to be permanent for the disability insurance to apply. It is normally a requirement that your incapacity for work is 50 per cent or more for you to receive payment through the disability insurance. This is described in more detail in the insurance terms and conditions.

It is not uncommon for payments from the insurance company to be linked to the granting of work assessment allowance or disability pension from the National Insurance Scheme. It is therefore important to apply for work assessment allowance or disability pension from NAV after an injury or illness, so that you are also granted payments through the disability insurance.

What triggers payment through the disability insurance?

You may be entitled to a payment from your disability insurance after becoming ill and after receiving a occupational disease, or after you have been exposed to a occupational injury, traffic accident, patient injury, leisure accident, violent injury, recreational injury, plane crash or boating accident.

Are there different types of disability insurance?

Answer. There are two types of disability insurance:

• Disability capital. This is a disability insurance policy that is paid to you as a lump sum when the requirements for payment are met.
• Disability pension/disability annuity. This is disability insurance that is paid to you in monthly instalments.

Can I have disability insurance through my job?

Yes, they do. Many people have disability insurance via their employer.

If you leave an employment relationship where you are covered by disability insurance, the insurance company is obliged to offer you the opportunity to take out so-called continuation insurance, so that you are entitled to payment through the disability insurance even after you have left the company.

How much can I receive in disability insurance?

How much you are entitled to depends on the sum insured, your ability to work and what else is stated in the insurance terms and conditions.

If in doubt - or in conflict with your insurance company - it may make sense to contact a lawyer who specialises in insurance law for a more detailed assessment of the insurance contract.

Is disability insurance included in child insurance policies?

Most children's insurance policies now include disability insurance cover as part of the children's insurance, so that the child can receive a sum from the age of 18 in the event of disability.

Is there a disability table for disability insurance?

No, you don't. Disability table is the starting point for the assessment of the injured party's medical degree of disability (VMI), and thus what you are entitled to in compensation for loss of earnings after an injury.

Disability insurance is not linked to the degree of medical disability, but to your lack of or reduced ability to work. It is therefore possible to receive payment through disability insurance even if your degree of medical disability is low.

Why should I choose Advokatfirmaet Halvorsen & Co?

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We help clients all over the country, and always offer a free assessment of your insurance and compensation case. Get in touch with us today.