Is total disability covered under personal accident insurance?

I recently had an accidental injury at home, and my doctor advised complete bed rest for a few weeks. I filed a temporary total disability (TTD) claim under my personal accident policy, but the insurer rejected it, saying my diagnosis did not qualify under the policy’s benefit provisions.

- Shilpa Arora

Could you explain how TTD works, what documents are needed, and whether such claims are typically payable?

—Name withheld on request

A TTD claim under a personal accident policy provides financial support when an earning member is temporarily unable to work due to an accident-related injury. The benefit typically pays a fixed weekly amount to compensate for lost income during the period of medical incapacity.

Consider this example: A policyholder recently sustained an accidental fall at home, resulting in a hairline fracture in his foot. His doctor prescribed 26 days of complete bed rest. Based on this advice, the policyholder filed a TTD claim, stating he could not carry out his normal activities during this period.