Sun Life Financial: Legit Disability Insurance Or Scam?

Sun Life Financial offers disability insurance to its customers, which can be a great way to protect yourself financially in the event of an injury or illness that prevents you from working. However, there are varying opinions on the legitimacy of Sun Life's services. While some customers have expressed satisfaction with the company's offerings, others have shared negative experiences, highlighting issues with delayed or missing payments, unhelpful customer support, and a lack of clarity around policy details and payouts. It is important to do your own research and read through various reviews to make an informed decision about Sun Life Financial disability insurance.

Sun Life Financial disability insurance reviews

Sun Life Financial offers long-term and short-term disability insurance, as well as a range of other benefits packages. Their disability insurance provides income protection and clinical and vocational support to employees who are unable to work due to a disability.

Reviews of Sun Life Financial Disability Insurance

Reviews of Sun Life Financial's disability insurance are mixed. While some customers have reported positive experiences, others have shared negative reviews, citing issues with the company's customer service, claims processing, and payment disbursement. Here is a summary of the reviews:

• One reviewer, who has been on long-term disability for four months, complains that they have not received any payments from Sun Life Financial. They claim that the company is intentionally delaying payments to avoid paying out. As a result, they are struggling to keep up with their financial obligations and are facing foreclosure on their home.
• Another reviewer, who went on disability for mental health issues, expresses frustration with Sun Life's lack of support. They claim that the company's handling of their case has worsened their mental health and caused financial difficulties, including falling behind on their mortgage payments.
• A third reviewer, whose daughter has been on long-term disability since March 2024, reports issues with the claims adjuster. After a lengthy delay in receiving correspondence, the adjuster sent two checks and then stopped payments, requesting paperwork that had already been provided. The reviewer is concerned about their daughter's health and well-being due to the stress caused by the interrupted payments.
• A 52-year-old single mother shares her experience with Sun Life Financial after undergoing knee replacement surgery. Despite being assured by a company representative that her payout would be 60% of her income, she was later informed that her benefit was only $200 per week. She expresses frustration with the company's handling of her dispute and the financial hardship she is facing as a result.
• One reviewer, who is disabled due to surgery, complains that Sun Life has lost their paperwork and has not provided the financial support owed to them. They describe the company as "unprofessional" and warn others to avoid doing business with them.
• A reviewer who has Sun Life insurance through their employer describes their interactions with the company as frustrating. They accuse Sun Life of lying about getting back to them and feel held hostage by the company as they depend on the weekly payments.
• Another reviewer shares their negative experience with cancelling their Sun Life insurance policy. Despite following the cancellation instructions, the company continued to take partial payments. The reviewer had to involve their bank to stop the payments and is unsure if they will receive a refund from Sun Life.
• One reviewer, who has been trying to receive disability benefits from Sun Life, reports frequent "lost paperwork" and a lack of communication from the company. They warn others to avoid doing business with Sun Life, stating that the company will do everything possible to avoid providing financial assistance.
• A reviewer who has had life insurance with Sun Life for 15 years expresses concern about their ability to collect on their policy if needed. They describe their difficulty in reaching the company and their intention to switch to a different insurance provider.

Sun Life Financial disability insurance benefits

Sun Life Financial offers a range of disability insurance benefits to its customers. These benefits aim to provide financial protection and support to individuals who are unable to work due to a disability, helping them meet their financial obligations during their recovery. Here is an overview of the key benefits offered by Sun Life Financial disability insurance:

Income Protection:

Sun Life Financial disability insurance provides income protection to disabled employees, ensuring they continue to receive a portion of their income even when they are unable to work. This income support can be crucial in helping individuals cover their short-term and long-term expenses, such as bills and mortgage payments, while they focus on their health and recovery.

Clinical and Vocational Support:

The company offers interdisciplinary best practices, specialty resources, and early and collaborative action planning to help disabled employees. This includes clinical claims innovation, where Sun Life stays updated with medical advancements to effectively manage disability claims. They also focus on educating employers about creating a culture of mental wellness at work, promoting inclusivity and removing the stigma around mental health issues.

Critical Illness Benefits:

Sun Life Financial provides additional financial support for claimants who suffer from critical illnesses such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, or trauma resulting in paralysis. This benefit helps individuals cope with the financial burden of treating these serious medical conditions.

