Hand Insurance? Here Is the Best Way to Insure Your Hands

Your hands are worth more than you think. If you want to insure your hands and protect your livelihood, disability insurance is one of the best ways to protect the income and financial security they help create.

Your hands are among your most valuable assets. Think about it. You probably do many things with your hands. Without your hands, it might be tough to do things. It would be especially difficult to make a living, right? 

Yes, John! Without my hands, I couldn't do my job.

For sure. So, you'll agree with me that you need some type of insurance to protect your hands, right? 

Yes, John. That is right!

Whether you earn your living as a surgeon, musician, craftsman, or professional athlete, your hands represent your ability to generate income and maintain your livelihood. Hand insurance, a specialized form of body part insurance, protects professionals whose careers depend entirely on the use of their hands. 

Yes, John. A client of mine said I need to insure my hands. 

I hear that a lot from people; however, there is probably a better option than specialized hand insurance. This comprehensive guide explores everything you need to know about insuring your hands and other protection options.

Key Takeaways

• Hands insurance exists through specialty insurance carriers. Receiving a benefit generally requires complete loss of hands and is typically only available to high-profile professionals like athletes and entertainers.

• Disability insurance provides broader protection than hands insurance by covering income loss from any illness, injury, or accident that prevents work, not just hand-related disabilities.

• The cost of disability insurance typically equals 2% of gross income, translating to approximately $0.50 to $3.00 per day for most individuals.

• Disability insurance policies include presumptive disability clauses that automatically provide benefits for loss of use of both hands, both feet, or a hand and foot combination.

• Disability insurance replaces approximately 60% of salary for employees and up to 70% or more of net income for business owners during periods of disability.

Your Hands Are a Major Financial Asset

Have you ever looked at your hands? What do you see? Next to your brain, I see the means to achieving financial independence. Think about it. You can’t find a profession where you don’t use your hands. If you are a dentist or surgeon, you use your hands.

Are you a chef? You use your hands.

You definitely use your hands if you are an electrician, plumber, carpenter, or some other tradesperson.

I am using my hands right now to type this article.

Massage therapists, truck drivers, dental hygienists, fishermen…you name it…

The professions go on and on. We use our hands for everything, and we take them for granted.

What if you no longer had use of your hands? Or fingers? Or wrists?

It would be very difficult for most of us to continue to work, right?

Yes, John. This is why I need to insure my hands!

What is Hand Insurance?

Yes, you can insure your hands. Hand insurance is a type of specialty insurance policy that provides financial protection if you lose the use of your hands due to injury or illness. This coverage falls under the broader category of body part insurance or disability insurance for specific body parts. Unlike standard disability insurance that covers your overall ability to work, hand insurance specifically protects the value of your hands as income-generating tools.

These policies typically pay out a predetermined sum if you suffer a covered loss, such as amputation, permanent loss of function, or severe injury that prevents you from performing your occupation. The coverage amount is based on your income, the role your hands play in generating that income, and your future earning potential.

Most hand insurance policies cover loss of use due to traumatic injury, including cuts, burns, crushing injuries, and amputations. They also typically cover permanent nerve damage that affects hand function, fractures that result in permanent loss of mobility or dexterity, and certain occupational diseases that affect hand function.

Many policies will pay benefits if you lose one or more fingers, suffer permanent loss of grip strength, or experience permanent loss of fine motor control necessary for your profession.

Hand insurance is a niche market designed for very specific situations, usually those in the entertainment industry or specialized, unique occupations. This is why celebrities, famous musicians, and popular sports stars insure body parts. For example, Keith Richards insured his hands and fingers. Bruce Springsteen insured his voice. So did Mariah Carey. Countless movie stars like Jennifer Lopez have insured specific body parts. Even sports stars, like the soccer player David Beckham, insure body parts. He insured his legs.

As you can see, if these celebrities and athletes lost that specific body part, they would lose a lot of money. (Moreover, so would their talent management companies and sports teams. Think about it. If David Beckham lost a leg from a car accident, his football club and management agency would also lose millions.)

I know of only one carrier that will insure body parts, and that is Lloyd’s of London.

They are a very unique and specialized company. They have been around for centuries. I won’t go into much detail about them, but they can insure hands. Google them. You can see they have insured musicians, athletes, etc.

But, John, this is why I need to insure my hands. I'd lose money, too! My hands generate income!

Ok, I get it. But, a major problem exists with hand insurance or insuring a specific body part.

The Major Problem With Insuring Your Hands (Or a Specific Body Part)

Here is the main problem with hand insurance: it only pays if you lose use of your hands.

