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LAST UPDATED: March 7th, 2024

Unum Group is a Fortune 500 and publicly traded company (UNM) in the insurance sector. The company’s subsidiaries include Colonial Life Insurance. Unum was started in 1848 as a life insurance company at a time when the concept was brand new. 

Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the company has continued as an insurance company, merging with Provident Group and expanding to the UK and Poland. 

The company offers a variety of insurance options to both small and large companies, including life and disability insurance as well as other supplemental insurance policies (vision, dental, illness, etc.)

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The Good

  • Cash Benefits
  • Family Policy
  • International Coverage

Cash Benefits

When customers file a claim for an accident, the company provides a check or direct deposit of the money, allowing for a choice in how to use funds. The money does not go directly to doctors or medical providers. This allows customers to use funds in the best manner possible to address costs.

Family Policy 

Unum offers accident policies for individuals, as well as spouse and family plans. Many individuals are limited by an employer’s options of benefits, so providing full-family coverage is a unique differentiator in the insurance marketplace.

International Coverage 

The company’s accident insurance will cover customers in any location world-wide, and is not limited by geography.

This is increasingly important for customers who may work, live, and travel across disparate geographic regions, where being covered in a home residence may not be sufficient.

It also means customers do not have to pay insurance twice: at home for local coverage, and in travel or travel accidental insurance, too.

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The Bad

  • Untimely Payments
  • Poor Customer Service 
  • Employer Plans Only   

Untimely Payments 

Numerous customers have complained that Unum’s payments for claims take a long time and aren’t always the agreed upon amount.

This is discouraging for any customer already dealing with the interruption and stress of a claim incident.

However, other companies like Aflac also have similar complaints. With that said, Buddy Insurance is known for quick payouts and easy payments like cash or direct deposit, so there must be a way for Unum to do better in this area.

Poor Customer Service 

Customers have complained that it is difficult to reach a customer service representative when questions cannot be answered through the website.

There are also reports that customers do not receive calls back when promised.

This lack of communication is sub-par, especially in a global economy where auto-replies and 24/7 text-based and messenger-based customer service is ubiquitous, especially in the travel and insurance sectors.

Customers have indicated that other major insurance companies like MetLife also have poor communication as well.

Employer Plans Only 

Plans are only available through employers; independent persons can not apply for policies. This is a disadvantage for potential customers who wish to sign up, but are unable to because the employer is not signed on with Unum.  

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The Bottom Line

Unum has a very long history in the insurance business and is a large company with resources. While there are customer complaints, the amount is lower than the national average for companies in the insurance sector.

The international coverage is reassuring for those who travel often, as well as the ability to add family members to a policy.

Unfortunately, the company does not offer individual policies, so it is not an option for those without an employer.

Overall, this is a good option, but careful comparison with other companies and policies will ensure that the best fit is found. 

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Star Rating

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4.1

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20 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

65%

4 grade

5%

3 grade

10%

2 grade

10%

1 grade

10%

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Jackson

Their insurance are affordable and great company. I like their customer service are helpful and faster.

3 weeks ago

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Sherry Betts Apache Junction, AZ

Unum is a great accident insurance company to have. The claim process is easy and quick. You are compensated as quickly as possible. This is great to have when you are very accident prone!

9 months ago

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Jill Watkins GA

Unum is a great company! Have never had any issues whenever I've had to deal with them. Their customer service is excellent. The representatives are always very helpful and friendly. My claims have always been handled in a professional manner and taken care of correctly. I highly recommend Unum!

