As employers are constantly looking to attract and attain talent, providing a comprehensive benefits solution is one of the top ways to remain competitive. Long-term disability insurance, in particular, is often an expected coverage option that provides employees with income protection while protecting an employer's work force should a tragic event strike.

LTDI is more commonly included in benefits packages by larger companies, as 90 percent of employers with 500 or more employees offer LTDI, but less than 50 percent of employers with 10-99 employees offer LTDI, says Pat Murphy, president of life and disability business at WellPoint in Indianapolis. That trend is beginning to shift, though, says Bryan Brenner, founder and CEO at FirstPerson Benefit Advisors in Indianapolis. Considering most large employers have always had LTDI, small employers have had to adopt LTDI policies in order to remain competitive in the market. While LTDI is still more widely used by large employers, coverage is on the rise among small employers.

Jennifer Hader, director of product strategy and management at Cigna in Bloomfield, Conn., finds many employees are attracted to employer-sponsored LDTI because they prefer to enroll through group platforms, which make for easier purchasing decisions. Choosing an individual LTDI plan can be a complex process, but when offered as a group benefit, much of the guesswork is taken out of the equation.