01
After-tax household income lost each month
MEDICAL · DISABILITY · CAREER INTERRUPTION
A medical loss can remove the paycheck and the retirement contribution on the same day.
Protect take-home pay, employer retirement dollars, healthcare, and the option to leave the portfolio invested.
MODEL THE WHOLE LOSS
Monthly bills are only the first layer.
If flying stops early, the plan loses both cash flow and years of employee and employer deposits. Model that gap without predicting a diagnosis or substituting financial planning for aeromedical advice.
02
Employee and employer retirement contributions lost each year
03
Benefits that change after leave or separation
04
Time and cost to move into another role
LAYER THE RESPONSE
No single policy solves every interruption.
| Layer | What to verify | What it protects |
|---|---|---|
| Paid leave and employer benefits | Waiting periods, covered pay, offsets, retirement deposits, and healthcare | The first phase after flying stops |
| Individual disability coverage | Disability definition, occupation language, exclusions, duration, tax, and offsets | A portion of longer-term earned income |
| Liquid reserves | Spending, deductibles, benefit delay, taxes, and uncovered costs | Timing gaps and expenses policies do not cover |
| Investment plan | Accessible assets, portfolio risk, and spending reductions | A sustained interruption after other layers |
| Alternative work | Skills, licensing, location, pay, and transition time | Long-term household earning capacity |
RUN TWO INTERRUPTIONS
Separate a temporary grounding from a permanent career exit.
Temporary
Model six to twelve months without normal pay. Show benefit delays, reserve use, missed contributions, healthcare changes, and cash needed to avoid new debt.
Permanent
Move retirement to today. Remove future airline wages and contributions, add verified replacement income, and rerun spending and survivor needs.
Policy audit
Read the certificate and plan documents. Labels such as “own occupation” are not enough; definitions, exclusions, offsets, and duration control.
Decision protocol
Name who contacts the airline, union, insurer, plan administrator, and aeromedical professionals. Keep policy numbers and deadlines accessible.
PRIMARY REFERENCES
Use official certification guidance and your controlling benefit documents.
- FAA: medical certification
- FAA: Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners
- Social Security Administration: disability benefits
- Department of Labor: health plans and benefits
- Your documents: collective-bargaining agreement, disability certificate, leave policy, health plan, and beneficiary records
Financial education only. Medical certification and treatment questions belong with qualified medical and aeromedical professionals; policy and plan documents control benefits.
CHECK THE HOUSEHOLD GAP
Connect protection to the financial plan.
NEXT DECISION