Sun Life Disability Insurance Reviews

I worked & paid in to their contracted plan for 21 yrs, using it for dental, prescriptions & glasses without any problems. A life changing disease made the Canadian Gov't deem me to be "totally & permanently disabled" & the Canadian gov't granted me CPP Dissability till age 65. Sun Life however refused to pay me LTD after only 2 yrs. Their contract said I was to be paid until age 65....but that is just a scam. I am very grateful to our gov't who approved my CPP Dissability claim. The gov't makes their medical evaluation & makes their decision & pays you a dependable amount each month until age 65. Sun Life is just one giant fraud. Sun Life really should be forced to close down since they never honour their contracts. Sun Life is an unreliable scam. Sun Life is a failure, who will never pay out. They harrass you constantly & close your file throughout your 2 yrs of LTD (causing emotional disstress). The gov't is way better than Sun Life.

I found out at the end of January 2016 that I needed surgery. I began the process of starting a claim about a month before I actually stopped working. My case was a bit complicated because I need 2 surgeries, and at the time I submitted the paperwork the second surgery date was unknown. I submitted the paperwork before my surgery on March 23rd, got the forms filled out by my doctors, and thought everything was fine. I called multiple times, was told my claim was approved, and it was fine. When I was supposed to start getting paid, I never got a check. I called them - turns out they were missing a form, that no one had ever told me about. I get the form worked out and submit it, and call them a few days later.... only to find out that there was ANOTHER form missing. They kept telling me that I needed to talk to my claims manager Tanya, but she never seemed to be in the office - we're convinced she doesn't exist. The 6th of 7th time I called, I was informed that I had TWO claims - one for short term disability, which has been approved, and one for state. "State?" I asked them. Turns out they were missing forms for that as well, that no one had decided to tell me about the other SIX OR SEVEN TIMES I HAD CALLED. You would think that if they were missing a form, they would call you to ask about it; nope. Sun Life is deducting $170 from my checks every week for this state disability, and to date I have not received any of that money, even though the state claim has been approved at this point. Back to the short term disability; I have been getting checks the last two weeks, so I was lulled into thinking everything was okay. I still have not gotten my state money... but I thought I was okay on the short term side. My second surgery is tomorrow, so I started the process to extend my leave. After FINALLY getting ahold of Tanya, she assured me that all she needs to do is call my doctors office tomorrow after my surgery to find out how much longer I'll be out. She said that she would just extend my leave to whatever the doctor says - we'll see tomorrow if that happens. I received a check today that showed me 2 things. First, the amount is off by $100. Second, they are showing my leave as suspended. I also was given a claim number for my state disability - I looked up that claim, and it shows a check that I never received, and that I have already returned to work.

Long story short, AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COSTS. They jerk you around and absolutely do not care about your wellbeing. They lie to you and say they have everything they need, just to retract that statement the next time you call. You will never get what you're owed if you go through this company, so save yourself the trouble and STAY AWAY.

I have a group insurance plan through my employer. I have been diagnosed with cancer since 2009. My condition has deteriorated since then requiring me to purchase a hospital bed. I have coverage up to $4000.00 for this item. When I filed a claim, they denied it stating they needed more information. I had given them a doctors note and an estimate. They denied the doctors note. I got another note from my doctor costing $40.00. I sent it in via priority post. Sun life received this the next business day. I was told it takes 7 business days to process. They denied it again because they didn't like the receipt. Maybe it was the colour of the paper or the staple I used; I don't know. I've sent another receipt. This time it was handwritten. Then I'm told it will take 7-9 business days to process. I've yet to see the outcome. They have a neat little requirement that you must complete before honouring (I use that term lightly) their obligation; You must pay for the bed yourself in advance. Anyone knows people on disability insurance don't make much money and can't afford to do this. So, if you can't pay up front they will not pay what they owe. Convenient isn't it? Why couldn't they have told me at first everything they needed; in detail. Nope. They strung me around for one and a half months hoping I would throw my arms up in exasperation and walk away. Not going to happen. If this last receipt is denied I will contact my lawyer and have him settle it. Be vary wary of this insurance company. You have to fight tooth and nail to get them to live up to their obligations. I would not recommend this company for anything. Do not trust them to have your best interests at heart.

