Top 10 US Disability Insurance Providers

Northwestern Mutual is the #1 seller of individual disability insurance in the US, with $1.9B in annual DI premium and $2.4 trillion in life and disability protection in force. It has paid more individual DI claims than any US insurer over the last decade, totaling $6.3B in DI claims paid since 2015.

Northwestern Mutual

MetLife's group benefits division generated $15B+ in total premiums in 2024, with disability as its core anchor product. It is the #2 US group disability writer by market share, covering 90 million employer-group members globally and offering both short-term (STD) and long-term disability plans.

MetLife Disability

Principal Financial wrote $3B in US disability insurance premium in 2024, focusing on group LTD for mid-market employers (50–5,000 employees). Principal has a 97% employer retention rate in its group benefits segment and insures 1 in 8 US workers with employer-sponsored disability coverage.

Principal Financial Group

Guardian Life's group insurance segment generated $2B in disability premium in 2024, targeting professional practices — dentists, physicians, and attorneys — with non-cancellable own-occupation individual DI policies. Guardian paid $1.1B in disability claims in 2024 with an average claim duration of 3.2 years.

Guardian Life

MassMutual has offered individual disability insurance for 185 years, writing $1.4B in DI premium in 2024. Its signature DI product pays to age 67 for own-occupation claims and includes a built-in cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) rider, making it one of the most comprehensive individual DI contracts available.

MassMutual

Lincoln Financial's group protection segment generated $3.4B in benefits in 2024, with disability as its fastest-growing line (+8% YoY). Lincoln insures 12 million US workers for group disability and offers a streamlined digital claims portal that resolved 78% of STD claims within 5 business days in 2024.

Lincoln Financial Group

New York Life wrote $1.6B in disability insurance premium in 2024 through its group and individual segments. Its group disability unit grew 11% in 2024 driven by voluntary worksite sales, while its individual DI contracts are guaranteed renewable to age 65 with own-occupation definitions for professionals.

New York Life Disability

The Standard, headquartered in Portland, OR, is a top-5 US group disability insurer with $1.2B in 2024 earned premium. It differentiates through its vocational rehabilitation program, returning 68% of long-term disability claimants to work within 24 months — above the industry average of 52%.

Standard Insurance Company (The Standard)

Ameritas is a top-10 US individual disability insurer with $800M in DI premium in 2024, specializing in dental, vision, and disability bundles for employer groups. Its non-cancellable individual DI policies are popular among physicians, covering $500M+ in physician income annually across 48 states.

Ameritas Life Partners

Northwestern Mutual is the #1 seller of individual disability insurance in the US, with $1.9B in annual DI premium and $2.4 trillion in life and disability protection in force. It has paid more individual DI claims than any US insurer over the last decade, totaling $6.3B in DI claims paid since 2015.

Northwestern Mutual

MetLife's group benefits division generated $15B+ in total premiums in 2024, with disability as its core anchor product. It is the #2 US group disability writer by market share, covering 90 million employer-group members globally and offering both short-term (STD) and long-term disability plans.

MetLife Disability

Principal Financial wrote $3B in US disability insurance premium in 2024, focusing on group LTD for mid-market employers (50–5,000 employees). Principal has a 97% employer retention rate in its group benefits segment and insures 1 in 8 US workers with employer-sponsored disability coverage.

Principal Financial Group

Guardian Life's group insurance segment generated $2B in disability premium in 2024, targeting professional practices — dentists, physicians, and attorneys — with non-cancellable own-occupation individual DI policies. Guardian paid $1.1B in disability claims in 2024 with an average claim duration of 3.2 years.

Guardian Life

MassMutual has offered individual disability insurance for 185 years, writing $1.4B in DI premium in 2024. Its signature DI product pays to age 67 for own-occupation claims and includes a built-in cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) rider, making it one of the most comprehensive individual DI contracts available.

MassMutual

Lincoln Financial's group protection segment generated $3.4B in benefits in 2024, with disability as its fastest-growing line (+8% YoY). Lincoln insures 12 million US workers for group disability and offers a streamlined digital claims portal that resolved 78% of STD claims within 5 business days in 2024.

Lincoln Financial Group

New York Life wrote $1.6B in disability insurance premium in 2024 through its group and individual segments. Its group disability unit grew 11% in 2024 driven by voluntary worksite sales, while its individual DI contracts are guaranteed renewable to age 65 with own-occupation definitions for professionals.

New York Life Disability

The Standard, headquartered in Portland, OR, is a top-5 US group disability insurer with $1.2B in 2024 earned premium. It differentiates through its vocational rehabilitation program, returning 68% of long-term disability claimants to work within 24 months — above the industry average of 52%.

Standard Insurance Company (The Standard)

Ameritas is a top-10 US individual disability insurer with $800M in DI premium in 2024, specializing in dental, vision, and disability bundles for employer groups. Its non-cancellable individual DI policies are popular among physicians, covering $500M+ in physician income annually across 48 states.

Ameritas Life Partners