What if you injure your wrist? Your wrist is important to do your job, right? Or your shoulder? Or, back (#1 cause)? Or face a mental health breakdown (it happens)? Or, if you are diagnosed with a health condition (e.g., cancer) that prevents you from working? That can and does happen more often, as illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, or ALS are often the main causes of disabilities (link).

There are a million non-hand ways you can get disabled and unable to work and do your job.

A hands insurance policy WON’T pay in these million cases.

And, you’ve spent a lot of money to NOT receive a benefit.

Moreover, what if you have an illness like cancer or have a heart attack?

These situations are disabling as well.

Did you know you have a higher probability of not working due to an illness?

These unfortunate incidents happen much more often than the loss of use of your hands.

For example, let's say Tom is an accomplished guitarist for XYZ band. He is a well-known celebrity, and he and his management company insured his hands for $100,000,000. 

However, for a while now, Tom hasn't been feeling well, and he just never thought about it until now. His doctors run tests, and they diagnose him with leukemia. Tom hasn't played the guitar or played concerts for a while now—not because he injured his hands, but because he is sick and still can't perform.

A hands insurance policy isn't paying a benefit. 

Do you see that now? (Note: in real life, management companies have insured their clients for other types of disabilities.)

Yes, John, but what can I do to protect myself if I am sick or hurt, including my hands, and I can't work?

The Hidden Risk: Why Wrist and Shoulder Injuries Matter More Than Hand Loss

Most people searching for hands insurance are worried about the wrong thing. Although it does happen, complete hand loss is extremely rare compared to repetitive stress injuries that silently end careers.

Consider these real threats to your income:

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Affects 3-6% of adults and can permanently limit fine motor skills

• Rotator Cuff Tears: Prevents 40% of manual workers from returning to their original occupation

• Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): Chronic condition affecting grip strength in trade professionals

• Trigger Finger: Progressive condition that worsens without career modification

Why This Matters:

Hand insurance through specialty carriers likely won't pay a single dollar for these conditions because your hands are not a total loss. Most carriers require a full amputation or complete permanent loss. Meanwhile, a disability policy recognizes that a surgeon with tremors, a massage therapist with severe tendonitis, or a carpenter with chronic wrist pain can't perform their occupation—and pays accordingly.

The Bottom Line:

Protect against what's likely to happen (degenerative conditions, overuse injuries, illnesses) rather than catastrophic scenarios that almost never occur.



Fortunately, most of us can insure our hands—and everything else—through an affordable disability insurance policy. We discuss this next.

A Disability Insurance Policy Is A Better Option to Insure Hands

Disability insurance is a better alternative. We can insure our hands, and other body parts and organs, through a disability income insurance policy. What is disability insurance? It is a policy that will pay you a monthly benefit if you become disabled, on or off the job, from sickness, illness, injury, or accident, and you can no longer work or no longer work full time.

In other words, it is a policy that is designed to protect your income if you are sick or hurt and can't work.

So, if you injure your back and can’t work, a disability insurance policy will pay a benefit. If you are diagnosed with cancer or ALS, a disability insurance policy will pay. And, yes, if you injure your hand in any way and can't perform your job, the policy pays.

Think of it as a "full-body policy." 

Of course, a hands-only insurance policy will not pay in these cases.

Why is protecting your income important? Think about this scenario. You just received your paycheck and need to pay some bills. What would you do if that paycheck was the last one you received for 6 months? How about a year? How about longer? What would you and your family do for money?

This is the purpose of disability insurance. It protects your income in case you can’t earn an income due to a disability.

How Much Does Disability Insurance Cover?

The amount of coverage depends on your income and whether you are an employee or a business owner/independent contractor. If you are an employee (i.e., receiving a W-2), disability insurance covers around 60% of your gross salary. Business owners and self-employed independent contractors usually receive 70% or more of their net income.

Actual benefit amounts depend on the carrier and your situation.

How Hand Insurance Differs from Regular Disability Insurance

Standard disability income insurance replaces a portion of your income if you cannot work due to any illness or injury. Hand insurance, however, is much more specific. It pays benefits only when the loss involves your hands, but it often provides higher coverage amounts because it recognizes that for certain professionals (see below), hand injuries effectively end their careers.

Regular disability insurance might pay 60 to 70 percent of your income until you can return to work or find alternative employment. Hand insurance typically pays a lump sum based on the policy limits you purchased, which can be substantially higher than what traditional disability coverage would provide over time.

Disability insurance is more flexible. It pays you a benefit if you are sick or hurt and can't work. This includes if you can't use a hand or both hands to perform the duties of your job.