Just had my LTD claim denied after going through cancer and having difficulties with my recovery. The claims person who never answers her phone issued a letter stating that "I appear to have some health concerns". Seriously. Do they think that I fabricated the pathology report from PMH which discusses my tumour? This statement is an insulting, graceless, compassionless remark to me and all the cancer patients out there who have dealt with the horror of this disease.
I have to seriously now consider the stress and toll that the appeal process will take on me and because I can't physically return to work they will be probably eliminate me.
I hope Sun Life is proud to treat cancer patients this way and further destroy people's lives. Way to go.

I had no choice but to choose Sun life since my company is tied up with them. I applied for Short Term Disability (STD) in January 2016 due to a mental illness I have (depression and anxiety). Could not work so needed time off, so I applied and submitted to Sun Life. Within 3 days they declined my claim saying it is not a physical injury that prevents me from working and further says I'm claiming money for personal reasons!

Being said, Sun Life thinks mental illness is a joke unless I have a disease or in physical pain. A huge disappointment coming from a large corporation to make this comment. And to think in Canada we raised 25 million dollars to research on the stigma on mental illness and Sun life thinks it's nothing. And to think I'm claiming money for personal reasons??

I spend more than $100 to complete this from only to be denied in 3 days. Worst insurance company ever, and now I have to force myself to return back to work with this illness.

This company is the worst to deal with. I pay for coverage through my employer for short-term disability. I had carpal tunnel surgery in September and am still unable to return to work. My surgeon filled out the paperwork stating no use of the right hand. Not sure what more they need. There is a very high chance of another surgery to try to correct the problem. Now more paperwork needs to be filled out by the doctor. What a run around. They say they will return your call within 24 hours. Another crock. It took my member of parliament calling them for the call to be returned. I have not been denied yet but looks like it is going to go that way. I am trying to find out if there is a way to opt out of paying for this as when it is needed, they don't pay. I have never claimed been unable to work until now. I am not asking to be off for the rest of my life. Just until they fix the problem. I would rather donate my payments. Why should I have to pay for something I can never use? This company is a joke. I realize that they make money by not paying out however it is crooked to take money from people if they can never utilize the services that are supposed to be provided that you pay for. Will be talking to my union to see what steps to take to remove this payment from my pay and put it to anywhere but these crooks

Sun Life is by far the worst company i have dealt with in my entire life. i had a Long term disability and was off work for quite some time . After the countless runarounds they made me go through for paperworks it has been over 1 year and they still have not completed there so called ``investigation``. This caused a major missbalance in my life financially and to top it all off, i was told to get a personal loan from the dedicated representative that was dealing with my claim until the investigation is completed. They made me feel like i committed a crime because i have a condition and was sick and have given me absolutely no inssurance whatsoever . No followup were done , i was the one calling in to get details and to find out what has been done with the investigaton so far. i am still waiting for their response and have had nothing yet. If you are with Sun Life definitely change company. They are garbage.

Thanks

Sun Life shared my private medical information with my place of employment as they are trying to fire everyone on disability. Disgusting. I am going to take this further and file a complaint… isn’t this illegal?

I had a long term disability policy and paid for 15 years. When I became ill long term, my employer had me file a claim. I DO NOT have one good word to say for this company!!! They totally manipulate the situation to their advantage, trying to find a loophole that prevents them from paying $$$ out to their clients. Steer clear of this company. They are a RIPOFF!!!

In 2016, I applied and was approved for Disability Insurance through my Scotia Bank Mortgage account. In 2018, the doctor put me on Disability Leave. When I went to access my Disability Insurance for my mortgage, I was notified that they made an error and ticked off Chronic Insurance instead of Disability Insurance. They assured me that the correction would be made. Months later, instead of correcting the error, they paid me out what I had paid towards the Chronic Insurance and basically refused to help me! I contacted the Office of the President of Nova-Scotia Bank to complain. They investigated the matter but it took months. Finally, I told the Office of the President that I would go see a lawyer and within a week, SunLife acknowledged their mistake and paid me out a portion. Now my Mortgage is in foreclosure due to receiving their payment too little too late, and they didn't even pay the hardship or the financial burden that they caused. Two thumbs down to them!