People’s perception of their coverage in a disability diverges greatly from the reality, and most people aren’t as concerned about a disability as they are paying bills or unforeseen medical problems, a new study finds.

Most American workers are not covered by disability insurance, yet nearly half (47%) are confident they would have adequate insurance should they suffer a disabling injury or illness, even if facing a negative job change. Assurant Employee Benefits commissioned the survey in late March to better understand consumers’ concerns about losing dental, life and/or disability insurance coverage due to a job change or loss.

The survey’s release was tied to Disability Insurance Awareness Month, which occurs each May.

The survey also found that while not likely to drop or reduce insurance options as a cost-saving measure, Americans aren’t as concerned about losing insurance benefits (7%) as they are about more immediate matters, like paying the rent or mortgage (51%).

John Roberts

“The thought of losing a steady paycheck is scary. It makes sense that people immediately worry about how they’ll continue to cover expenses and care for their families,” said John Roberts, president and CEO of Assurant Employee Benefits, in a statement.

“Unfortunately, forgoing or letting go of disability insurance could take the situation from bad to devastating. One-third of all Americans between the ages 35 and 65 will become disabled for more than 90 days, and without insurance they may risk bankruptcy, foreclosure and other serious financial damage.”

The survey also showed that consumers are more concerned about unforeseen medical emergencies or accidents (25%) than losing their disability insurance (7%). According to the Council for Disability Awareness, unexpected illnesses and injuries cause 350,000 personal bankruptcies each year and nearly half of all mortgage foreclosures. And while many people think disabilities are typically caused by freak accidents, the majority of long-term absences are due to back injuries and illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease.

“The fact that consumers are concerned about the financial impact of major medical issues or accidents is precisely why disability insurance is so important, especially now. You can’t necessarily protect yourself from losing your job, but you can protect your income in the face of illness or injury. During these uncertain times, this is a small price to pay for financial security,” Roberts said.

The survey was conducted between March 27 and 30 and is based on telephone interviews with a national probability sample of 1,001 adults (18 years and over). The sample was comprised of 500 men and 501 women living in the continental United States.