Benefits May 13, 2003

Study: Older Workers Submit More Disability Claims

May 13, 2003 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Older workers are up to five times more likely to submit disability claims than their younger colleagues while the elder employees' absence durations are also likely to be two weeks longer than average.
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Those were some of the results from a new analysis of disability trends from MetLife’s short- and long-term disability claims database. “Many (older workers) have unique health and wellness needs,” Ronald Leopold, vice president and medical director of MetLife Disability, said in a statement. “For employers, this can have significant cost implications, impacting health care plans, benefits offerings and overall workplace productivity.”

According to the MetLife study, older Americans are up to five times more likely to be absent from the workplace due to short- or long-term disabilities than the average employee.

They are also:

  • nearly twice as likely to submit a claim for diabetes
  • nearly three-and-a-half times more likely to submit a claim for eye disorders
  • nearly four times as likely to submit a claim for cardiovascular conditions
  • nearly four times as likely to submit a claim for malignant cancer
  • more than five times as likely to submit a claim for coronary artery disease-related disorders.

To manage a graying workforce, Leopold said that employers should focus on prevention, workplace adjustments, and absence management.

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