Making the Most of Open Enrollment with Unum: Tips & Checklist

Open enrollment is your once-a-year opportunity to adjust, upgrade, or opt into the benefits that protect your income, health, and family. If your employer offers coverage through Unum, you’re in luck — but smart choices matter.

Many employees rush through enrollment or leave money on the table by skipping essential protections. Don’t be that person. Use this guide to get the most from your Unum benefits package during open enrollment — and set yourself up for a more secure year.

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🧠 What Is Open Enrollment?

Open enrollment is the designated period (usually once per year) when you can:

• Enroll in new benefit plans
• Make changes to existing coverage
• Add or remove dependents
• Elect supplemental policies
• Choose new coverage amounts or riders

After this window closes, changes are only allowed if you have a qualifying life event (like marriage, birth, or job change).

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✅ Why Unum Coverage Deserves a Closer Look

Unum specializes in life and disability insurance, plus:

• Accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
• Mental health and wellness tools
• Legal, financial, and family support services

These benefits are often affordable, employer-subsidized, and accessible without a medical exam — but only if you enroll on time.

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🛠️ Top Tips for Enrolling with Unum

1. Review What You Already Have

Start by logging into your benefits portal or requesting a copy of your current elections. Ask yourself:

• Do I have enough life insurance to protect my family?
• Am I covered if I can’t work for 2+ weeks due to illness or injury?
• Have I added my spouse or children, if needed?
• Do I know what’s included in my EAP?

💡 Awareness is step one. Too many employees enroll and forget what they selected.

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2. Use Digital Tools and Calculators

Unum offers helpful online resources like:

• Coverage needs calculators
• FAQs and glossary of benefits
• Plan comparison charts
• Video walkthroughs and enrollment support

📊 These tools help you estimate how much coverage you need — and how much it will cost you per paycheck.

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3. Know the Medical Rules

During open enrollment, you may qualify for:

• Guaranteed issue amounts (no medical questions)
• Special rates based on age group
• Enrollment without waiting periods

✅ Once the window closes, adding coverage may require evidence of insurability (EOI) — so it’s better to act now.

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4. Don’t Skip Disability Insurance

More than 25% of Americans will face a disabling injury or illness during their career. Unum offers:

• Short-term disability (STD) — covers temporary leave (e.g., surgery, maternity)
• Long-term disability (LTD) — covers extended illness or injury

👩‍⚕️ If you rely on your paycheck, this is one of the most critical benefits you can elect — especially if your employer subsidizes it.

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5. Add Riders and Extras (If Available)

Want more control or flexibility? Check for optional add-ons like:

• Waiver of premium (keep your policy if disabled)
• Accelerated death benefits (get paid early in terminal cases)
• AD&D coverage
• Portability/conversion options

🧩 Riders let you customize your policy for life’s uncertainties.

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📋 Your Unum Open Enrollment Checklist

Before enrollment closes, make sure to:

✅ Review current coverage and identify gaps
✅ Estimate your life insurance needs (e.g., 5–10x salary)
✅ Add or remove dependents
✅ Elect short- and long-term disability if offered
✅ Consider optional riders or spouse coverage
✅ Use Unum’s calculators to confirm affordability
✅ Save confirmation of your elections

📆 Set a calendar reminder so you don’t miss the enrollment deadline.

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💬 Real Story: Avoiding Regret with a Timely Choice

Brian, 36, declined short-term disability coverage because he “never gets sick.” Six months later, he had back surgery and missed 10 weeks of work without income.

The following year, he enrolled in both STD and LTD through Unum.

💬 “I learned the hard way that insurance isn’t for ‘if’ — it’s for ‘when.’ I’ll never skip it again.”

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Final Thoughts

Open enrollment is your chance to shape your protection for the year ahead. With Unum, the right benefits can:

✔️ Protect your income
✔️ Support your family
✔️ Give you access to wellness tools and counseling
✔️ Provide peace of mind — even in uncertainty

👉 Don’t rush your elections this year. Take a closer look at Unum’s benefits, ask questions, and build the safety net you actually need.