Disability Claims stats may surprise
2010 data released by Unum, the largest disability insurance company, showed that although cancer has been the leading cause of long-term disability, return-to-work rates have improved as treatment becomes more effective. Comparing 2001 vs. 2010 Unum found that the percentage of those who returned to work rose:
- From 47 to 52 percent for those diagnosed with breast cancer
- From 23 to 30 percent for those diagnosed with colon cancer
- From 28 to 30 percent for those diagnosed with prostate cancer
Moreover, return-to-work rates for people on short-term disability because of breast cancer more than doubled, rising from 28.8% to more than 60%.
The report notes that “Most people who have been diagnosed with cancer are very motivated to get back to work, it helps to create a sense of normalcy and control at a time when people often feel understandably overwhelmed.”
Other Top Disability Claims
Other leading causes of long-term disability claims for Unum in 2010 were:
- Back injuries, about 12% of claims.
- Other injuries, about 9% of claims.
Leading causes of short-term disability in 2010 were:
- Pregnancy, about 22% of claims.
- Injuries, about 9% of claims.
- Digestive disorders, about 7% of claims.
The young are not immune to disability claims. According to the 2010 MetLife disability data:
- 10% of short-term disability claims approved were for men ages 21 to 30. The average claim duration was 40 days.
- 22% of short-term disability claims approved were for women ages 21 to 30. The average claim duration was 46 days.
- 5% of long-term disability claims approved were for men ages 21 to 30. Top causes were fractures, back strain and cancer. For closed claims the average duration was 32 months.
- 10% of the long-term disability claims approved were for women ages 21 to 30. Top causes were pregnancy, depression and back strain. For closed claims the average duration was 21 months.