Manulife Group Benefits Insurance Reviews

We went from one group plan that was fine to Manulife. It was supposed to be the exact same plan, but I found out it's not. They only cover psychologists, not clinical counsellors. I've been seeing the same counsellor for years (that my previous benefits supplied to me as an authorized provider) and now I can't get covered at all. And the dollar value coverage is so low that you'll use your entire coverage on one of the approved psychologists after one visit. In addition, two different eye care places I've been to have both complained to me about how frustrating Manulife is to work with. I often have to pay out of pocket and submit my claim because of their submission rules. They also have one of the most frustrating websites to navigate if you're trying to find information.

Seems like whenever you want to submit a claim, their site is down. Tells you to call a number, you call it and, oh, looks like they aren't open...their site is always down. Zero customer service, digital experience is terrible and they're expensive. For company benefits please choose someone else, your employees will thank you

In reading the other reviews on here (I'm not a person who ever writes reviews or complains) I feel validated that I'm not alone in my horrible and degrading experience with this unethical joke of a company. What the disgusting parasites I've had to deal with there, after nearly every claim need to remember is that it is my employer's money they're playing with. They seem to forget they're just administering the benefits and it's not their money to withhold as much as they'd love to. They will make you jump through hoops for everything, arbitrarily blacklist providers without explanation which results in claims from those places being rejected, send statements that are intentionally opaque, and as many other victims have pointed out they will absolutely lie to you. I work for a very high-end and professional employer and I'm appalled that they would do business with these slimeballs. I've been with other benefit/insurance providers and have never come close to anything like the frustration and mistreatment I've endured. Of note, these aren't complicated claims, either. They will literally play games, especially with co-pay agreements, and drag out paying you back for an eye exam or simple teeth cleaning. Their hope, as little more than just another greedy investment company at the end of the day, is that you get too fatigued to keep fighting them for the benefits to which you and your family are entitled and just roll over. I would encourage anyone reading this who is in a unionized workplace to make this a bargaining issue - employers who knowingly stay with Manulife should be held to account for the way their employees retreated and harassed by these people.

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.

Worst insurance company ever! People don't sign up with them or you will go through the worst service and they will literally steal your money from your bank without your consent! I've signed paperwork of my cancellation with them on June 12th which has been supposedly sent for processing the same day as what their agent has said, and it would take 8 to 10 business days for it to fully go through. They have deducted money out of my bank July 4th without my consent after I have cancelled with them! When I phoned them they tell me I sent in the paperwork of my cancellation on June 30th which isn't true. I showed them the emails of the paperwork sent June 12th with their agent through email and he said he sent in the form the same day on the 12th. They are liars and point fingers at you for being at fault when they have a lack of communication and liars within their company! A different representative I spoke with about this issue to send me back my money in my bank as soon as possible as i didn't expect it withdrawn and it had caused me issues with my budget. I'm on a tight budget as I am off work due to illness and going to surgery within the 10 days. She wouldn't help or get me a supervisor but instead she gives me the worst treatment and hangs up the phone on me! Ive escalated the problem to their head office on July 10th and it's currently July 12th and still haven't received my money or heard back from them. They are thief's, liars, and thugs! Don't sign up with them or you will go through lots of problems no body needs to go through.

I am someone who does not like to complain or do reviews, but I truly feel people should be aware of how terrible Manulife is so I can save others the issues and frustration I have dealt with.

In short; they flat out lie to you (saying my plan does not cover something when it does, and I send them the booklet with it highlighted), make you feel like you are the one at fault, even when essential paperwork is provided will consistently deny claim. Even when my work gets involved will deny claim and lie to my work. I have all paperwork to back up my claim and still deny deny. It's horrible what they are doing to my family, I have paid them for years with very few claims and when I do claim something it's a battle now lasting almost a year (a minor claim I might add) Totally unacceptable. If you are able, please do not go with this company, for the sake of your sanity and family please please pass on Manulife!

