Disability Insurance Observer: Lady Fortune, head hunter

Of course, there are all kinds of disabling conditions, including many that would be completely invisible to someone like me. But it seems as if it’s rare for me to see anyone at a disability insurance or other insurance event who uses a wheelchair, crutches, a hearing aid, or visual enhancers other than ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses.

The woman I met in Kansas City could probably make a good insurance sales rep, because she already knows how to sell, has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in Kansas City who have no more income protection than she had, and is, at this point, passionate about the need for income protection insurance.

If she had a policy, she might still be enmeshed in a dispute with the insurance company over just how disabled she was, but at least there would be something to hope for. Maybe she’d already be collecting benefits. 

As it is, she’s already marketing disability insurance on a spontaneous, volunteer basis. I wonder if there’s a way for the income protection community to reach out more visibly to people like that — veteran sales reps who know first hand just how devastating a serious illness or injury can be — and get them involved in formal disability insurance sales programs.

See also:

• Disability Insurance Observer: Yardstick
• Disability Insurance Observer: Cross-selling
• 6 ways to prep for FMLA cases