Most employees know very little about Group Disability Insurance, but when they learn more about it, nine out of 10 say they want the coverage and are willing to pay for it, according to a survey by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and employee-benefits insurer Unum.
Nearly 1,200 employees were asked about their knowledge and understanding of Disability insurance. The survey found that 13 percent of those polled said they knew a lot about it; less than half of those who said they had coverage (41 percent) knew how much it costs, while 47 percent knew what their benefits are.
When they learned exactly what Group Disability Insurance was, 90 percent said they wanted the coverage—and 86 percent said they would pay half of a $30-a-month premium. More than half (56 percent) said they would pay the entire premium.
Stephen Brobeck, CFA's executive director, says workers need better protection of their finances. Statistics show that one-third of people who go out on disability are out of work for injury or illness for three months or more.
Employees need to be prepared should a long-term illness befall them, says Brobeck—but unless they are informed of the benefits available, they will not take advantage of available coverage.
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