Unum Group

The Unum US segment is comprised of the group disability, group life and accidental death and dismemberment, and supplemental and voluntary lines of business. The group disability line of business includes long-term and short-term disability, medical stop-loss, and fee-based service products. The supplemental and voluntary line of business includes voluntary benefits, individual disability, and dental and vision products.

Unum US Operating Results

Shown below are financial results for the Unum US segment. In the sections following, financial results and key ratios are also presented for the major lines of business within the segment.

Unum US Group Disability Operating Results

Shown below are financial results and key performance indicators for Unum US group disability.

Premium income was higher compared to 2022, driven primarily by in-force block growth and higher sales. Net investment income was lower compared to 2022 primarily due to a lower level of invested assets. Other income increased relative to 2022 due to growth in our fee-based service products.

The benefit ratio, excluding the impacts of the reserve assumption updates, was favorable compared to 2022 due primarily to lower claim incidence, favorable recoveries, and favorable discount rate impacts on new claims in our group long-term disability product line. New claims for our group products are established using the discount rate based on an upper-medium grade fixed-income instrument, which is generally equivalent to a single-A interest rate, as of the policy issuance or policy renewal date. As a result, the higher discount rates on new claims compared to 2022 contributed to the favorable benefits experience during 2023.

Commissions and the deferral of acquisition costs were higher compared to 2022 due primarily to in-force block growth and higher sales. The amortization of deferred acquisition costs was higher compared to 2022 due to growth in the level of the deferred asset. The other expense ratio, which includes other income that is primarily related to fee-based service products, was consistent compared to 2022.

Premium income increased compared to 2021, driven primarily by in-force block growth and favorable persistency. Net investment income was lower compared to 2021 due to lower miscellaneous investment income, a decrease in the yield on invested assets, and a lower level of invested assets. Other income increased relative to 2021 due primarily to continued growth in our fee-based service products.

The benefit ratio, excluding the impacts of the reserve assumption updates, was favorable compared to 2021 due primarily to lower claims incidence in both the group short-term and long-term disability product lines as well as favorable claim recoveries in our group long-term disability product line.

Commissions were higher compared to 2021 due primarily to in-force block growth and favorable persistency. The deferral of acquisition costs was higher compared to 2021 due primarily to higher sales. The amortization of deferred acquisition costs was lower compared to 2021 due primarily to a decrease in the average amortization period that occurred in 2021. The other expense ratio increased compared to 2021 due primarily to increases in employee-related costs and an increase in operational investments in our business, particularly related to our growing fee-based service business.

Unum US Group Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Operating Results

Shown below are financial results and key performance indicators for Unum US group life and accidental death and dismemberment.

Premium income was higher compared to 2022 due primarily to higher sales and favorable persistency. Net investment income was lower compared to 2022 due to a decrease in the level of invested assets and lower miscellaneous investment income, partially offset by an increase in the yield on invested assets.

The benefit ratio, excluding the impact of the reserve assumption update in 2022, was favorable compared to 2022 due primarily to lower mortality, resulting primarily from lessening impacts of COVID-19 on our insured population.

Commissions were higher compared to 2022 due primarily to higher sales. The deferral of acquisition costs and the amortization of deferred acquisition costs were generally consistent compared to 2022. The other expense ratio was generally consistent compared to 2022.

Premium income was higher compared to 2021 driven by in-force block growth, partially offset by lower persistency. Net investment income was lower compared to 2021 due to lower miscellaneous investment income, partially offset by an increase in the level of invested assets and an increase in the yield on invested assets.

The benefit ratio, excluding the impact of the reserve assumption update, was favorable compared to 2021 largely due to lower mortality in the group life product line, resulting primarily from lessening impacts of COVID-19 on our insured population.

Commissions were higher compared to 2021 due primarily to in-force block growth. The deferral of acquisition costs was generally consistent compared to 2021. The amortization of deferred acquisition costs was lower compared to 2021 due primarily to a decrease in the average amortization period that occurred in 2021. The other expense ratio increased compared to 2021 due primarily to an increase in employee-related costs and operational investments in our business.

Unum US Supplemental and Voluntary Operating Results

Shown below are financial results and key performance indicators for Unum US supplemental and voluntary product lines.

Premium income was higher compared to 2022 due primarily to higher sales across all product lines as well as the partial recapture of a previously ceded block of business in the individual disability product line, partially offset by a lower persistency across all product lines. Net investment income was generally consistent compared to 2022 with a decline in the yield on invested assets and lower miscellaneous investment income, mostly offset by an increase in the level of invested assets. Other income was higher compared to 2022 due primarily to a net gain on the partial recapture of a previously ceded block of business in the individual disability product line.

The benefit ratio for voluntary benefits, excluding the impacts of the reserve assumption updates, was favorable compared to 2022 due primarily to the impact of policyholder lapses in the disability product line and lower mortality in the life product line. The benefit ratio for the individual disability product line, excluding the impacts of the reserve assumption updates, was favorable compared to 2022 due primarily to higher mortality and lower claims incidence. The benefit ratio for the dental and vision product line was unfavorable compared to 2022 due primarily to higher claims incidence.

