Cancer is the leading cause of long-term disability claims for Unum — and has been for a decade — according to 2010 data collected by the insurance company.
But as treatments for cancer have become more effective, return-to-work rates for people who are diagnosed with some of the most prevalent cancers have improved, data showed.
"Years ago, if you had cancer, you very likely weren't coming back to work," says Robert Jacob, director of health and productivity for Unum. "With advances in treatment and early detection, the questions surrounding cancer and the workplace have evolved."
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In 2001, for example, 47 percent of Unum's long-term disability customers who were diagnosed with breast cancer returned to work. For claims received in 2008, the number was 52 percent.
Cancer has consistently prompted about 14 percent of Unum's long-term disability claims over the last decade. During the next three years, Unum will participate in an initiative by the National Business Group on Health to develop comprehensive resources for employers on the spectrum of cancer-related benefits and workplace programs.
Unum offers employers guidance on supporting employees with cancer and tips on how they can help them successfully return to work.
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