Disability Insurance AI Visibility Ranking Trends - November 2026

Answer capsule

The November 2026 Disability Insurance benchmark compares 10 companies across 228 AI answers that met its inclusion rules. Guardian leads with 98 recommendations (42.98% of answers). At least one tracked company was recommended in 137 answers; some answers recommended several companies.

The rankings distinguish being mentioned from receiving an affirmative recommendation, then examine placement and the wording used about each company. Earlier monthly results show how counts and rates changed, with each month using its own answer total. These results describe the answers reviewed, not product quality or customer satisfaction. Differences between monthly samples limit comparisons and do not establish why a result changed.

For the strategic interpretation of this benchmark, read CiteWorks Studio's analysis of How AI Search Is Recommending Disability Insurance

Industry leaderboard

Questions This Section Answers

• How do Disability Insurance rank by recorded AI recommendations in November 2026?

The leaderboard orders companies by how many answers affirmatively recommended them, so it measures recorded endorsement rather than general visibility. A company can appear often yet be recommended rarely, and the gap between those two readings is itself informative.

Ties require equal recommendation counts; near-equal counts should not be read as a shared position. Placement rates and mention rates answer different questions from the recommendation count, so the ranking should be read alongside them rather than as a single summary of standing.

Key findings

Tracked-company answer coverage

Questions This Section Answers

• How often did the November 2026 Disability Insurance answer sample recommend any tracked company?

137 distinct answers recommended at least one tracked company. Counting each company recommendation separately gives 481, because an answer can recommend several companies. Answers with no tracked recommendation may still have recommended companies outside this comparison.

Every included answer mentioned at least one tracked company, but only a majority recommended one. That gap separates appearance from endorsement: being named in an answer is not the same as being put forward as a choice.

Many answers recommended more than one tracked company, so company-level totals exceed the number of answers carrying a recommendation. Answers without a tracked recommendation may still have named companies outside this comparison, so coverage here describes the tracked set, not the whole answer space.

Reach and affirmative recommendation

Guardian ranks 1 by recommendation count. Mentions: 210 (92.11%); recommendations: 98 (42.98%). Top 3 placements: 77 (33.77%); first-place placements: 34 (14.91%).

Wording about the company: 104 positive, 106 neutral, 0 negative mentions. The proportion of mentions that also included a recommendation was 46.7%. The net framing score was 0.50 (defined in Methodology).

112 mentions had no recorded recommendation. Of recorded recommendations, 78.57% were Top 3 and 34.69% were first-place.

Guardian illustrates why mention and recommendation must be read separately: it appears in most answers but is affirmatively recommended in fewer than half. The remaining mentions carry no recorded recommendation, which is a measured absence rather than a negative judgment.

Among Guardian's recorded recommendations, most sit within the top three and roughly a third take first place. These are nested subsets of the recommendation count, not additional wins, and they describe answer wording rather than customer behavior.

Recommendation order and placement

Placement describes where a recommended company sits in an answer's ordering. Top-three and first-place counts are subsets of recommendations, so they should never be added to recommendation totals or compared as if they were separate endorsements.

Recommendation-to-mention ratios vary widely across companies, describing how often an appearance in the recorded answers also carried an affirmative endorsement. A high ratio on a small mention base is less stable than the same ratio on a larger one, and none of these ratios measure sales or conversion.

Classified framing in context

Framing captures the wording used around a company in the selected answers: positive, neutral or negative. No tracked company drew negative wording this month, so differences lie mainly in how much positive rather than neutral language appeared.

Framing is not customer sentiment, reputation or a quality judgment, and it does not explain why recommendations occurred or did not. A neutral mention can still accompany a recommendation, and positive wording alone does not establish endorsement.

Company results in detail

Guardian

Questions This Section Answers

• What do the November 2026 AI answer results show about Guardian mentions, recommendations and placement?

Guardian ranks 1 by recommendation count. Mentions: 210 (92.11%); recommendations: 98 (42.98%). Top 3 placements: 77 (33.77%); first-place placements: 34 (14.91%).

Wording about the company: 104 positive, 106 neutral, 0 negative mentions. The proportion of mentions that also included a recommendation was 46.7%. The net framing score was 0.50 (defined in Methodology).

112 mentions had no recorded recommendation. Of recorded recommendations, 78.57% were Top 3 and 34.69% were first-place.

From October 2026 to November 2026, Guardian's mention count fell from 236 to 210, while its recommendation count fell from 181 to 98. The recommendation rate was 68.30% and 42.98% respectively.

