Disability insurance ignored by small biz.(small business)(Brief Article)

Study: Few carry policies for employees

Less than one-fourth of the nation's small businesses are covered under a group disability income insurance policy, according to a study by the Consumer Research Business unit of the Connecticut-based Life Insurance Management Resource Association.

Although the costs of disease and disability can be staggering, there has been an 8 percent decline in disability coverage from 1987 to 1995.

Employees who become disabled without coverage will immediately face increased medical expenses and lost wages.

They also will suffer a reduced ability to accumulate retirement funds, which threatens long-term …