Rehabilitation and work reintegration within the disability claims management process: A South African Insurer perspective

Abstract

Background: Maintaining or promoting employment in the presence of disability or reducing the impact of disability on employability should be the adopted focus to decrease the negative impact that disability has on the economy and just as important on the livelihood and well-being of exposed insured individuals. Group risk disability insurance protects an employee’s income when illness or injury result in work disability. To achieve this factors that promote the success of rehabilitation and support for return-to-work of employees following illness and injury needs to be understood from an insurance perspective. 

Objectives: To explore principles of disability claims management during the rehabilitation and work reintegration stage using a multi-stakeholder approach for the purpose of successful return to work.

Methods:   An exploratory qualitative design was used to collect data via semi-structured interviews with 26 purposively selected participants. Interviews were audio-recorded, data were transcribed and analysed thematically. Qualitative research was used to understand the necessary role players in the work reintegration process, factors that hinder and promote work reintegration and best practice principles for Disability Claims Management (DCM)

Results: Three themes emerged from the study; (i) role players and their functions with collaboration is integral to disability claims management, (ii) various factors promote and restrict return-to-work planning, and (iii) best practice principles in the DCM pathway that promote return-to-work. These principles include behavioural economics as the central principle, with resource identification and competency, governance, role engagement and education and awareness as supporting principles.

Conclusion: Collaborative and integrated approaches by role players within a workers’ family unit, health system, employer structure and insurance compensation are required for positive return-to-work outcomes. The various role players are responsible for creating policies, structures, intervention strategies, and environments that foster return-to-work.

Implications for practice

• An integrated approach is required for optimal RTW outcomes as employers’ policies restrict work integration.
• A collaborative approach by all role players involved in DCM, focusing on positive RTW outcomes is required in the RTW process
• Occupational therapists can influence employer incapacity and disability policies in order to keep people employed and productive in the presence of medical conditions with the application of reasonable accommodations where necessary.
• Occupational therapists are suitably positioned to outline workplace environment and other supports required to guide and support employees through rehabilitation and RTW and in ensuring that employees who can remain at work while on a partial or fully insured benefit, can engage optimally in aspects of work function.