Life Insurance Reviews

Canada Life Life Insurance Reviews

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(161 reviews)
Canada Life
1.2 out of 5 stars:
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Canada Life does not pay

by anomoysis on Feb 11, 2015
1 out of 5 stars

Scotia bank sold coverage to us on our mortgage and Credit lines. When my spouse passed away and I submitted my claim Canada Life decided they were only going to pay a portion of the claim. They "averaged" our line 12 months prior to my spouses diagnosis and that's all they would pay. When we spoke to our bank rep who sold this insurance to us they had no idea of this averaging by Canada Life. If the reps at the bank are not updated on the rules and they are the ones pushing this product down their customers throats is the bank not liable for our lose?Canada Life will not return phone calls and have left me with a large loan to pay. I will be forced to hire a lawyer to hopefully get my claim paid. DO NOT ever let the bank talk you into mortgage insurance--go get term from a LICENSED insurance Broker.

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Contradictory & inaccurate

by Michael Goodfellow on Sep 11, 2023
1 out of 5 stars

My plan has always covered dental polishing every 3 months. This year, Canada Life began denying claims for polishing in less than 6 month increments, and their emailed explanations directly contradict the my eligible dates in my Canada Life account. Service was good for many years but has become absolutely terrible.

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Review topics

AWFUL

by ldowkd02i3 on Aug 1, 2023
1 out of 5 stars

We recently submitted a claim for a medication. The first time we filled it, the out-of-pocket cost was approximately $17 which wasn't too bad. Not even a month later, we refilled the prescription and the out-of-pocket cost was now $22. Upon further review, Canada Life came up with silly reasons about why they didn't cover more. The same exact cost was submitted for the claim on both prescription refills and the same dispensing fee. Our plan is to cover 80% of this particular medication. The medication cost is $50.56. The dispensing fee is $7.49. Canada Life paid $35.71. Out-of-pocket was $22.34. But then about three weeks ago, I ordered the exact same medication (same DIN and manufacturer) and the costs were all the same (medication was $50.56, the dispensing fee was $7.49 and insurance paid $40.21... so out-of-pocket was $17.84) HOW? So Canada Life doesn't actually cover 80%. It's cover what they want to cover and that's that.

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Medication not covered

by Robbie on Jul 19, 2023
1 out of 5 stars

Getting to talk to someone is impossible. Medication approved for over 4 years by Sun Life is not covered by Canada Life. I am diabetic and can’t get my medication cause other people abuse the product. Not my fault. I have had no medication for 3 weeks now. My health is important to me but not to Canada Life. Federal employees (current and retired - me) should have stayed with Sun Life. We were promised a smooth transition. Totally false.

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Absolute scam

by M. on Dec 9, 2022
1 out of 5 stars

Don't even use this company. The coverage is horrifically low for the premiums charged.
The worst insurance I've ever had.
If you make any changes to your account make sure you call them, again and again, to ensure they have it correct or they will cancel your plan and still randomly expect you to pay that first month they waved ever so nicely, in the beginning, absolute scam company. Beware!

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God helps you!

by Disgusted on Feb 18, 2017
1 out of 5 stars

...If you take on a Canada Life policy, you'd make sure you have a good insurance agent, if not Canada Life is not going to help you at all. I have come to realize that my agent is not better than an used car salesperson, promised me the world before taking my money, ensuring me if I cancel within 30 days she would personally refund me the money if Canada Life does not. When I got pressured into signing up for the products with Canada Life, the agent back dated the cheques (totally over $4500), for reason unknown to me, and cheques cashed immediately. When I contacted the agent to cancel the policies the agent delayed on submitting the cancellation request number of times till I demanded confirmation of the cancellation of all policies I took on. I sat quietly for over a month, there was no sign of any refund, I then contacted the agent for the first time inquiring about the refunds. The agent told me she would check with Canada Life, I never heard from after. I texted twice, called and left message once, she ignored me. One morning I found her on the phone unexpectedly, she then told me she had traced the refund, not to worry and it might take a few months but I would 'eventually' get it. The casual careless attitude of the agent upset me. The same day she forwarded me a stream of emails asking her whether I have received my cheques without the agent’s reply. I waited few more days with no feedback after asking to confirm the address where the refund cheques would have been sent to. I then decided to write Canada Life New directly. All I got back was the email from the New Business Associate of the Individual Insurance New Business department telling the financial institute to which my agent belongs to to advise her not to allow the client to contact Canada Life directly. It seems that Canada Life does not care what the agents and financial institutions out there representing them doing to their clients and policy holders. When something goes wrong clients of Canada Life would have nowhere to turn to. They don't care, don't want to be contacted. When they take your money, they want it 2 days ago, when they have to pay or return your money, they don't want to hear from you. If you have anything to do Canada Life, God Helps You!!!

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Canada Life will not pay

by Disappointed on Jun 28, 2015
1 out of 5 stars

I purchased life and disability insurance through RBC home protector and their provider is Canada Life. Last November I had a back injury and I have been of work for almost 7 months now. I applied for the disability insurance I was paying for and thought I had. Once I sent all my medical info regarding my injury to Canada Life, they wanted more info from my family doctor going back 2years from date I purchased the insurance. They found a medication prescribed to me in that 2year period . The medication was for something other than anything they indicated on the application form questions I answered when I applied for the insurance. They declined me coverage for my back injury and cancelled my coverage for disability. I appealed there decision with a letter from my doctor explaining the medication treatment and they still declined me a second time. I took it to a lawyer last week. He said Canada Life is treating me unfairly and that I stand a great chance of settling this in my favor. Problem is he said I could end up paying him more than the coverage I would get back from Canada Life. At least he was honest. More than I can say for this insurance company.

