For production professionals whose craft is their livelihood, one injury can change everything.
Nearly 1 in 3 production crew members experience a work-related injury each year, impacting their ability to stay on set.
Many freelancers and contract crew members lack long-term disability coverage, leaving income unprotected between projects.
Over half of on-set injuries happen outside principal filming or rehearsal, during load-in, equipment setup, or breakdown.
Recovery from serious injuries can take months or years, creating financial strain for professionals whose income depends on being physically present on the job.
As a behind-the-scenes entertainment professional, your livelihood depends on staying physically capable, available, and reliable when productions need you. Unlike predictable W-2 schedules, crew and production work can be project-based with downtime between jobs—while your fixed expenses continue.
While you focus on production, deadlines, and execution, WAIN helps ensure your income protection is built to withstand the unexpected.
Traditional disability carriers have historically viewed entertainment as difficult to insure due to months of unemployment between jobs and income structures such as royalties/residuals that may continue even if a client becomes disabled. This specialty-style approach is designed to address the unique needs of those working in movie, television, and music.
Industry Outlook
Why is Coverage Important?
Most people insure their material possessions, but many don’t insure what is often their most valuable asset—the ability to work and earn income. If you become sick or injured and cannot work, disability insurance helps replace a portion of lost income to pay bills and maintain your lifestyle.
Many wage earners underestimate the likelihood of disability: one cited study found 64% believed they had a 2% or less chance of being disabled for three months or more, while another reference notes just over 25% of today’s 20-year-olds will become disabled before retirement.
Disability insurance is designed to help protect you and your family from needing to liquidate assets or fall into serious debt when income stops. Individual disability insurance can pay benefits when you cannot work due to injury or illness, and some policies pay partial benefits if you are only able to work part-time.
We know how complex entertainment income can be and how quickly a health event can derail project-based work. WAIN makes it simple by offering:
Income protection structured for variable pay and industry-specific work patterns.
Guidance on contract structure (own-occupation definition, riders, elimination periods, benefit durations).
A streamlined, underwriting-first approach to reduce friction and back-and-forth.
Education-first recommendations so you understand exactly what you own—and why it matters.
How WAIN Helps
Disability (Income Protection) Solutions
Long-Term Income Protection (Own-Occupation): Individual long-term disability income insurance can pay benefits if you cannot work due to injury or illness. Disability insurance generally provides replacement of up to 65% of income (subject to underwriting and policy terms). This plan structure is built around a true “own occupation” definition—meaning you may qualify as totally disabled if you cannot perform the substantial and material duties of your occupation, even if you are working in another occupation (subject to policy terms).
Residual / Partial Disability (Optional Rider): If an illness or injury limits your ability to work and causes a decrease in income, an optional residual rider may pay a monthly benefit when income is reduced by at least 15%. If income is reduced by at least 80%, the full monthly benefit may be payable (subject to policy terms).
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) (Optional Rider): Monthly benefits are a fixed amount and can lose value over time due to inflation. A COLA rider may adjust benefits based on the Consumer Price Index, with increases up to 10% per year (subject to policy terms).
Lump Sum Benefit (Permanent Total Disability — where available): A lump sum payment may be payable if the insured becomes permanently totally disabled. Benefits can be up to ten times annual income (subject to underwriting and policy terms).
Policy Features (Selected)
Elimination Period & Benefit Period: Benefits typically begin after the elimination period and continue while total disability continues, up to the benefit period (subject to policy terms).
Waiver of Premium: If you become totally or residually disabled for more than 90 days, future premiums may be waived while you remain disabled (subject to policy terms).
Presumptive Disability: If severe losses occur (as defined in the policy), the elimination period may be waived and monthly benefits may be paid for the entire benefit period or as long as the loss exists (subject to policy terms).
Products Offered
“As a former diver, I experienced firsthand how difficult it was to secure coverage while working in a high-risk profession. After facing the challenges of finding protection, I founded WAIN to make sure no one in similar environments or demanding careers is left without the safety net they deserve.”
-Darwin Pichardo, Broker/Founder