Manulife Disability Insurance Reviews

If you think they will be there to help you while you are not well that takes many Dr visits/tests to figure out what is going on with your health, good luck. When your symptoms are complicated Manulife does not care about you getting better. They only add to the already stressful medical issues you may be going through. Manulife insurance is a false sense of security until you actually need them.
My experience in particular had to do with fainting spells after having a child. At the time I worked in a paper mill on the production line and passing out on a catwalk over the stock pits and press machinery or near any of the winding machinery I worked in and on would cause severe injury and/or death. I went through many emergency room visits, Dr and specialist appts that couldn't pinpoint an exact cause but it was very real what was happening to me. In one episode, in particular, I was walking with my 6-Month-old baby in my arms to go change her and my vision went spotty then black and I lost control of my arms and legs, dropped my baby and collapsed on top of her. I could feel her under me but couldn't do anything about it. So thankful my husband was home to help us.
Manulife did not help us offset any percent of my 50% contribution to the family income while I was going to many appts to try and figure out why this was happening as we were led to believe Manulife would be there.
This is to anyone reading this who has this company as a group benefits provider, they will be great for dental and eye care needs like exam coverage etc and if you should have a health concern you can provide physical medical evidence for like a broken bone. If you have mental health issues or back issues or like me undiagnosable issues, please seek out and pay out of pocket for another company for another insurance company as it is not worth all the agony and frustration of fighting to prove you're unwell so you can pay your monthly bills all while trying to find out what is causing your unwellness.
I hope this review can help just 1 person make a better choice on getting an insurance provider that will be there for them if they ever need it. Or if you read my post this far as it sounds too familiar, I'm sorry that you are going through the same frustrating ordeal as I once did. Believe me, you are not alone. I hope you can share your experience with others as well.

I paid $250 for my doctor to fill out paperwork describing why I cannot work. I was declined benefits and lost the money from the paperwork. Mental health is a real issue and this contributes to it negatively. If your doctor says you need time off, then you need time off.

Denied my wife's claim for 6 months. 3 appeals later and the final appeal was denied as well. This was for work (manufacturing). She claimed she was more than capable of her regular duties at work despite multiple letters from her OB. This might be the WORST insurance company. I would not recommend for any kind of service. I wouldn't let them insure a bicycle let alone anything to do with my family.

I am shocked to read similar experiences from other reviewers and it just helps me understand the extent of their excuses to evade their obligation to work with affected employees and arsenal of gimmicks to shut down a valid case - after of course - taking their sweet time - is astonishing... Although I have 5 year+ of direct experience as frontline CS representative - my current job with up to 100 calls per shift with mostly unhappy folk you try to work with - will curb your enthusiasm even if you are tenured professional with accolades for exceptional service. After six months with my present company, I have developed tinnitus in my left ear - which according to my employer could at best be a case for a work accommodation claim... However, pressures of a toxic work environment that come from poor systems and indifferent and incompetent management led me to a meltdown by the end of the first year. It took me another 6 months of this abusive situation to finally understand I am developing full-blown anxiety and depression... Upon submitting a claim with Manulife - getting my attending physician to share his findings, and extend the initial 2-week absence by another 2 weeks - I get to talk to 3rd Case Manager - who flatly during our phone call ( I encourage anyone to decline the "all calls are recorded" disclosure and insist to meet in person with someone from Manulife so they cannot twist your input around ) - advised me that unfortunately, Manulife cannot support my claim - due to my symptoms being directly worked place related (!?!) - which is outside of their scope... The person half my age with no medical training whatsoever and zero empathy - made me feel insignificant for a brief instant - while I was processing the shock. This was an expensive way for me to learn what a pathetic scam this is... If you value your time - steer clear of Manulife. There are plenty of better alternatives out there.

I was denied for STD from Manulife for mental health reasons. All supporting documents were provided, from psychologist and family doctor. They straight up lied on the reasons they provided for a denial. Saying it wasn't deemed severe enough. I was deemed very high risk by my doctor. That should have been a no brainer for any insurance company. Manulife denied it again and the appeal. Talking to my doctor, he said every time they have to deal with Manulife, they have nothing but problems. They said they are the absolute worst company to have to deal with. They failed to return any phone calls my doctor made to them. Refused to return my phone calls or even tell me the conclusion of their assessment of my case. It's simple, they provide the cheapest rates and deny as much as they possibly can. There is no customer service.

