Great-West Life Disability Insurance Reviews

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.

0 out of 5 stars on every level

Had a pretty standard disability claim, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and no less than 3 doctors' notes indicating the high level of severity and recommendation to stop working. First the barrage of forms, then the first refusal of benefits, followed by an appeal that is handled by?...You guessed it...Great West Life again, PLUS the same case manager reviewing it. My case manager, Marisa C. should be ashamed of herself. I realize that she makes her wage off of the amount of claims she refuses, but does she realize that its off the backs of others hardship? Of course she does, she simply doesn't care - nor does Great West Life. Bottom line is you will never get paid unless you are immobilized and in a wheelchair, everything else drowns in a sea of legalese garbage. Every scenario possible will always, somehow, not be covered by your policy. Save your money, please.

Case manager tells me we can help you see a specialist earlier then a couple days later tells me we won't help you because it won't save us any money

I've been constantly harassed with requests for forms and reports. After I sent one thing they claim they need something else.

I had little to no communication with the case manager

Now that they only pay for my life insurance premiums, they continue their harassment of request for forms and report to the point that it almost costs me more to pay for all those forms and reports than the actual insurance premiums they pay

I've had the displeasure of dealing with GWL for 4 seperate Short-Term Disability leaves due to a chronic illness. All they care about is getting you back to work, even if you are struggling horribly and have no quality of life. In the last year I've missed a total of 5 months of work yet with every claim they act like it's some short-term illness that will clear up soon. I have proper documentation from my GP as well as a specialist, and my doctor is frustrated with them as well. If you have to fax something in, be prepared to fax it a dozen times yet still have them claim they never received it and threaten not to pay you. This has happened with EVERY claim I've made, and I triple checked the fax number, and confirmed it sent. I'd call after sending to let them know I sent it, only to get a call back A WEEK later telling me it never came. They never answer their phones which is not a big deal, but they take a week to return calls. My claims adjustor does not seem to actually be aware of what my condition is, as I am constantly having to remind her of my limitations despite the fact that my doctor details all of this in the forms he sent in to them. The stress of dealing with them is sure not making things any easier on me.