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If you have questions or need assistance, contact
us. To learn more about what to expect when filing a disability claim
make a selection:
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Q. How Do I File a Claim?
To notify us of a disability income protection claim, we will need to receive a
completed claim form. If your insurance is provided through your employer, you
may obtain a claim form from your human resources department. If your employer
provides for claim submission by telephone, your human resources department
will provide you with a toll-free number and instructions for calling in your
claim. If you purchased an individual policy (not through your employer), call
us for a claim form (800-633-7479) or you can get a claim form from the
insurance advisor who helped you buy your policy. The claim form includes
everything you will need to submit a claim, including sections for your doctor
to complete, and an authorization form that enables us to gather additional
information as it becomes necessary.
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Q. Who Will Review My Claim?
Once we receive your completed claim form, you will be provided with direct
access to a Disability Benefits Specialist who will personally handle your
needs. This contact, an individual trained in your specific type of disability,
will evaluate the full nature and potential length of your time away from work,
will arrange payment of the financial benefits that may be due to you, and will
begin working with you toward your recovery and return-to-work goals, as
appropriate.
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Q. Is Anyone Else Involved in the Review Process?
When appropriate, your Disability Benefits Specialist will call your employer
and your attending physician to better understand your condition and your
potential for recovery. Our physicians, nurses, case managers and vocational
rehabilitation consultants support our Disability Benefits Specialists and may
also be in touch with your doctor. These professionals may provide review of
the medical, occupational and rehabilitative information for your claim, and
they may also offer to assist you in returning to work, if appropriate.
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Q. When Will I Know About My Benefits?
Within five days of your claims assignment to a Disability Benefits Specialist,
your specialist will contact you. With some conditions, such as standard
maternity leave or a recovery following a routine surgery, your benefits may
begin almost immediately. If your medical condition is more complicated, we may
require additional medical information to better understand your claim.
Depending on how quickly we receive the additional information, your benefits
determination could take longer. In such a case, your Disability Benefits
Specialist will provide you with a written update on the status of your claim
request at a minimum of every 30 days until decided. Our goal is always to
provide a decision as quickly as possible. Your prompt response to requests for
information about your claim will help us serve you better and ensure that you
receive payments in a timely manner.
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Q. What if I Have Questions About My Claim?
During your first conversation with your Unum Disability Benefits
Specialist, you will receive a toll-free number that you can use whenever you
need to reach him or her with questions or concerns about your claim.
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Q. How Will I Know When I'm Ready to go Back to
Work?
Because most disabilities are not permanent in nature, we also offer
return-to-work support in addition to providing you with financial benefits.
Return-to-work potential is part of your claim evaluation from the start. When
needed, we may partner with you and/or your employer on transitional work
schedules, modification of your workspace or an investment in additional
training that will enable you to return to the workforce. At the appropriate
time, a vocational rehabilitation consultant may be assigned to assist in your
transition back to work.
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Q. What happens if I am out of work for a long time?
If your claim is or becomes long term meaning that you will be out of work for
more than 90 days your Disability Benefits Specialist will stay in contact
with you, your physician and your employer as needed, and will continue to
monitor the progress of your medical condition. Depending upon the specific
circumstances of your claim, we will reassess your eligibility for benefits.
With more serious conditions that could mean long-term inability to work, we
will help you understand additional benefits that may be available to you, and,
if applicable, to other members of your family through Social Security
Disability Income (SSDI). We can help you apply for these benefits and assist
you throughout the approval process.
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Q. What Happens if I Disagree with Unum's
Decision on My Claim?
Our claims process is designed to ensure that your claim receives thorough, fair
and objective evaluation. In addition, numerous safeguards are in place
throughout the process to ensure the integrity of decisions that result from
our evaluation. If we determine that benefits are not payable either in whole
or in part, you may appeal the decision by requesting a separate, impartial
review from our Appeals Unit. If you have employer coverage, you can also
contact your human resources department. If you have an individual policy, you
may contact the insurance agent or advisor who helped you purchase your policy.
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