I have been in contact with manual life in regards to my maternity for the past month and a half. There have been sometimes I get a manual life employee that is polite but the past few times I have had to be in contact the service is absolutely awful. They do not know their claims process, what a top up is. Tried to put words in my mouth saying I knew more than any of the manual life employees when I, in fact, advise the lady that if she works for manual life you should be a way of the coverage that you offer. She then proceeded to transfer me twice to voice mails. I am due in two weeks, and have been terribly mistreated and spoken to on the phone with these manual people and am incredibly disappointed. I wish I had the ability to change my coverage as they lack communication skills and are ignorant of their own procedures on how to process a claim or what steps need to be taken.

I fractured my ankle and went on short term disability for a month. After asking a simple question about whether or not I was entitled to physiotherapy recommended by the surgeon, under short term disability, the case manager avoided my question and went off topic, minimizing the severity of pain I was feeling. The case manager then deferred to the group benefits department. The group benefits department lied to me by omission. They said I wasn't covered for my physio past the $200 a year, but failed to mention I could carry over the amounts into my healthcare spending account the next year. I only found out this information from my employer. The case managers are not true managers in the sense of the word. They just parrot a script. I'd have a better time speaking with a chatbot. At least chatbots have an excuse for being soulless.

My husband had a form of dementia, anyone who has lived with someone with any type will understand, this past year many changes took place, between working a high-pressure full-time job, looking after the home full time, looking after an adult child full time, many mistakes needing to be fixed due to the disease, the death of a family dog due to a dementia accident caused me to get sick, my first encounter was I don't qualify because "I'm just a caregiver". Even though I was sick due to this, stress is a leading cause of many major illnesses, 1 out of 4 caregivers die before the one they caregiver for, but " I'm just a caregiver". Within the month of being off, my husband was out riding his peddle bike and was hit by a semi, he actually walked out of the hospital 4 hours later, very bruised and hurt, still don't know if it's because his dementia caused this, we will never know, it was remarkable, his depression and the disease itself which was taking a huge toll on the family and more so him, he took his own life the very next day, I found him hanging. Manulife continued to decline and actually said to me" why do you think finding your husband hanging, would stress you out", I couldn't believe it, I provided medical information showing the depression that I am in, and they say - "you can appeal, they decline you again". Apparently, anyone dealing with what I'm dealing with, shouldn't be depressed or stressed out by this. I plan on taking my story very public, as this truly is a no brainer, police reports, coroner reports and medical reports aren't good enough. Manulife isn't about getting the person better so that when you go back to work, you don't go off again, they are about not paying, the sad truth is this company bullies people, try to intimate people to not pay, my promise to Manulife is, I'm going to fight for others, so when a dramatic thing happens to someone else, they don't go through the same hell I have been going thru.

Manulife tried to make decision on behalf of my doctor. They denied much needed medication that doctor prescribed and tried to push completely different medication on me. Few different reps try to deny it when I called them on it. Have to quote their rejection letter back to them for them to stop saying it is not true. Also Nobody gave me answer to my question what kind of responsibility Manulife willing to take if I started on wrong medication or have no medication at all. However after I keep asking that question I got my case reviewed and right medication has being approved.
If anybody wonders this was special medication that needed special authorisation form (two for Manulife). Medical text book from 1970 said that people with my disability would not live longer than 5 years. Now statistics show people live 20 to 30 years after they being diagnosed and having treatment.
Also medication that Manulife pushed me to take was costing them $24,000 a month and the one my doctor prescribed $3,000. Cannot find logic in their decision.

I was sent a letter indicating I was approved for STD benefits and would be mailed a cheque. It has been 2 months and I still have not received the cheque. My injury was due to a motor vehicle accident which only qualifies for 7 days pay at the rate of 60%. Long-term benefits are not an option for the same reason although I pay a mandatory fee of $50 monthly for these benefits through the Corporation I'm employed. I'm expecting a 3-6 month recovery, so thanks for nothing Manulife. When, not if, I'm in the position to decide who our Corporation uses for a benefit provider, I will make sure it's not Manulife.