Unum is one of the largest disability insurance companies in the United States. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn., Unum has more than 9,000 full-time employees and generates billions of dollars in annual revenue.

What Is Unum Disability Insurance?

Disability insurance is insurance that provides a safety net for workers in the event that they become disabled and are unable to do their job. Generally, the insurance will cover a certain percentage of the worker’s previous income during the time they are out of work. Often, this insurance can be purchased through an employer or bundled with existing insurance including health insurance or homeowner’s insurance.

The cost of disability insurance may vary depending on the type of insurance, what it covers, and the age, health, and occupation of the policyholder. . The average cost of disability insurance is between 1% and 3% of the policyholder’s gross annual income.

Approximately 30% of working Americans either do not have any disability insurance, or do not have adequate coverage. Many people choose not to purchase disability insurance, thinking that they will not become disabled. However, approximately 25% of people at age 20 right now will become disabled before reaching the age of retirement.

People across the country purchase Unum disability insurance to cover them in the event of an accident or illness that prevents them from returning to work.

What Does Unum Cover?

Unum disability insurance covers a slew of potential injuries and illnesses, such as:

• Cancer
• Back disorders, excluding injury
• Injuries
• Cardiovascular disorders
• Maternity leave
• Joint disorders
• Digestive disorders
• Others

Conditions that may lead to disability include heart attacks, strokes, surgery, and more.

Certain disabilities typically not covered in a given policy include:

• Intentionally self-inflicted injuries
• Active participation in a riot
• Loss of professional or occupational license or certificate
• Commission of a crime for which the individual has been convicted
• Pre-existing conditions
• War, declared or undeclared, or any act of war
• Any period of disability during which you are incarcerated

Unum disability insurance comes in two forms: short-term and long-term. Short-term benefits replace a portion of your income — up to 60% — if you’re unable to return to work because of an applicable injury or illness for a short period of time, usually a few months.

What Are the Unum Long Term Disability Benefits?

Long term disability insurance, by contrast, offers payments of up to 60% of your income for a much longer period of time, even for years, after a serious injury or illness prevents you from being able to work.

Long-term Unum disability insurance provides financial support for months or years in the form of a monthly benefit. The benefit can be used however you deem necessary, such as out-of-pocket treatment costs, personal bills, or day-to-day expenses.

Long-term disability insurance is often offered through the workplace, so many workers are not burdened with paying the entire premium on their own.

It is important to be aware that there is usually a period of several months before long-term benefits kick in, known as an elimination period. Some people choose to have both short-term and long-term disability insurance in order to make sure they’re covered the entire time they may be out of work due to a disability.

What Are the Unum Long Term Disability Requirements?

In order to qualify for Unum long term disability insurance, you must meet certain criteria to be considered disabled under the specific plan. These requirements may vary from plan to plan.

For instance, in order to be considered disabled, a plan may require that a worker:

• Be limited from performing the material and substantial duties of their regular occupation due to their sickness or injury
• Have a 20% or more loss in indexed monthly earnings due to this sickness or injury
• Be unable to perform any of the material substantial duties of their regular occupation during the waiting period

Some plans may adjust the criteria or require some of them only when working in a reduced capacity because of the disability.

How Long Does Unum Long Term Disability Last?

The length of time Unum long-term disability insurance may last depends on your policy’s maximum benefit period. This is determined by your employer but generally ranges from several months to years. Certain plans pay disabled worker benefits until the covered party turns 67.

It is important to note that in order to continue receiving these benefits for the maximum benefit period, you must meet the requirements for being disabled under the terms of your Unum LTD policy for the entire time.

Many insurance companies conduct surveillance on disability applicants or disability benefits recipients to ensure that they are actually as disabled as they claim. This surveillance may take the form of photographing or videoing disability claimants, or it may include monitoring the social media presence of these people. In order to ensure that your Unum disability insurance claim is not denied due to a belief that you are faking your disability, it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions regarding your activity levels all the time.

Filing an Unum Appeal

In some cases, a valid disability claim may be denied by your insurer. But don’t give up. An appeals process is in place to allow you to challenge a denial and provide new information that may strengthen your case, such as medical records or other evidence, and get a new set of eyes to review your appeal.

It may be helpful to have an experienced disability insurance attorney at your side while you go through the appeals process. Litigation is also a possibility if the unjust denial of benefits continues. Through an appeal or litigation, an experienced attorney can help you receive the benefits you are owed.

Get Help With Your Long Term Disability Insurance Appeal

If an insurance company denied your long-term disability insurance claim within the past 180 days, a knowledgeable insurance attorney can help you appeal.

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