Guardian leads on recommendation count while appearing in nearly every answer, giving it the broadest reach in the tracked set. Its recommendation-to-mention ratio is moderate, meaning a substantial share of appearances carried no endorsement.

Wording split almost evenly between positive and neutral, with no negative mentions. Placements are concentrated near the top of recommendation lists. The prior-month comparison shows both mentions and recommendations lower, but the samples differ and the recorded change does not establish a cause.

MassMutual

Questions This Section Answers

• What do the November 2026 AI answer results show about MassMutual mentions, recommendations and placement?

MassMutual ranks 2 by recommendation count. Mentions: 172 (75.44%); recommendations: 93 (40.79%). Top 3 placements: 80 (35.09%); first-place placements: 35 (15.35%).

Wording about the company: 101 positive, 71 neutral, 0 negative mentions. The proportion of mentions that also included a recommendation was 54.1%. The net framing score was 0.59 (defined in Methodology).

79 mentions had no recorded recommendation. Of recorded recommendations, 86.02% were Top 3 and 37.63% were first-place.

From October 2026 to November 2026, MassMutual's mention count fell from 216 to 172, while its recommendation count fell from 178 to 93. The recommendation rate was 67.17% and 40.79% respectively.

MassMutual sits just behind the leader on recommendation count, with a higher recommendation-to-mention ratio than Guardian and a slightly stronger framing balance. Its placements are the most top-heavy in the tracked set, with most recommendations landing in the top three.

Positive wording outnumbered neutral. The prior-month comparison records lower mentions and recommendations, but because monthly samples differ, that comparison describes what was recorded rather than why it changed.

Mutual of Omaha

Questions This Section Answers

• What do the November 2026 AI answer results show about Mutual of Omaha mentions, recommendations and placement?

Mutual of Omaha ranks 3 by recommendation count. Mentions: 140 (61.40%); recommendations: 73 (32.02%). Top 3 placements: 37 (16.23%); first-place placements: 21 (9.21%).

Wording about the company: 76 positive, 64 neutral, 0 negative mentions. The proportion of mentions that also included a recommendation was 52.1%. The net framing score was 0.54 (defined in Methodology).

67 mentions had no recorded recommendation. Of recorded recommendations, 50.68% were Top 3 and 28.77% were first-place.

From October 2026 to November 2026, Mutual of Omaha's mention count rose from 132 to 140, while its recommendation count fell from 110 to 73. The recommendation rate was 41.51% and 32.02% respectively.

Mutual of Omaha holds third place on recommendations with a mid-range recommendation-to-mention ratio. Its placement profile is less top-concentrated than the two companies above it, with about half of recommendations reaching the top three.

Positive wording modestly exceeded neutral, and no negative mentions were recorded. Mentions rose from the prior month while recommendations fell, a mixed pattern that the separate samples cannot explain.

Northwestern Mutual

Questions This Section Answers

• What do the November 2026 AI answer results show about Northwestern Mutual mentions, recommendations and placement?

Northwestern Mutual ranks 4 by recommendation count. Mentions: 111 (48.68%); recommendations: 50 (21.93%). Top 3 placements: 35 (15.35%); first-place placements: 11 (4.82%).

Wording about the company: 56 positive, 55 neutral, 0 negative mentions. The proportion of mentions that also included a recommendation was 45.0%. The net framing score was 0.50 (defined in Methodology).

61 mentions had no recorded recommendation. Of recorded recommendations, 70.00% were Top 3 and 22.00% were first-place.

From October 2026 to November 2026, Northwestern Mutual's mention count fell from 117 to 111, while its recommendation count fell from 88 to 50. The recommendation rate was 33.21% and 21.93% respectively.

Northwestern Mutual ranks fourth on recommendations, with a recommendation-to-mention ratio close to Guardian's. Most of its recommendations reach the top three, though first-place placements are comparatively rare.

Positive and neutral wording were nearly balanced, with no negative mentions. The prior-month comparison shows both mentions and recommendations lower; the differing samples mean this is a recorded change, not evidence of a cause.

Assurity

Questions This Section Answers

• What do the November 2026 AI answer results show about Assurity mentions, recommendations and placement?

Assurity ranks 5 by recommendation count. Mentions: 62 (27.19%); recommendations: 42 (18.42%). Top 3 placements: 20 (8.77%); first-place placements: 8 (3.51%).

Wording about the company: 43 positive, 19 neutral, 0 negative mentions. The proportion of mentions that also included a recommendation was 67.7%. The net framing score was 0.69 (defined in Methodology).

20 mentions had no recorded recommendation. Of recorded recommendations, 47.62% were Top 3 and 19.05% were first-place.

