Protecting what you’ve built together: Why each spouse needs coverage

If you work full time, you may already have income protection (also known as disability insurance) to help support you and your loved ones if illness or injury keeps you from working. But what about the spouses who run the household? Or gig workers without protection?

If that’s you, your contributions are anything but small. You may be the one caring for the kids, keeping the pantry stocked, managing medical appointments, or working part time to earn an income on your own schedule. If you couldn’t do those tasks, the impact on your family may be immediate — and significant.

In the past, society has focused almost exclusively on the breadwinner. But stay-at-home spouses and gig workers can bring just as much value to the family’s well-being, and that deserves just as much protection.

Putting a dollar value on stay-at-home work 

Saying that stay-at-home work has value isn’t just empty talk. According to surveys, the amount stay-at-home parents would earn if they were paid a salary could range between $145,235 and $178,201.^1,2 

Given parents’ many responsibilities, any disruption in their ability to accomplish these tasks — no matter how brief — can have a big impact.  And with the duration of long-term disability claims averaging about three and a half years, that can have a lasting negative effect on a family’s mental, physical, and financial wellness.³ This is true whether it’s the breadwinner, the spouse who makes less money, or a stay-at-home spouse who is affected.

Gig workers have flexibility, but at a cost

Gig work is popular and growing rapidly. In fact, by 2027, it’s predicted that there will be more gig workers than traditionally employed workers in the US.⁴ For many, the appeal of gig work is the ability to set your own hours, making it easier to earn money while being the primary person responsible for child care. But that flexibility may often come at the sacrifice of income protection since most gig workers are not eligible for employee-sponsored plans.

According to our research, 46% of full-time employees have disability insurance, but only 19% of gig workers do.⁵ Similarly, compared to 68% of full-time employees, only 48% of gig workers have life insurance.⁶ In many cases, married gig workers are reliant on their spouse for coverage, with 81% of partnered gig workers purchasing life insurance through their spouse’s employer.⁷ Single gig workers are the most vulnerable: Single gig workers with dependents are almost half as likely to have life insurance as those with partners.⁸

Lack of insurance may put families at risk

If you’re the primary breadwinner, how sure are you that your life insurance coverage is enough to protect and support your family? As a whole, Americans generally have insufficient life insurance coverage. Our research shows that 50% of Americans have life insurance that’s only one to two times their salary in coverage — this is well below the recommended amount of coverage and doesn’t take into account their potential earnings over their lifetime.⁹ 

So, the financial impact of losing the primary breadwinner can be especially devastating. In fact, 76% of workers who lost their spouse prematurely five or more years ago still feel they haven't fully recovered financially.¹⁰ 

Spousal coverage policies now cover stay-at-home partners

Several insurance companies are now offering spousal coverage policies in tandem with income protection programs. These policies can go a long way in acknowledging the critical work that stay-at-home partners provide for a family. If the home partner is unable to work due to an injury or an illness, the policy benefits can be used to pay for outside services, such as child care, to help support the family while the partner recovers.

Specifics of spousal coverage to consider

Spousal coverage policies can vary among providers. As an overview, the policies tend to cover stay-at-home spouses within a specific age range, such as 18- to 45-year olds. They may also offer a set benefit term, for example, between five and 10 years. Plus, like traditional income protection insurance, there’s typically an elimination period of 90 or 180 days that must pass before the payments begin. And with some carriers, traditional and same-sex marriages, as well as civil unions, are eligible.

To help ensure your family is protected, consider working with a financial professional. They understand that every family is greater than the sum of its parts. Taking your whole financial picture into account — from your family’s current day-to-day needs to income protection to lifelong goals — can help you create a plan that will help protect your family financially.