Duck or Goose: What's the white bird who sells disability insurance?

The commercials are catchy: if you get injured or sick, the insurance company will give you money to cover your costs while you're out of work. Is this real? Is it worth it?

Disability insurance is something you buy before you are sick or injured to protect you in the case of illness or accident and pay you a cash benefit to use as you see fit. Usually plans have requirements that you meet certain criteria, ranging from a doctor's note to tests proving your disability with medical tests. It is undoubtedly something you should buy before you're sick--if there comes a time when you need it, it is too late to buy. 

Disability or accident insurance can be very helpful to many people. Research suggests that most Americans have less than $1000 in the bank--living paycheck to paycheck--and are at great risk of losing their home and not being able to pay their medical bills if they couldn't work for any period of time. That's where insurance can come in: you pay a small monthly premium, and if you get sick or injured and can't work, the plan may pay some or all of your bills (depending on the plan you choose, of course). (source: https://www.gobankingrates.com/saving-money/savings-advice/data-americans-savings/)

There are many insurance companies out there that offer such plans. While I can't recommend the bird's company, I can recommend several other reputable companies with good track records of paying claims. 

According to most internet sources, it's a duck because it quacks.