Boy oh boy where do I start?! Manulife is SADLY the insurance company my employer goes through, and let me tell you, I would rather suffer than to ever go through anything with these people!
I haven't been very fortunate with my health these past few years, so Ive had to go on 2 short term leaves due to my illness. Again, SADLY I had to go through Manulife in order to basically get paid for the time Im seeking medical treatments. Both times they denied my claim when they had every single proof & medical documentation from specialists explaining my symptoms in detail, the cause of it and the length of time needed to recover. Both times they asked me to sign a form that gives them full authority to gather any medical information needed from my doctor, yet they never contacted them. When asked why, they said "we can, but any medical documents they provide to us, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST". After providing everything they asked for, the "case manager" who claims to have a medical background, decides whether you are actually ILL ENOUGH to be supported through their garbage insurance, or unsupported. Basically at this point they think they are medical professionals, and make the decision based on "evidence" and "proof". So all the money you spend getting these documents for them, all the unbearable pain you are going through with your illness, cost of medication, different doctors & specialists you see, doesn't even matter... because at the end of the day, these case managers will make a decision based on what THEY really think your illness is, not what the doctor says or what sort of treatments you are seeking. The worst part is, they pretend like they REALLY care about the individual by following up regularly which almost feels like harassment. I mean how many times during the week do you have to call or email and say "Just contacting you to follow up and see how you're doing" .. oh please.. you just want this to be over with and send me back to work when you know fully how ill I am. These people have absolutely no compassion, no empathy, no consideration for your well being. If you have the privilege of NOT dealing with this company, please find another place to deal with. They have caused nothing but anxiety & stress for myself and other co workers who had the misfortune of dealing with them. I am now off of work, unsupported, which means ABSOLUTELY no pay until I am fully back to work, (yet they still call/email weekly to follow up and see "how i'm doing" and when i'm going back to work) financially in a hole, and mentally exhausted. Its only a matter of time before more people speak up about this. Something needs to be done!

I hate to call them. Every time we fight over claims and how much is covered. Something like eye care for contact lenses is only every two years. Massage therapy is only for the $70per session. I pay through the roof in premiums and this is all I get. I am seriously considering telling my boss that I'm not going to participate in the plan. Maybe if they offer better to employees they'd stay longer. I'm looking for a better insurance company, and maybe a better company to work for. I'm done with this.

In 2010 I had to leave work due to serious health issues. Manulife provides the group health insurance provided by my employer. The application was correct and accurate. I received benefits for the first 4 years, after which a return to work is deemed unsuitable and they are obliged to provide benefits until the claimant is 65. They required testing at this 4 year mark by their own selected health expert and his report *supported* my claim. Despite this, I received a letter saying my benefits were being terminated as I was (miraculously) fit to return immediately to full time employment at my former job. There was no medical evidence to support this decision, quite the opposite. Further, the policy included a clause that claimants do not have to take employment that pays less than 75% of their former salary; all medical reports indicated that the type of work I could now perform without risk of triggering another episode of serious illness did not pay anywhere near 75% of my former (management) salary. The Manulife employee assigned to my file refused to acknowledge the existence of this clause in the policy. Another Manulife employee involved in the file was caught out saying one thing to me and another thing to my medical care provider in an effort to use semantics to cheat me out of my benefits. In short, he lied through his teeth. It was shocking. I had to hire a lawyer to fight their decision to cancel as it was clear anything I pointed out in my defence was being ignored. The lawyer indicated the run-around she was getting from them as she prepared the file was just short of bad faith bargaining. In the end, the unjustified cancellation was reversed - but not before I had to pay over $5,000 I couldn't afford to the lawyer (who basically made the same arguments I had) and had gone through months of intense stress that in and of itself made me more ill. If I had been unable to afford a lawyer, I would have lost my benefits, plain and simple. The truth played no part in it. I have read that disability insurers routinely cancel valid claimants as some of them will not know how to or have the stamina to fight back, and for those who do, it's much cheaper for the insurance provider to deal with an internal review of the termination decision or a court case than pay out substantial benefits to someone in their 30s or 40s 'til age 65. So is Manulife worse than other disability providers? I don't know. I wouldn't trust any of them after my experience.

While my experiences with the call centre have not been as bad as some of the other reviews, my overall experience with Manulife has been nothing short of garbage.

Firstly, the time to process claims is a thorough joke. They state 5 - 7 BUSINESS days after they receive the claim (which is bad enough to begin with), but don't kid yourself - you will wait roughly 3 weeks before you see any money back.

Secondly, the coverage is extremely poor - even for "Comprehensive" cover. Manulife pays out "90%" (of the regulatory "norms") - finding a healthcare provider that charges in accordance with the regulatory norms is almost as good as winning the lotto.

I had previously been with Sun Life, but had to change due to moving employers - I experienced NONE of the above issues when dealing with Sun Life whatsoever.

So, if you feel like waiting about 3 weeks to recover a small portion of your medical expenses for "COMPREHENSIVE" cover, then Manulife is your choice.

However, if you actually want any sort of adequate insurance coverage, then you can pretty much GO WITH ANY OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER.

These guys are the worst.