According to a recent article in Employee Benefit News, Unum completed a 10-year review of disability claims in order to determine the top ten medical conditions that result in short and long-term disability claims. In 2017, Unum received 424,500 new disability claims, so the number of claims examined for this 10-year study was quite extensive.

In its study, Unum found that cancer consistently has been the leading cause of long-term disability claims in the U.S. for the past decade. More than half of these disability claims come from individuals in the Baby Boomer generation. Cancer is also one of the top five costliest diseases in the U.S., in terms of both medical costs and absenteeism in the workplace.

The next most common source of disability claims is back disorders. These disorders are often chronic conditions that develop over a period of many years. They include nerve and spine damage, degenerative discs, and various forms of arthritis.

Although people often assume that injuries are the leading cause of disability claims, this is not the case. In fact, injuries are only the third most common cause of long-term disability and the second most common cause of short-term disability.

The next medical condition on the list that most commonly contributes to disability claims is cardiovascular or heart disease, which primarily manifests in heart attacks or strokes. Heart disease is the leading cause of death across the U.S., but only the fourth leading cause of long-term disability. Joint and musculoskeletal disorders also are common causes of long-term disability claims.

Common sources of short-term disability claims include pregnancy, non-back-related injuries, which typically occur outside of the workplace, joint disorders, digestive system problems, and cancer. The greatest number of cancer-related short-term disability claims stem from breast cancer, genitourinary organ cancers, and cancers of the digestive system. When you apply for long-term disability benefits, you need to be aware of your rights and responsibilities under your long-term disability plan. At Bonnici Law Group, we offer you client-centered representation at all stages of the long-term disability benefit claims process. When you need the kind of help that only an experienced long-term disability benefits attorney can offer you, contact Bonnici Law Group at 858-261-5454 or help@bonnicilawgroup.com. 0