Unum COVID-19 Response

Unum is taking several steps to ensure we can support customers and their employees through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As always, the health and safety of our customers, colleagues, and communities remain our top priority. Our business continuity program prepares us to respond to disruptive events through robust planning, regular testing, and constant monitoring – ensuring we can continue to support you and your employees as the situation progresses.

Special information for customers with fewer than 500 employees:

The federal Paycheck Protection Program can provide loans/grants to help pay your employees and cover insurance premiums. The application period begins April 3, 2020. Funding is limited, so employers are encouraged to apply promptly. See our FAQs for more information.

Our commitment to customers and their employees

During this time of uncertainty, you can count on our unwavering support. We’re committed to meet your needs and deliver quality, dependable service. This includes processing and paying claims, answering questions and providing information as you navigate the impacts to your own workforce.

Some of Unum’s products cover coronavirus-related claims, and we will follow the provisions outlined in your policies and service agreements to determine coverage – just like we would for any other diagnosis.

Our business-continuity program prepares us to respond to disruptive events through robust planning, regular testing, and constant monitoring, and our risk-management program ensures our financial strength – to make sure we can continue to support you and your employees as the situation progresses.

Our business continuity efforts

To minimize exposure to our employees and ensure stable service experiences for you, we’ve taken steps to:

Restrict all business travel for employees. Require employees who travel internationally to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Increase workplace sanitation and educate employees on health and safety best practices.
Enhance our remote-work capacity to handle a higher volume of people working from home, and encourage employees who can do so to work remotely.
Test technology to confirm we can shift critical tasks to other worksites and our remote workforce.
Make flex schedules an option for employees who are working around personal and family obligations during the disruption.
Give financial support to employees who may need additional help or equipment to make working from home possible.
Provide emergency pay to employees in situations where flex scheduling or remote working are not possible.
Make access to free COVID-19 tests available for employees covered under Unum’s medical plan.
Identify critical system needs and ensure they will remain operational.
Account for variables in our planning, such as an increase in the number of claims filed and the closure of banks and post offices.
Work with our vendors to ensure data transmission remains secure and information is protected as they temporarily shift their workforce to remote working.
Seek input from vendors, state officials, and local governments, and incorporate best practices from external organizations.

Legislative update

We are closely following the new legislation and regulations that have been enacted to assist businesses and employees. You can learn more on our COVID-19 legislation page.