Four Out of Five Disability Income Insurance Claimants are Satisfied With Their Policy

To: NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: Robert Zirkelbach of America's Health Insurance Plans,+1-202-778-8493

WASHINGTON,June 5/PRNewswire-USNewswire/--Four out of fivedisability income insurance claimants are satisfied with theirpolicy, according to a new survey conducted by Harris Interactive onbehalf of Americas Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).

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Disability insurers are providing valuable income protection andinnovative services that are helping to meet the needs of disabledworkers, said Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of AHIP.

The survey of disability insurance claimants assessed theirsatisfaction with their policy and their experience filing a claimand receiving benefits. Overall, four out of five claimants (82percent) said that they were satisfied with their disability incomeinsurance policy. Specifically, claimants were satisfied with theprocess for filing a claim (81 percent), the promptness of thepayments (79 percent), the responsiveness of the insurer (75percent), and the overall communication from their insurer (71percent).

Most claimants said they did not have any problems with theclaims process, and for those that did, most had their problemresolved satisfactorily. The majority of claimants did not haveproblems getting paperwork filed (76 percent), getting approval fortheir claim (73 percent) or receiving disbursements (78 percent).More than four out of five (84 percent) said their problem had beenresolved satisfactorily.

The vast majority of claimants (96 percent) said it is at leastsomewhat likely that they would have suffered financial hardship hadthey not received disability insurance benefits after suffering adisability. Two-thirds of claimants (67 percent) said it is very orextremely likely that they would have suffered financial hardship.Sixty-five percent said they would recommend disability incomeinsurance to their family and friends.

Most claimants say they would have suffered financial hardshiphad they not protected their income with disability insurance, saidHumphrey Taylor, Chairman of The Harris Poll.

Many private disability insurance claimants also file forbenefits from the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)program. Disability insurance provides a vital financial lifelinewhile applicants wait for a final decision regarding their SSDIapplication. In addition, many disability insurers help individualswith the SSDI application process. The survey found that nearlyeight out of ten (79%) disability insurance claimants who alsoreceived SSDI benefits said they were satisfied with their overallexperience with the SSDI program.

The survey highlights an opportunity for private disabilityinsurers and the Social Security Administration to continue to worktogether to ensure disabled workers get the financial assistancethey need, said Ignagni.

The survey also assessed claimants knowledge of and experienceswith some of the innovative programs insurers have implemented toassist disabled workers. Many were at least somewhat familiar withthese programs, and of those who participated in them, most saidthey were satisfied with their experience. Four out of five (80percent) said they were satisfied with the rehabilitation programthey participated in; 78 percent were satisfied with the workplaceaccommodations; 70 percent were satisfied with the educationbenefits they received; 69 percent were satisfied with the return-to-work program they participated in; and 64 percent were satisfiedwith the support they receive to help start a business.

Of those who purchased individual disability income insurance,more than two-thirds (69 percent) said their motivation to purchasethe plan was to provide their family with income should they becomedisabled and not able to work. Nearly half (47 percent) said thatpreserving their retirement savings in the event of a disability wasa motivation for purchasing disability insurance.

Many adults who have received disability insurance benefits (68percent) said they would go to an HR representative with theiremployer for information about disability insurance. About half (45percent) would go to an insurance agent, and 43 percent would turnto the internet for information. A quarter (26 percent) would go toa knowledgeable friend, colleague or family member and one in six(17 percent) would go to a financial advisor.

More information about this survey can be found atwww.YourIncomeAtRisk.org.

Americas Health Insurance Plans - Providing Health Benefits toMore Than 200 Million Americans

Methodology: Harris Interactive conducted an online survey onbehalf of AHIP between April 18 and 30, 2008 among a nationwidesample of 502 adults who indicated that they had received paymentsas a result of disability insurance claims sampled from the HarrisPoll Online panel consisting of people who have agreed toparticipate in survey research projects. No estimates of theoreticalsampling error can be calculated; a full methodology is available.

SOURCE America's Health Insurance Plans