If an employee is going off on disability due to mental illness, Carmen Bellows, a SunLife Health Consultant for Group Disability, stated, “to break down silos and forge relationships with everyone providing care is important to avoid confusion and progress in getting someone back to work.” As insurers, income replacement is essential to minimize the impact of the disability so the individual has less stress in getting them back to work.
Physicians must provide more than a diagnosis to understand the treatment plan and employment re-engagement. Employers must plan for employee replacement which is a hurdle when there is no idea how long the employee will be off work. Also, a clear active treatment plan must address why the individual cannot do their job responsibilities if a claim is accepted.
Carmen noted, “using risk, capacity & tolerance as a reference helps psychologists/psychiatrists think about workability and restrictions, along with objective measures to treatment outcomes.” Without this information, the employer cannot plan for replacement or re-engaging the employee with the work they can do if possible.
Bellows speaking at the Benefits Canada Mental Health conference, concludes that without effective communication between all involved in the disability claim, the employee will feel like they are being policed, not supported in getting help to get well and getting back to work. Contact Blackstone Insurance for more information on Group Disability Benefits.
Source – blackstoneinsurance
Victoria is a Content Writer at American REIA, covering the latest industry news and various insurance topics, including auto, home, health, and life insurance.
