Workers’ compensation is common in the US, and pays a worker his wages and medical expenses in the event of an injury on the job.

Permanent disability which prevents a worker from ever working again is covered by total permanent disability insurance. This provides the disabled employee with benefits for the rest of his or her life, or according to the terms specified in the policy.

Companies can purchase a similar type of insurance, called, disability overhead insurance. This pays for ongoing overhead costs of a business while the owners are not able to work.