If you are considering getting disability insurance, you are on the right track. It is a good idea for most people to get this type of insurance. It will help to keep you from getting over your head in debt if something unexpected should happen to you. The basic policy will go a long way, but there are some optional insurance riders that might make the policy even more useful to you, especially if you are young.
One of the most useful riders for anyone to have is the residual disability rider. A lot of times when people are sick or injured they don't just get sick or recover all at once. It is a gradual process, and they might be able to work part time or perform part of their job duties when they are in the process of recovery. Without this rider, their disability would cut off if they went back to work part time. The rider makes it so that they can work a part time schedule and get a portion of their salary from the insurance company to help make up for the decrease in salary that this would entail.
Another rider that is especially useful for people who are young is the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) rider. This only comes into effect if you are out on disability for more than a year. Without the rider you would get the same benefits each year, even if you were out on disability insurance for the rest of your life. With the COLA rider you get a small percentage increase in your benefits each year to make up for the increase in the cost of living that comes about as time goes on. People that are close to retirement age probably don't need to worry about getting this rider since it wouldn't add up to a lot of money for them, and it isn't as likely that they would need to use it.
A final rider to consider is the future increase option rider. This is great for people just starting out in their careers. It allows you to increase your coverage as you get higher paying jobs so that you can keep your coverage at about the same level as your salary. Otherwise you would be stuck with your insurance at the same level as when you first got it, or you would have to arrange for a new disability insurance policy.