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Declined a claim EVEN after calling in and verifying that it would be covered.

by Fruss Trated on Oct 14, 2022
1 out of 5 stars

My plan covers "Psychotherapy".
I called in advance because I wanted to check that this particular Psychotherapist would be covered. They confirmed that she was, after checking her credentials in their system.

After 4 weeks (and over $1000) spent on this service, I finally found out my first claim was rejected.

I phoned to ask why and they couldn't answer. I asked to speak to the adjuster, and they said they have no way of contacting them. They are claiming that a "CCC" (Canadian Clinical Counselor) is not covered, despite this being the official designation for psychotherapists. There is no such thing as a "Certified Psychotherapist" - the CCC literally IS that designation, issued by the governing body in Canada (CCPA).

Unbelievably frustrating. Hopefully, they'll correct their mistake but it shouldn't be this painful to actually have your insurance covered.

What an absolute crock.

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Term Policy SCAM

by Ann on May 12, 2020
1 out of 5 stars

In 2010 I was offered what seemed like a great deal on an insurance policy with Canada Life, through Canadian Tire. It is a Canadian Tire Financial Services Term Life Insurance policy for $150,000. I purchased the policy on March 8, 2010, because I wanted to leave a substantial gift to my nephew. The term of the policy is 5 years and the premium increases every 5 years accordingly. Thus far, I have paid into the policy an approximate amount of $5324.00. My premiums will increase as follows: April 2020 - March 2025 annual premium for the 5 year period of $4020 April 2025 - March 2030 annual premium for the 5 year period of $6909 April 2030 - March 2035 annual premium for the 5 year period of $11526.60 April 2035 - November 2038 (75th birthday) annual premium for the 68 month period $16,368.28 1. The plan has a provision called the Benefit Reductions at Older Ages. The provision states the following: On the Insured's 71st birth date the coverage shall reduce by 20% of the Amount of insurable show on this certificate and shall further reduce another 20% of the original Amount of Insurance shown on this certificate each birth date thereafter. Each amount of insurance with the value of $50,000 for an individual who has attained the age of 71 shall reduce by $10,000.00 on the individual's 71st birth date and shall further reduce by another 20% of the original Amount of Insurance on each birth date thereafter until age 75. That means my $150,000.00 policy will be worth $30,000 if I should live to the age of 75 and one day. However, I will have paid approximately $44,147 for the policy if I should live to age 75 and one day. This cannot be right. I am effectively paying 50% more than the policy will be worth should I reach the age of 75; the policy is worthless. 2.In 2010 the average life expectancy for a female in Canada was 81.25 years. Today the average life expectancy for a female in Canada is 85.5 years. The projected life expectancy for a female in Canada by the time I am 75, in 2038 will be 86.6. If the average life expectancy is far greater than the age of 75, the plan will only payout to those who die prior to that age. According to the Canadian Institute of Health Information, life expectancy in Canada in 1961 was 71 years old. 3. Premiums will continue to be paid from the date of my 71st birth date until the age of 75. However, the amount of Insurance is reduced greatly. In my case, the total amount of insurance will reduce from $150,000 to $30,000 over the course of the 4 years between the ages of 71 and 75. The total amount of annual premiums for the 68 month period between my 71st birthday and the age of 75 will be $16,386 The total amount I will have paid to Canada Life as of November 2038 will be approximately, $44, 147 for a plan that will only be worth $30,000 as of the same date. During my call today to Canada Life I asked the agent about converting my plan to a permanent plan and taking the amount I have invested in to the plan to a better plan. He initially told me that I couldn't do it because the plan is not a convertible plan. I said there was nothing advising me of this in any of my documents. He then relented and said, "off the record, you can convert the plan but you have to call in and threaten to cancel and then we can offer you conversion." When I asked what my new premiums would be he said he, "couldn't tell me because he can only access that information once the request to cancel and convert has been submitted." Also, once the conversion request is submitted my current term plan would be cancelled and it cannot be reactivated. I could effectively be without any insurance plan whatsoever, despite the fact that I have already paid over $5000 to Canada Life, thus far. I simply want to be able to convert to a plan that does not excessively increase the rate of my premiums, transfer the amount invested into the current plan into a more reasonable insurance plant, and to have a life insurance plan that is equitable. The plan they have sold me is a farce. It has no cash value, it cannot be easily or transparently converted, and it will eventually cost me 50% more than the policy will be worth should I live out the life of the policy. This is a disappointment as well as a deception on the part of Canada Life.

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Misleading

by Steven Beausoleil on Apr 4, 2024
1 out of 5 stars

You log in on their site, you have access to your plan and what is covered. You find the coverage that you are looking for, they ask for specific documents, you supply them with it, and then 4 days later they tell you your plan doesn't cover it. I don't know about you, but when I logged in it wasn't into someone else's plan, it was under my plan, and what I wanted to claim was there, so why is it there in the first place if I'm not entitled to it. If I'm not entitled to make a specific claim then don't have it available in my options, if I can't find it I would then tell myself that I'm not entitled to make this claim. The plan I'm under is with the federal govt. After nearly 9 months with Canada Life, I hope we go back to previous provider, it was much better in my opinion.

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