Disability Income Insurance Occupation Class and Underwriting Changes from Mass Mutual
Last week, Mass Mutual announced disability income insurance occupation class upgrades that may lower premiums and increase monthly benefit amounts. The company also announced new underwriting enhancements that could open opportunities for clients who previously had challenges qualifying for coverage.
Disability Income Insurance Occupation Class Upgrades
Disability insurance occupation classes are categories that insurers like Mass Mutual use to group people based on the risk level associated with their job duties. These classes help determine premiums, benefits and underwriting requirements. Occupation classes are essential for insurance companies because they reflect how likely a person is to file a disability claim based on the nature of their work.
Mass Mutual recently upgraded the occupation class for more than 20 occupations for their Radius Choice and RetireGuard DI insurance products. These upgrades can mean significant premium reductions for clients. Below is a shortened list of the occupation classes that have been upgraded.
| Occupation | Old Occ. Class | Updated Occ. Class |
| Computer Systems Analyst | 4A | 5A/3 |
| Information Security Specialist | 4A | 5A |
| Clergy/Pastor/Minister/Rabbi | 3A | 4A |
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | 3A | 4A |
| RN Supervisor (<10% manual duties) | 2A | 3A |
| Nurse Practitioner | 3A | 4A |
Be sure to check out the Mass Mutual flyer for a complete list of occupations and changes. Note that some occupation class upgrades have income level-specific guidelines. Additionally, these upgrades apply to new business, pending business and issued-not reported-business in all jurisdictions except New York.
Disability Income Insurance Underwriting Changes
Disability insurance underwriting involves evaluating an applicant’s health, lifestyle, occupation and financial status to assess the risk and figure out coverage eligibility. Typically, underwriting requirements consider the following:
- Age and gender
- Medical questionnaire
- Medical records
- Physical exam and lab tests may be needed
- Occupations job duties
- Occupation classification
- Work environment
- Income documentation
Disability Insurance Underwriting Changes for Non-U.S. Citizens
Under the new Mass Mutual Non – U.S. Citizen DI Underwriting Guidelines, people who are living the United States full-time but are not U.S. citizens, will be considered for disability income insurance (DI) coverage if they meet the following criteria:
- Occupational Classes: 5A, 5P, 4A, 4P, 3A and 3P
- Plans to stay in U.S.
- No frequent foreign travel
- Suggested But Not Required
- Owns personal assets in U.S.
- Has a healthcare provider in U.S.
Disability Insurance Underwriting Changes for Entertainment Industry
Buying disability insurance can be challenging for people in the entertainment industry due to the unique and often unpredictable nature of their work. Entertainment professionals, including actors, musicians and dancers, often work in physically demanding roles. Injuries are more likely, making them a higher risk to insurers. Additionally, mental health and burnout concerns are also common, as the industry can be high-pressure, with intense schedules and significant performance expectations.
Making underwriting more challenging irregular income and transient employment. Employees in the entertainment industry have irregular or project-based income, which makes it harder to show a steady income baseline for calculating coverage. Freelancers or independent contractors may experience gaps between projects, making them less predictable as policyholders compared to those with steady, salaried incomes.
Mass Mutual’s recent underwriting enhancements include changes to their guidelines for people in the entertainment industry. They removed restrictions like the 180-day minimum elimination period and the 10-year maximum benefit period, to provide potential for increased coverage. Underwriting requirements include stable employment, tax returns and contracts proving consistent work hours. Check out the Entertainment Industry DI Underwriting Guidelines for full details.
Disability Insurance Underwriting Changes for Business Owners
Lastly, Mass Mutual makes it easier for your business owner clients to qualify for an enhanced occupational class and buy individual DI insurance at a lower cost. Eligible business owners must work full-time, year-round and meet criteria such as years of ownership, manual duties, percentage of sales, ownership percentage, income levels and number of employees. Check out Mass Mutual’s Business Owner Underwriting Program for details.
If you have any questions about these changes from Mass Mutual, please contact your local dibroker West Regional Sales Reps for details! Also, the Mass Mutual Disability Income Insurance Reference Manual for Fully Underwritten Business includes complete details.
