Sometimes you can save money by taking advantage of insurance offered through your employer at discounted rates, rather than buying it on your own. Here are two policies, often offered in an employee’s flexible spending account, most workers need in their financial safety net:

n Disability insurance: If it’s available and you can afford it, grab it. Long-term disability coverage is an essential part of any sensible financial plan. It’s an especially valuable perk because it’s usually too expensive to buy on your own rather than at group rates through your company.

If you have a choice between plans, lean toward the plan that would replace the largest portion of your income. For example, a worker earning $40,000 a year will pay about $60 more in premiums for a policy that would replace two-thirds of their pay rather than just half, said Sue Cunningham, Stanford University’s benefits programs manager. But the extra $6,400 in annual disability checks would allow you to preserve far more of your lifestyle.

n Life insurance: Many companies provide a modest life insurance policy of, say, $50,000. That’s probably far too little if you’re married and have children. “A lot of people are underinsured, and they don’t know it,” said Glenn Pape, a Human Capital partner with Ernst & Young.

The good news is you might be able to buy the coverage you need through your company at lower group rates.

n One risk to consider: Your policy might lapse if you quit, you’re fired or your company goes belly up. You’d have to scramble to find replacement coverage – which might not be easy if you have a pre-existing medical condition. If those risks scare you, shop for life insurance on your own.