Prudential Group Disability Professional Aims to Increase Awareness of the Role of Disability Insurance in Maintaining Financial Security

Business Wire, Nov 28, 2007

NEWARK, N.J. -- With the graying of America's population, there is an increased need for workers to ramp up their knowledge of the benefits of disability insurance. In particular, workers need to understand their disability benefits and the extent to which they will provide income replacement. The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, NJ (Prudential), disability insurance executive Terry Cohen is available to address trends and issues associated with disability benefits and the implications of the unfortunate little time and few dollars currently being spent on disability coverage.

According to Cohen, "Many people have bought life insurance after giving serious thought to how their death might impact their families' living standards. Few, though, give the same level of consideration to disability insurance. Ironically, the typical worker faces a much higher risk of extended disability than of premature death. But for a variety of reasons, disability insurance remains one of the most overlooked forms of insurance."

In Prudential's new Employee Benefits: 2007 and Beyond report, the findings suggest that disability plan education and communications are taking a backseat to other benefits communication efforts, primarily medical and retirement plans. Cohen notes, "employers need to put more of a spotlight on disability insurance during or outside the enrollment season as a way to help raise employee understanding of this important benefit."

"And while the real estate market is top of mind for consumers right now, many do not realize that disability is behind nearly half of all mortgage foreclosures and a significant number of personal bankruptcies. Insuring against disability has not been a high priority for most workers because many assume they're already covered through Social Security, state-mandated workers compensation or employer-provided group plans," said Cohen. "The time is now for consumers to focus on this important benefit. The sad reality is most workers would face dire financial consequences if they were unable to work for an extended period of time due to a disabling illness or injury."

About Terry Cohen: Terry Cohen is Vice President, Disability Strategy and Product Management, for Prudential's Group Insurance business. During a 24-year career at UnumProvident covering disability, life and medical products, Terry Cohen has held senior positions including CEO of Thomas L. Jacobs, Inc., a Unum subsidiary, as well as senior vice president of the Short Term Disability and Integrated Disability units. More recently, she served as The Hartford's senior vice president of Distribution and Customer Relationship Management where she also assumed leadership of their Group Benefit's Division Distribution Channel and producer development department. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maine and is on the Board of Directors of the Council for Disability Awareness.

Prudential's Group Insurance business manufactures and distributes a full range of group life, long-term and short-term group disability, long-term care, and corporate and trust-owned life insurance in the U.S. to institutional clients primarily for use in connection with employee and membership benefits plans. Group Insurance also sells accidental death and dismemberment and other ancillary coverages and provides plan administrative services in connection with its insurance coverages.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader with approximately $637 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2007, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Leveraging its heritage of life insurance and asset management expertise, Prudential is focused on helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth. The company's well-known Rock symbol is an icon of strength, stability, expertise and innovation that has stood the test of time. Prudential's businesses offer a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, investment management, and real estate services. For more information, please visit www.prudential.com.

Prudential and the Rock logo are registered service marks of The Prudential Insurance Company of America and its affiliates.

IFS-A140668 Ed. 11/07