When people think about disability insurance (DI) coverage,
most think of the worst case scenario, such as a life threatening illness or a
situation that creates a major life changing event. While that is sometimes the case, most DI
situations neither relate to terminal health conditions nor end in a
permanently disabled condition.
Following are the top 5 reasons for a DI claim for both
short-term (13-26 weeks) and long-term disability claims.*
Short Term:
- Maternity (18.9%)
- Non-back injuries (10%)
- Complications from pregnancy (8.4%)
- Digestive disorders (8.8%)
- Back disorders (7.1%)
Long Term:
- Cancer (16%)
- Back problems (15.1%)
- Injuries (9.8%)
- Behavioral health (9.8%)
- Circulatory disorders (9%)
*Source: UNUM 2012 Claims Data
DI coverage could be the most efficient use of your
resources as you review your total risk mitigation strategy and budget. As you can see from the data, most DI claims
are for issues that do not permanently inhibit one’s ability to work
productively, once the condition is treated properly. Additionally, having a DI policy in place can
be a protective mechanism for your policies and procedures as it relates to how
you handle a situation that involves time off.
For instance, assume that you did not have a DI policy in
place and you have a 20 year employee who becomes seriously disabled. Because of the relationship and years of
service, you might consider compensating the person, despite the fact that the
person is unable to work for an extended period of time. Shortly after the first situation, a one year
employee experiences a serious health situation that requires an absence from
work for an extended period of time.
What do you do now? Can you
afford to pay both people? Better asked,
how can you afford not to, after considering the potential for a discrimination
law suit if you don’t?
Disability coverage provides multiple benefits to mitigate
the risks described above. First, it
provides compensation for your employee while he/she is unable to work. Second, assuming that you’re with the
appropriate carrier, the DI policy will typically assist in getting your
employee back to work more efficiently.
Third, having DI coverage actually provides a legitimate human resource
policy for how you handle situations when someone becomes unable to work as a
result of illness and/or injury. This
not only provides a clear path for those who need to understand what happens,
but also keeps you out of court if a discrimination case enters your life as a
result of handling situations inconsistently.
Finally, DI is one of the least expensive risk mitigation products
available. It’s pennies on the dollar as
compared to all other forms of health coverage.
As you review your risk portfolio, make sure that disability coverage is
part of the plan. It could be one of the
best strategic moves you’ve ever made.