Additionally, nearly all disability insurance companies include a provision that you'll receive a benefit if you lose the use of both hands. This is called a presumptive disability. Carriers usually waive the waiting period in this case. Moreover, some disability insurance companies will pay the benefit for the remainder of your life. 

The flexibility of disability insurance extends beyond the type of illness or injury the policy covers. Here are standard provisions and other essential components available on disability insurance policies that allow you to customize a plan to your specific needs. 

• true own-occupation disability insurance: will pay a benefit if you can't do your specific job, even if you can work in a totally different occupation and receive compensation for the new occupation.
• benefit period: depending on your health and occupation, many companies allow a benefit period of up to age 67.
• partial benefits: the insurance company will still pay you a benefit if you can still work, but your disability prevents you from working full-time. Partial benefits pay a benefit for this lost income.
• optional riders: you can add provisions to meet your specific needs. For example, one common option is a student loan debt option. This option pays an additional benefit to pay your student loans. It can be a valuable option for those young professionals with high sutudent loan costs.

How Much Does Disability Insurance Cost?

OK, John, you say. You’ve made a great case for me to insure my hands with disability insurance. But, how much does this cost? I don’t want to be insurance-poor.

Good question. I hear you. None of us want to pay more than we have to.

While you may think the cost of disability insurance is expensive, it is not. Depending on your health, income, and circumstances, the monthly premium usually costs around 2% of your gross income.

Stated another way, for every dollar benefit you insure, your cost is 2 cents. Think about that.

For most of us, that's about the cost of a daily cup of coffee.

The premiums may cost between $1.00 and $3.00 per day. Maybe more, maybe less, depending on your situation. Certainly, you can find $3.00 per day or less to protect your income and your family’s future, right? That’s usually the cost of a cup of coffee.

Your actual disability insurance cost depends on your:

• gender (women pay more than men)
• age
• salary/income
• occupation/profession
• health situation, background, lifestyle situation
• preference towards additional options and riders
• anything else the underwriter deems material

No matter your situation, we can help you obtain the lowest rates for your situation.

How to Think About the Value of Disability Insurance

Insurance is sunk cost. What do I mean by this? You pay a premium on a policy that you may never make a claim. It is gone, or "sunk". Disability insurance is no different. You pay premiums for the future purpose of risk protection. You may never make a claim, which is, honestly, the best outcome. The "sunk" economic nature of disability insurance is why we aim to keep our client's premiums low, without getting them into needless riders or options if it does not make sense for their situation.

However, there is an important way to think about disability insurance. As I mentioned, on average, disability insurance will cost about 2% to 3% of a person's gross salary. Of course, what can drive the cost higher or lower depends on the person's health, age, occupation, and other factors.

Let's show some real numbers to put the value of disability insurance in action. Let's say Mary is an office worker, age 30, making $60,000. A basic policy with a $3,000 monthly benefit that includes the own occupation definition, partial benefits, and a guaranteed purchase option costs about $62 per month. That is about 1.2% of her gross salary.

Let's say after paying premiums for 3 years, she goes on claim from an accident and is out of work for 2 years. So, she spent $2,232 in premiums to receive $72,000.

Do you see the value here? This is how you need to think about disability insurance.

Again, the best outcome would be that she never makes a claim. Therefore, she would spend about $22,300 in total premiums for 30 years. Even if she was on claim for 1 year, she would still receive $36,000. 

Daily Cost Comparison: Disability Insurance vs. Other Expenses

Disability Insurance Will Insure Your Hands

If you can’t do your job because you can’t use your hands, that is a disability. The carrier then pays you a benefit based on the provisions of your disability insurance policy.

Additionally, nearly all disability insurance carriers have a provision in their contracts called presumptive disability. This means you are presumed disabled if a certain situation occurs. These situations include loss of use of both hands, loss of use of both feet, and loss of use of a hand and foot (think: stroke). Some carriers include loss of use of one hand instead of both hands.

So, disability insurance will cover your hands. Additionally, it will cover anything else (accident or illness) that prevents you from working and earning an income.

The Presumptive Disability Secret: Automatic Approval Scenarios Most People Don't Know About

Located in disability insurance contracts is a powerful provision that eliminates all the typical claims hassles: presumptive disability. When certain conditions occur, you're automatically considered disabled—no arguments, no medical reviews, no denials.

Total Loss of Use:

• Both hands

• Both feet

• One hand AND one foot

• Sight in both eyes

• Speech and hearing

What "Loss of Use" Actually Means:

You don't need amputation. Paralysis, severe nerve damage, or permanent functional impairment qualifies. A stroke victim who can't control his or her hand triggers this clause even though the hand is physically intact.

