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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Small and mid-sized businesses across New York now have access to Simply Unum, an innovative approach to employee benefits that can help control costs, simplify administration and offer flexible benefits choice.

"The ability to offer enrollment and administration of benefits online, and to simplify billing so all benefits appear on one statement, is something this market has eagerly anticipated," said Market Manager John Varuolo. "And telephonic claims submission for small size cases has been rare in our industry; now it will be a mainstay with the Simply Unum platform."

Created specifically for employers with fewer than 500 employees, Simply Unum provides a base of group disability and life insurance coupled with voluntary benefits. With more than 28,000 product combinations possible, an employer can offer benefit options that best meet the specific needs of their workforce at a price that doesn't strain the bottom line. And Simply Unum operates on a single technology platform, creating one path from benefit package design to quoting to enrollment to ongoing billing and administration.

During the first week Simply Unum was available in New York, both the New York City and Rochester offices saw sales of the unique benefits platform to small and mid-sized businesses.

"The advantages of simple benefits administration and the integration of group and voluntary products on one platform made Simply Unum a perfect fit," said Sean Loosen, a sales consultant in Unum'sRochester office.

Simply Unum launched in states across the country beginning in April 2008 after a highly successful pilot phase in target markets. Now, more than 4,500 lines of coverage have been sold through Simply Unum nationwide, and the benefits solution is available in 47 states.

"In having Simply Unum out in other markets around the country for a year and-a-half, we are constantly soliciting feedback and making enhancements to make the offering broader and more competitive," Varuolo said. "Simply Unum today is an excellent approach to benefits that just continues to get better."

Unum serves as a benefits provider for more than 10,000 employers across New York, and covers more than 1.4 million people. More than 80 Unum employees work in offices in New York City and Rochester to serve benefits brokers and employers across the state.

"A commitment to responsive local service, benefits industry expertise and strong relationships drives our philosophy," said Senior Market Manager Garth Cronkite.

Simply Unum also offers employee education, enrollment and service in Spanish to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse workforce.

Across the benefits industry, the needs of small to mid-size companies are driving a focus on flexible benefits choices, Cronkite said.

"It has never been more important for benefits providers to offer innovative products that can help employers make the most of their budgets while giving their employees access to benefits that can help protect them from the unexpected," he said.

"At Unum, we're proud to be able to offer that, along with a strong commitment to local service in the communities we call home."

For more information about Simply Unum, visit www.unum.com/simplyunum.

About Unum

Unum (www.unum.com) is one of the leading providers of employee benefits products and services in the United States and the United Kingdom. Through its subsidiaries, Unum Group provided nearly $6 billion in total benefits to customers in 2008.

    Source: Unum