Commissions and the deferral of acquisition costs were higher compared to 2022 due primarily to higher sales in the individual disability and voluntary benefits product lines. The amortization of deferred acquisition costs was higher compared to 2022 due to growth in the level of the deferred asset and the impact of the policyholder lapses in the voluntary benefits product line. The other expense ratio increased compared to 2022 due primarily to an increase in employee-related costs and an increase in operational investments in our business.

Premium income was generally consistent with 2021, with a decline in the voluntary benefits product line, mostly offset by growth in the individual disability and dental and vision product lines. Net investment income decreased compared to 2021 due primarily to lower miscellaneous investment income and a decrease in the level of invested assets.

The benefit ratio for voluntary benefits, excluding the impacts of the reserve assumption updates, was favorable compared to 2021 due to favorable experience in most products, including within the life product line resulting primarily from lessening impacts of COVID-19 on our insured population. The benefit ratio for the individual disability product line, excluding the impacts of the reserve assumption updates, was unfavorable compared to 2021 due primarily to a change in estimate related to the unearned premium reserve in the fourth quarter of 2022 as well as higher average benefit size. The benefit ratio for the dental and vision product line was favorable compared to 2021 due primarily to lower claims incidence.

Commissions and the deferral of acquisition costs were higher compared to 2021 due primarily to higher sales in the individual disability and voluntary benefits product lines. The amortization of deferred acquisition costs was generally consistent compared to 2021. The other expense ratio increased compared to 2021 due primarily to an increase in employee-related costs, a net loss recognized in the fourth quarter of 2022 on the recapture of a block of business in the voluntary benefits product line, and an increase in operational investments in our business, partially offset by a decrease in the allowance for expected credit losses on premium receivable balances.

Sales

Group sales increased compared to 2022 primarily due to higher sales to new customers in both the large case market and the core market, which we define as employee groups with fewer than 2,000 employees. The sales mix in the group market sector for 2023 was approximately 63 percent core market and 37 percent large case market.

Voluntary benefits sales increased compared to 2022 due to higher sales to new and existing customers in both the large case and core markets. Individual disability sales, which are primarily concentrated in the multi-life market, increased compared to 2022 due to higher sales to both new and existing customers. Dental and vision sales increased compared to 2022 driven by higher sales to new customers.

Group sales increased compared to 2021 due to higher sales to new and existing customers in both the large case market and the core market. The sales mix in the group market sector for 2022 was approximately 63 percent core market and 37 percent large case market.

Voluntary benefits sales increased compared to 2021 primarily due to higher sales to existing customers in the core market and higher sales to new customers in the large case market. Individual disability sales increased compared to 2021 due to higher sales to both new and existing customers. Dental and vision sales increased compared to 2021 driven by higher sales to both new and existing customers.

We had total goodwill of $280.0 million for the Unum US segment at December 31, 2023, none of which is currently believed to be at risk for future impairment.

We remain committed to offering consumers a broad set of financial protection benefit products at the worksite. During 2024, we will continue to invest in a unique customer experience defined by simplicity, empathy, and deep industry expertise through the increased utilization of digital capabilities and technology to enhance enrollment, underwriting, the client administration experience, and claims processing. In addition, we will focus on strategically driven sales by enhancing the connectivity, alignment, and support for brokers and technology partners. With respect to smaller employers, we will continue to provide a comprehensive set of consumer-focused products, enhance our distribution model, and utilize our digital tools to bring industry leading enrollment capabilities and a fully integrated customer experience. Our differentiated offerings and market leading leave management services provide substantial growth opportunities, particularly with larger employers, and stronger persistency in our core products. We believe our active client management, integrated customer experience across our product lines, and strong risk management, will enable us to continue to grow our market over the long-term.

We expect strong adjusted operating income in 2024 with continued premium growth and claim experience in line with 2023. We expect premium growth to be driven by improved persistency in most lines as well as continued strong sales momentum. We expect the group disability market to remain competitive which may impact our pricing and renewal premium levels. We expect favorable group disability claim experience to continue in 2024, driven by strong operational performance. We also expect group life and voluntary benefits claim experience to be mostly stable. We expect a stable operating expense ratio as our investments in our people and capabilities are offset by efficiencies gained from our strategic initiatives.

A rising interest rate environment could continue to positively impact our yields on new investments but could also continue to create further unrealized losses in our current holdings. A declining interest rate environment could negatively impact yields on new investments but could also reduce unrealized losses in our current holdings. Our net investment income may continue to be impacted by volatility in miscellaneous investment income.

As part of our discipline in pricing and reserving, we continuously monitor emerging claim trends and interest rates. We will continue to take appropriate pricing actions on new business and renewals that are reflective of the current environment.

We continuously monitor key indicators to assess our risks and adjust our business plans accordingly.