From October 2026 to November 2026, Assurity's mention count rose from 47 to 62, while its recommendation count fell from 45 to 42. The recommendation rate was 16.98% and 18.42% respectively.

Assurity ranks fifth despite a much smaller mention base than the companies above it, and it records the highest recommendation-to-mention ratio in the tracked set. That ratio rests on a comparatively small number of mentions, so it should be read with caution.

Positive wording clearly outnumbered neutral, and no negative mentions appeared. Mentions rose while recommendations dipped slightly from the prior month, a mixed movement across separate samples.

The Standard

Questions This Section Answers

• What do the November 2026 AI answer results show about The Standard mentions, recommendations and placement?

The Standard ranks 6 by recommendation count. Mentions: 89 (39.04%); recommendations: 37 (16.23%). Top 3 placements: 15 (6.58%); first-place placements: 1 (0.44%).

Wording about the company: 39 positive, 50 neutral, 0 negative mentions. The proportion of mentions that also included a recommendation was 41.6%. The net framing score was 0.44 (defined in Methodology).

52 mentions had no recorded recommendation. Of recorded recommendations, 40.54% were Top 3 and 2.70% were first-place.

From October 2026 to November 2026, The Standard's mention count fell from 96 to 89, while its recommendation count fell from 82 to 37. The recommendation rate was 30.94% and 16.23% respectively.

The Standard ranks sixth on recommendations, with a below-average recommendation-to-mention ratio and a placement profile skewed away from first place: nearly all of its recommendations fall short of the top spot.

Positive and neutral wording were fairly close, with neutral slightly ahead and no negative mentions. Both mentions and recommendations were lower than the prior month, but the samples differ and no cause is established.

Breeze

Questions This Section Answers

• What do the November 2026 AI answer results show about Breeze mentions, recommendations and placement?

Breeze ranks 7 by recommendation count. Mentions: 58 (25.44%); recommendations: 31 (13.60%). Top 3 placements: 12 (5.26%); first-place placements: 2 (0.88%).

Wording about the company: 32 positive, 26 neutral, 0 negative mentions. The proportion of mentions that also included a recommendation was 53.4%. The net framing score was 0.55 (defined in Methodology).

27 mentions had no recorded recommendation. Of recorded recommendations, 38.71% were Top 3 and 6.45% were first-place.

From October 2026 to November 2026, Breeze's mention count rose from 42 to 58, while its recommendation count fell from 37 to 31. The recommendation rate was 13.96% and 13.60% respectively.

Breeze ranks seventh, with a recommendation-to-mention ratio near the middle of the tracked set. Its recommendations rarely reach first place, and fewer than half land in the top three.

Positive wording modestly exceeded neutral, with no negative mentions. Mentions rose from the prior month while recommendations edged down, a mixed pattern that the separate samples do not explain.

Principal

Questions This Section Answers

• What do the November 2026 AI answer results show about Principal mentions, recommendations and placement?

Principal ranks 8 by recommendation count. Mentions: 81 (35.53%); recommendations: 22 (9.65%). Top 3 placements: 14 (6.14%); first-place placements: 2 (0.88%).

Wording about the company: 25 positive, 56 neutral, 0 negative mentions. The proportion of mentions that also included a recommendation was 27.2%. The net framing score was 0.31 (defined in Methodology).

59 mentions had no recorded recommendation. Of recorded recommendations, 63.64% were Top 3 and 9.09% were first-place.

From October 2026 to November 2026, Principal's mention count fell from 109 to 81, while its recommendation count fell from 86 to 22. The recommendation rate was 32.45% and 9.65% respectively.

Principal ranks eighth on recommendations despite a sizeable mention base, giving it one of the lowest recommendation-to-mention ratios in the tracked set. Neutral wording dominated its mentions by a wide margin.

Most of its recommendations still reached the top three, though first-place placements were rare. Both mentions and recommendations were lower than the prior month; the differing samples mean the comparison shows recorded movement only.

Ameritas

Questions This Section Answers

• What do the November 2026 AI answer results show about Ameritas mentions, recommendations and placement?

Ameritas ranks 9 by recommendation count. Mentions: 46 (20.18%); recommendations: 18 (7.89%). Top 3 placements: 8 (3.51%); first-place placements: 3 (1.32%).

Wording about the company: 22 positive, 24 neutral, 0 negative mentions. The proportion of mentions that also included a recommendation was 39.1%. The net framing score was 0.48 (defined in Methodology).

28 mentions had no recorded recommendation. Of recorded recommendations, 44.44% were Top 3 and 16.67% were first-place.

