Short-term disability claims: The cartoon

Jellyvision, a benefits communication system company, has introduced ALEX: Leave of Absence, a cartoon-powered system that explains the process for filing a short-term disability (STD) insurance claim.

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As insurers head toward the 2016 Disability Insurance Awareness Month (DIAM) campaign, which starts May 1, they are facing the problem of low interest rates limiting their ability to increase returns on disability insurance.

Many carriers, group disability consultants and disability plan administrators have been trying to increase profit margins by using their leave-management expertise to branch out into offering absence management services.

Jellyvision is positioning ALEX as a tool that can help employers and vendors automate part of the STD leave advice process.

Animated “blobbies” help explain the steps in the claim filing process, such as gathering the documentation required for filing a claim to preparing for a return to work.

Jellyvision says use of a virtual advisor can help with compliance.