Great-West Life Disability Insurance Reviews

This is the worst of the worst. Was put on short term disability for heart issue, doctor would not renew my licence and I drive truck for a living. Had to wait 7 1/2 weeks for first pay cheque, and was about 1/4 of what I made. The Evil witch that looked after my claim could not give a care of my condition, she told me that I was running out of short term disability and if I applied for long term disability I probably would not get it, because not being able to drive is not covered, and I live 50 miles from work.
I had several claims with this company, because the company I work for goes with GWL, and every time just very negative. One time had dentist work done and was in the dentist chair, and dentist was doing work on my teeth, they tried submitting claim to see if I would be covered, and GWL wanted to talk to me to ask me a bunch of personal questions to verify it was me, I felt like 2 inches tall. The only people I would recommend this company to is my enemy's.

I purchased Disability Insurance with GWL during the last few years of my training as a physician. In the last 3 years, I have suffered from a chronic illness that forced me to take a leave of absence from my practice. As many other posters have shared, the claims process was long, arduous, and I had to fight tooth and nail to even get partial disability for an illness I help my own patients achieve coverage for. I also returned to part-time practice and they decided that that eliminates my partial disability, even with an own occupation rider on my policy. I'm a medical professional, and I navigate these systems all the time. I cannot even imagine how it is for non-medical clients who have to face a claim's process. I have since cancelled my policy with GWL. I am extremely disheartened by this company's practices. I would highly caution anyone taking out disability insurance with GWL or any insurance company for that matter. Do your research, talk to other people who have had claims with the company and read these sorts of message boards.

So I had a short term disability claim. I will be honest I had waited quite a while before I submitted it for personal reasons. This however does not justify the following.

1st, I submitted my claim as a short term claim. I was told it would take approx one week for it to get processed and to a claim manager. 19 days later I noticed the women I was dealing with kept typing "long term claim" and it took an additional week to convince her otherwise.

So a manager calls me to apologize for the error and tells me my claim will now be rushed. Great right?

A week later I still hear nothing so I call in and email some more.

They deny my claim because "I had waited longer then the 10 limit to submit my claim" No where on any paper work did I read there was a 10 window.

So back to the grind, luckily I write contracts for a living. I am good at what I do. So after describing to her in very small words just how wrong she was I was told her manager would double check her work. At this point I demanded her managers FULL name and email. They will fight you on this but it is important to know in case you end up taking legal action.

Eventually she realized I was right and would not give up my fight. (I am Irish I will spend any money to not be taken advantage of)

My claim is now approved. She informs me accounting will take 2-3 days to deposit my funds.

2 weeks I wait. So back to the phone. I am repeatedly told to just give it another day or two. Turns out they mailed me a check, to an address I rarely use.

The whole process is a nightmare. They will automatically deny your claim to save money and pad their bonus account. You will have to dig in and fight. Be polite, and angry. Do not give up your fight. Make them know you have every intention of winning. Or even better, choose ANY other insurance company. This was not my first issue with GWL but it certainly will be my last.

Good luck.

We bought GWL competitor disability insurance for my husband 12 years ago, it was the biggest waste of money we have ever made. A year ago at age 56 he had a severe pain caused by a cervical disc herniation and found out that he had severe deterioration of several discs in his neck and upper back that would not allow him to work as he can't lift, climb a ladder or scaffolding or extend his neck. We were shocked when we were told this is not covered, is this not the reason you buy disability insurance in the first place. Do not buy this insurance it is a huge waste of money, this policy should not be sold to anyone. I guess this is why insurance companies are so rich. DO NOT BUY GWL INSURANCE

My experience with GWL has been nothing but awful. I'm currently out on disability (have been since Nov.), and all they have done is give me the run around. They paid my claim up to Dec. 2 and refused to pay further. I started the appeal process right away and have still gotten no where with them.
The customer services is a joke. The person that I deal with doesn't even pretend to care. On multiple occasions, she's said "I'll look over your information or whatever and get back to you." Whatever? Really? Talk about lack of professionalism. She has also flat out lied about faxing out important documents to my doctor to fill out.
Ex. She said she had faxed a questionnaire for my doctor to fill out to move the appeal process along. I then found out that she didn't fax it until 6 days after my conversation with her. She misspelled my name on part of the questionnaire and put on it symptoms that I never said I had.
As of today, I left her a message informing her that I knew she was lying and that if my claim is not approved by the end of next week, I'll be going above her.
My advice: Avoid GWL like the plague and spread the word that they are a company that doesn't care about helping people. If you are unfortunate enough to have to deal with them at some point, just remember: They want to wait you out and force you back to work. Don't let them. Stay on top of your claim and call them daily.

I have the worst experience in my life with GWL! My doctor gave me a document according to which I need to stay in bed rest because there is a risk for my unborn baby. GWL made me wait for nearly two months without an income and then called me to tell me that my claim has been declined. They said that my condition wasn`t as severe as my doctor suggests!!! I am still waiting for the refusal letter so that I could appeal and eventually apply for sickness benefits through EI. I feel terrible and really depressed from the way they treated me. On top of everything I owe them $246 every month in order to keep my health benefits active. Where will I find this money if I haven`t had any income for two months now? I used to use Sun Life and was very happy with them but unfortunately the company I work for has a contract with this terrible GWL and I`m outraged.

GWL does not care about their customers. They will screw you over any chance they get. Please if you haven't decided on a insurance provide read all the reviews and know everyone has the same experience. I have had to major Spinal surgeries and no quality of life. I can barely manage to get through each day even while off work and help from my family and friends however GREAT WEST LIFE has decided I am all better and can work now. I guess my Spinal fusion, degenerated discs and significant scoliosis is all better because someone who has never asked "how I'm feeling" knows more then my doctors and myself. Please take heeded of all these reviews and save yourself the headache and stressed. I completely sympathize for each person who has dealt with the majority heartless workers. Also the only way GREAT WEST LIFE has any stars on their rating is because you have to choose at least one before submitting a review. Just another example of their crooked ways. Good luck if you are a customer you will need it.

Today I received a call for an update, very normal. Yet she wanted to know where I was calling from.... The only reason it bothered me was because she heard over head speakers. Was she thinking I was... Where dunno it was just such a weird, very abrupt question. What are my rights?

Just a terrible experience. Severely injured my back years ago, had a successful short term disability claim, and a semi-successful long term claim. The 2 years of long term coverage was nearly up at which point I was sent for a physical assessment. It took me 2 months to get the results which are extremely innacurate, they seem to describe another person.
My appeals have all since been denied, information I know has been submitted goes missing, phone conversations are incorrectly documented and I am continually told that anything submitted is lacking details.
To be fair, the agent I deal with seems to sympathize but is left hanging by company policy.

Filing for disability is no easy task. My medical Dr. filled out paperwork and indicated a brain tumor, When I spoke with the adjudicator he stated there was no brain tumor I read the paperwork out loud to him since it was copied. The adjudicator then stated,"Oh, I did not know that was a brain tumor."

I then asked him what his qualification were since I can read and he cannot. He stated the Doctor did not send out enough information (complete lie).

Now I have no income and need it to start medication for anti-seizures prior to brain surgery so I guess I have to delay brain surgery.

The reason this company is successful is because they search for reasons and ways to deny claims, stall them and make a sick person's life more miserable than what it has to be.