Question

Should I tell Unum that I privately purchased their disability policy?

Asked on October 21st 2012 by JAB
I have been on employer-purchased short term disability with Unum for three weeks. I also have a Unum long term plan I have owned for over 25 years, that has a one month exclusion clause. I am thinking about filing on that policy as it looks like I will be off work for at least another month? Should I tell my HR dept I own a personal Long term policy with the one month exclusion? Should I tell my current Unum case worker I have the personally purchased Unum policy? I just has some surgery that will lay me up for at least one more month, and I also have a separate health issue that will require a follow up CT scan, (Pannicultis Mesenteritis). If I am lucky I might be back at work in few weeks, but only God knows...

Answer

Answered on October 22nd 2012 by Attorney Gregory Dell

JAB, there is no harm in telling Unum or HR about the private disability policy you own. There may be a setoff provision in your disability policy which may offset payments from one of the policies.