The Game-Changing Benefit:

When presumptive disability occurs:

• Benefits begin immediately (elimination period may be waived)

• You receive 100% of your benefit amount

• You don't have to prove you can't work

• The insurance company cannot contest the claim based on your ability to do other jobs

• Payments continue even if you attempt to return to work in a different capacity

The Strategic Advantage:

This provision transforms disability insurance from "income replacement if you can't work" to "guaranteed payment for catastrophic events"—making it function like the body part insurance (or hand insurance) you thought you needed, but with far broader coverage and none of the limitations.

Some disability insurance providers include loss of use of just one hand as a presumptive disability trigger—doubling your protection compared to standard policies.

Who Needs Hand Insurance?

If you really want hands insurance, contact Lloyd’s of London or a similar specialty carrier. However, only a small number of professionals need true hand insurance.

Lloyd's won't insure everyone. Nope, they are not going to insure the hairstylist, tattoo artist, dental hygienist, or plumber. Unless you are a star in your profession, making millions, they probably won't offer hand insurance because this type of policy is so stringent. As I mentioned earlier, they traditionally insure actors, athletes, etc. These people have multi-millions at stake, and so do their management companies.

Additionally, I am sure they require these professionals to have an adequate amount of disability insurance. (Even if you lose the use of your hands.)

So, don’t be surprised if they tell you this.

Nevertheless, here is a list of professions that could use hand insurance:

Musicians and Performing Artists

Professional musicians, particularly those who play instruments requiring precise finger movements, rely completely on hand function. Pianists, guitarists, violinists, and other instrumentalists often insure their hands for substantial amounts. Famous musicians including classical pianists and rock guitarists have historically carried hand insurance policies to protect against career-ending injuries.

Note: symphonists and other types of musicians likely only need disability insurance with a true own-occupation definition.

Artists and Craftspeople

Painters, sculptors, jewelers, and other artists who create work by hand need full hand function to continue their craft. A jeweler who loses dexterity cannot create intricate pieces, and a painter who suffers hand tremors may be unable to produce their art.

Athletes

Professional athletes in sports that require specialized hand use, including baseball pitchers, football quarterbacks, basketball players, tennis players, and golfers, often insure their hands. These athletes generate substantial income that depends on precise hand-eye coordination and specialized skills.

However, remember that you need to be making a lot of money and have adequate disability insurance. For example, a symphonist who makes $250,000 probably just needs a solid disability insurance plan. 

John, I am an orthopedic surgeon. What about me? I could use hand insurance!

Even if you are a specialty surgeon or dentist, you probably just need a disability insurance policy. The own-occupation disability definition ensures that you will receive a benefit if you can’t do your job, even if you lose use of your hands.

But, if hand insurance is what you want and only that, give Lloyd's a call.

Below is a list of occupations that require significant hand use; however, they all really just need a solid disability insurance policy.

Do Physicians and Surgeons Need Hands Insurance?

I receive many phone calls from doctors, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals about insuring their hands. Everything we have talked about so far pertains to those occupations, too. They don't need to insure their hands with a hand insurance policy. 

They will want a disability insurance plan that includes the true own-occupation definition based on their specialty. So, if they develop a nerve twitch, for example, in their hand, and can't perform surgery, then that is a disability as they can't perform the essential duties of their occupation. They will receive disability benefits in that case. 

Remember that definition is based on the duties of your specific occupation. So, let's say you are a bariatric surgeon, but you develop a twitch in your hand. The twitch makes you unable to perform surgical procedures. That twitch is a disability. Because you have the true or pure own occupation definition, you can work in another occupation while still receiving disability benefits. That "other" occupation can still be in health care. It can be in teaching (a different occupation), as a primary care physician, or something completely different. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Hand Insurance

We answer frequently asked questions about hand insurance and disability insurance.

Final Thoughts About Hand Insurance

Hand insurance does exist; however, it is a very stringent type of insurance. It will cover loss of use of your hands, and likely that is it. What if you injure your shoulder and can't work? Or, you injure your back? Or, you develop an illness like cancer? A hands insurance policy won't pay in these cases.

Disability insurance would, and that's the best alternative. Disability insurance pays a benefit if you can't perform the substantial duties of your own occupation, even if you can perform another occupation. If you lose use of your hands and can't work, that is a disability. Likewise, for example, if you get sick or ill and can't work, that is a disability, too. 

Contact us. We are happy to help you and answer any questions you have.

Unlike other agents or what you may feel, there is no risk to contacting us. We always work in your best interests and are not beholden to any one carrier. We work for you. If a better option exists and we can't help you, we will point you in the right direction as best we can. You can always reach back out to us if your needs change.