CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Unum (NYSE: UNM) exceeds the industry average for overall value and timeliness of customer service, according to an independent survey that measured client satisfaction with group disability plans.

Unum excelled in:

• Overall value, according to 85 percent of group disability customers, which is seven points above the industry average
• Timeliness of response to customer service inquiries, according to 87 percent of respondents, compared to industry average of 74 percent

The research was conducted by JHA, a division of General Re Life Corporation - a Berkshire Hathaway Company, and a leader in disability reinsurance, consulting and research.

Unum's ease of checking the status of long term and short term disability claims also exceeded industry averages by 12 and 10 points, respectively.

In addition, Unum received marks that were statistically higher than industry average for overall handling of short term disability claims and timeliness of claims decisions.

"Our commitment to superior customer service is the foundation of our success in the employee benefits industry," says Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Best. "The results from JHA mirror the consistently high results we receive from other satisfaction research."


Best points to strong results from a fall 2008 employer survey conducted by Harris Interactive that polled more than 2,200 of Unum's customers nationwide that revealed:

• 98 percent of Unum's customers are likely to recommend Unum to others
• 93 percent give positive marks to Unum's claims process
• 94 percent give positive marks to the customer service provided to them.

"The dedication of our customer service professionals is clearly reflected in these results," Best said. "We're a company that focuses on establishing meaningful relationships with our customers, and this begins and ends with the quality of service we provide throughout our business relationship with employers and their employees."

About Unum

Unum (www.unum.com) is one of the leading providers of employee benefits products and services, and the largest provider of group and individual disability insurance in the United States. Through its subsidiaries, Unum paid $6 billion in total benefits to customers in 2008.





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Source: Unum