From October 2026 to November 2026, Ameritas' mention count fell from 68 to 46, while its recommendation count fell from 51 to 18. The recommendation rate was 19.25% and 7.89% respectively.

Ameritas ranks ninth, with a recommendation-to-mention ratio below the middle of the tracked set. Its placements are split, with fewer than half of recommendations reaching the top three and a small number taking first place.

Positive and neutral wording were nearly even, with no negative mentions. Both mentions and recommendations were lower than the prior month, a recorded comparison across separate samples rather than evidence of a cause.

Aflac

Questions This Section Answers

• What do the November 2026 AI answer results show about Aflac mentions, recommendations and placement?

Aflac ranks 10 by recommendation count. Mentions: 57 (25.00%); recommendations: 17 (7.46%). Top 3 placements: 13 (5.70%); first-place placements: 4 (1.75%).

Wording about the company: 18 positive, 39 neutral, 0 negative mentions. The proportion of mentions that also included a recommendation was 29.8%. The net framing score was 0.32 (defined in Methodology).

40 mentions had no recorded recommendation. Of recorded recommendations, 76.47% were Top 3 and 23.53% were first-place.

From October 2026 to November 2026, Aflac's mention count fell from 61 to 57, while its recommendation count fell from 24 to 17. The recommendation rate was 9.06% and 7.46% respectively.

Aflac ranks tenth on recommendations, with one of the lower recommendation-to-mention ratios in the tracked set. Neutral wording outweighed positive by roughly two to one, and no negative mentions were recorded.

Most of its recommendations reached the top three, a relatively top-heavy pattern for its count. Both mentions and recommendations were slightly lower than the prior month, but the samples differ and no cause is established.

Earlier ranking snapshot context

Questions This Section Answers

• How do the available Disability Insurance snapshots from July 2026 to November 2026 differ in recommendation coverage and measurement scope?

Only months with verified results are shown. Monthly sample coverage is listed in Methodology.

Each month is a separate sample of AI answers, and the number of included answers varies across months. Counts, rates and ranks should therefore be read together: a lower count can accompany a stable rate, and a rank change can occur without any change in a company's own results.

The table shows recorded results for verified months only. It does not establish that rankings are stable, that sampling is equivalent across months, or why any company's figures moved.

What the November Rankings Show

These sections answer different questions. Reach asks how often a company appears; recommendation asks whether an answer affirmatively endorses it; placement asks where an endorsement sits in the ordering; framing asks what wording surrounds the company. A company can be visible without being recommended, and recommended without being placed first.

Because placements are nested within recommendations and answers can name several companies, the measures should not be combined into a single score. The November results describe the reviewed answers, not customer behavior, product quality or the reasons behind any company's position.

Methodology

Questions This Section Answers

• How were the November 2026 Disability Insurance AI visibility measures counted, and what do they not establish?

This benchmark has partial coverage: 3 of 3 planned question categories contributed usable observations; 0 contributed none. This describes question-category coverage, not demonstrated platform outages. Findings apply to the available answer set.

The month in the title is the reporting period. The exact dates when the original AI answers were collected have not been verified.

Each company is counted at most once in each answer that meets the benchmark rules. A recommendation requires both an affirmative endorsement and positive wording. Mention, recommendation, Top 3 and first-place rates use the full benchmark answer total. Top 3 and first-place results are included within recommendations, not added to them.

The recommendation-to-mention ratio divides recommendations by mentions. It describes AI answer wording, not customer conversion. Net framing is positive minus negative mentions, divided by all mentions, on a scale from -1 to +1. It does not measure customer satisfaction or company quality.

Market: US; 10 tracked companies. AI services represented: ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity.

Research screening totals (answer observations can include repeated questions):

The source does not provide a reader-facing definition of “reserved”; that screening label is reported without inferring a reason for exclusion. Only the included benchmark answers form the rate denominator.

One answer can mention or recommend several companies. Adding company totals would therefore count some answers more than once. The results describe the AI answers reviewed, not independently verified facts about the companies or their products.

Monthly sample coverage:

The answer samples differ between months. These comparisons show how the recorded results changed; they do not establish why they changed.

Coverage is partial: usable observations came from all planned question categories, but findings apply only to the available answer set, and the exact collection dates were not verified. Each company is counted at most once per answer, and one answer can mention or recommend several companies, so company totals overlap.

Recommendation requires both affirmative endorsement and positive wording. Top-three and first-place results are included within recommendations, not added to them. Recommendation-to-mention ratios and net framing describe answer wording, not customer conversion, satisfaction or company quality. Monthly samples differ, so comparisons show recorded change without establishing why it occurred.