Which type of insurance replaces a portion of income if an individual cannot work due to illness or injury?

Disability insurance is specifically designed to provide income replacement for individuals who are unable to work due to illness or injury. This type of insurance ensures that while a person is off work and not earning a paycheck, they still receive some financial support. It typically covers a portion of the individual's normal income, helping to alleviate the financial strain that may result from being unable to earn a living during a period of disability.

Health insurance primarily covers medical expenses, such as doctor visits and hospital stays, but it does not serve the purpose of replacing lost income. Life insurance provides a financial benefit to the beneficiaries of a policyholder upon their death, rather than addressing income loss due to temporary conditions like illness or injury. Unemployment insurance offers benefits to individuals who are unemployed through no fault of their own, generally covering loss of income when one is laid off, but does not apply in cases of personal illness or injury that prevent work.

Disability insurance is thus the correct choice as it directly addresses the need for income support resulting from an inability to work due to health issues.