What happens next? Unum offers guide to health care reform

Latest in a series that examines impact on employee benefits

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--As part of an ongoing effort to help employers, individuals and benefits brokers understand how sweeping health care reform will affect employee benefits, Unum (NYSE:UNM) has produced a guide that details important changes and their impacts.

“The financial protection benefits Unum provides won’t be directly affected by health care reform, but by offering information and guidance we hope to help give our partners confidence that they are making informed decisions about employee benefits overall.”

“We know our partners across the spectrum of our business have many questions about these changes, and it’s important that we answer those questions as thoughtfully, objectively and clearly as possible,” said David Brenerman, vice president of Government Affairs for Unum.

“The financial protection benefits Unum provides won’t be directly affected by health care reform, but by offering information and guidance we hope to help give our partners confidence that they are making informed decisions about employee benefits overall.”

Included in the white paper are explanations of health coverage reforms including:

• Elimination of pre-existing condition exclusions
• Elimination of coverage rescissions (except in the case of fraud)
• Required coverage for certain essential benefits
• Elimination of annual and lifetime maximums for many benefits

The guide is the second in a series of educational pieces from Unum on the effects of health care reform. Last month, the company produced another guide explaining the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act, a national voluntary plan that offers a minimal long term care benefit.

“Health care coverage reforms are changing the conversation around employee benefits,” Brenerman said. “Employers facing new requirements will have a greater need than ever for education and guidance from their benefits partners.”

About Unum

Unum (www.unum.com) is one of the leading providers of employee benefits products and services in the United States and the United Kingdom. Through its subsidiaries, Unum Group paid approximately $6 billion in total benefits to customers in 2009.