2 years ago

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afriendli Wappingers Falls, NY

Most of their short and long term disability representatives are very kind and supportive, but sooner or later you'll get a nasty "senior" claims rep (at least I did). Unum will coerce you to file for social security disability (they fill out all the forms and pay a firm to file and fight for you). And once their advocate convinces the SS administration that you're disabled, Unum will try to force you back to work. Because you sign a blanket release, they'll query all of your doctors, even those who provide minor treatment that's totally unrelated to your disability (in my case, asking the PA who cleans my ears once a year if they think I can "lift 15 pounds and sit at a desk". All this just to save money, with little regard for the customers condition or well being. What could be more outrageous than them going out of their way to convince social security that you're disabled, only to immediately turn around and tell you that you should go back to work? And shame on them for having any representatives (especially "senior" staff) who are hostile and disrespectful to folks who are dealing with medical conditions (and accompanying emotional stress).

1 year ago

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Chad Edgar Halifax, VA

Unum was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life my teeth went from crooked and I'm straight to fully straightened and prettiest can be thank you Unum

2 years ago Edited March 1, 2022

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Cristina Steel Clarkesville, GA

My husband's employer offers Unum accident insurance and other products. I had an accident and they paid $1200.00 of the $13,000.00 costs. I can't really even verify if that is correct. GET AFLAC INSTEAD, when I had another accident in 2009 they cover $7000.00 my entire deductible. UNUM is not worth it.

2 years ago

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Cheeter Karnas Montclair, NJ

My wife was in a bad car accident while working with her boss in the car, she was hit on the trivets side door, the first thing they asked for was her company handbook back, fishy right, well we read front to back and found they had policies on tracking sales reps, and had to pay her medical bills and if disabled as she still is, and they even got caught after years of under paying her not just once but twice, and payments go forward to a certain age as long as she is still disabled.

2 years ago

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Monica O. Folsom, CA

Waste of my time. I was injured and out of work temporarily, I had Unum insurance so I placed a claim. It took over a month to even get a decision and then I recieced 2 checks about 3 weeks apart and for WAY different amounts. Then they needed more information from my doctor to extend claim, which they recieved. This time they put my status as "paying" but I NEVER received a check. I asked for an breakdown several times and was ignored. Now, when they first started paying me, they deducted what they said I would recieve in state disability despite whether I was ACTUALLY getting state disability. They said that there was nothing left after deducting this after they extended my claim. The claims adjuster just kept ignoring my questions. After another few weeks I recieved a letter requesting I sign another form so they could get medical records from my doctor since the first one expired. I explained I refused to sign if I am going to get nothing but a headache as I try to recover from a spinal injury. The answer I got was "you may want to consider continuing your claim in case it goes long term and state disability runs out,, then I will get money"......TOTAL waste of my time.

2 years ago

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Thawkes2017 LA

Unum accident is the best! It’s so easy to upload claim documents and they process claims fairly quickly.

1 year ago

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Mary Gunn Sherpur, 03

Very quick and professional. So grateful to team "Unum" for their support after the accident. They fulfilled my desire.

2 years ago

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Mom of 4 New York Mills, MN

This life insurance is great for family. Billing was very easy to pay.

10 months ago Edited May 3, 2023

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Moira Blanche Phoenix, AZ

thanks for your insurance services, the stuff was nice and I didnt wait long for my turn!

1 year ago

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kristy sowell Waynesboro, MS

They are quick to send reimbursement when you send proof of wellness visits. Have not had to use other policies yet.

2 years ago

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Derek Barlow Broken Arrow, OK

The customer service is 50/50 on being helpful. Just depends on who you get. They aren't very helpful with the paper work or anything. Take forever to approve anything

2 years ago

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Lisa Murphy Newport News, VA

I like the task of entering my info on their website for missing time. Their customer service is impeccable.

2 years ago

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Richard Boston, MA

Fast claim processing. Fair. Great customer service

9 months ago

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Eva Salazar Lubbock, TX

I would recommend Unum as they are not expensive and are a great long time company.

1 year ago

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Angie Kirschbaum New York, NY

It took a lot of effort on my part for things at the office should have been doing for me as much as I paid for it

1 year ago

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Christopher Taylor Saint Cloud, MN

They have great customer service! Always are helpful!

1 year ago

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Iraida Alicea Marietta, GA

Pretty easy company to work with when managing our cases.

2 years ago