Retirement Savings:

Recognizing that a disability should not hinder one's plans for the future, Sun Life offers a program that allows users to continue contributing to their retirement savings plans even during periods of disability. This ensures that individuals can still work towards their long-term financial goals.

Employee Assistance Program:

Sun Life offers access to counseling and referral services for legal or financial concerns. This aspect of their disability insurance benefits package provides valuable support for individuals navigating the challenges of their disability.

Medical Supplement:

Sun Life helps maintain the medical coverage of its customers by paying up to a preset amount towards their medical insurance premiums. This assistance ensures that individuals can continue to access the medical care they need without worrying about the financial burden.

Activities of Daily Living Benefit:

In cases of severe disability, Sun Life offers an Activities of Daily Living Benefit, which increases the disability income to supplement the additional costs that claimants may incur. This benefit recognizes the increased financial demands that often accompany severe disabilities.

While Sun Life Financial offers these comprehensive disability insurance benefits, it is important to note that there are also negative reviews from customers who have faced challenges with the company. Some reviewers have expressed frustration with delays in payments, difficulties in communication, and disputes over the amount of benefits received.

Sun Life Financial disability insurance legitimacy

Sun Life Financial offers disability insurance to its customers, which includes income protection and vocational and clinical support for disabled employees. This insurance covers both short-term and long-term disability, with short-term disability benefits being paid out almost immediately and long-term disability benefits having longer waiting periods.

Sun Life's disability insurance is underwritten by the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada in all states except New York, and in New York, it is underwritten by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company. The company provides disability insurance in the United States and Canada, with a focus on helping disabled employees get the support they need to move forward with their lives.

While Sun Life Financial provides these services, there are several negative reviews of the company's disability insurance online. Many customers have complained about issues with receiving payments, unhelpful customer support, and a lack of clarity regarding policy details and payouts. These reviews highlight potential challenges and delays in obtaining disability benefits from Sun Life Financial.

However, it is important to note that online reviews may not provide a fully representative picture of a company's services, and individual experiences can vary. Sun Life Financial continues to be a provider of disability insurance, and their website outlines the benefits and support they offer to disabled employees.

Sun Life Financial disability insurance application process

Sun Life Financial offers disability insurance to protect you financially by replacing a portion of your income if you are unable to work due to injury or illness. This includes mental health issues.

The application process for Sun Life Financial disability insurance is as follows:

Step 1: Talk to your employer

Discuss how long you will be away from work and confirm your benefit coverage. If your employer provides short-term benefits, apply for these first. Ask them to fill out and send a Plan Sponsor Statement form to Sun Life.

Step 2: Fill out your Plan Member Statement form

This is where you will provide details about why you are submitting your claim. If your plan has custom forms, get these from your employer. If not, use one of the generic Plan Member Statements for short-term or long-term disability. Print, complete and send this form to Sun Life using the "Send documents" function on the app or online.

Step 3: Talk to your doctor

Ask your doctor to fill out an Attending Physician's Statement. Your doctor may charge a fee for this. Ensure your doctor includes any test results, clinical notes and reports for your claim. Either you or your doctor can submit this form.

Step 4: Send documents to Sun Life

Use the "Send documents" button online or in the app to submit your completed Plan Member Statement, plus any other documents you want to include with your claim. For example, you can send banking information. You can also send forms and other details by mail, courier or email.

Step 5: Set up direct deposit

To get your payment faster, set up direct deposit. Sign in to your online banking, download a direct deposit form, fill in the relevant details and send it to Sun Life using the "Send documents" button. Alternatively, take a picture of a personalized cheque with "VOID" and your group disability policy number written on the front, and send this to Sun Life.

Step 6: Focus on your health and recovery

Continue your treatment and focus on your health and recovery.

Sun Life will then review your claim, which can take up to 5 business days for a short-term disability claim, and 10 business days for a long-term disability claim. They will contact you once the review is complete. If your claim is approved, your payments will start on the date your plan's waiting period is over.

It is worth noting that Sun Life has received mixed reviews for its disability insurance. While some customers are satisfied with the service, others have complained about issues such as delays in payments and a lack of support.

Sun Life Financial disability insurance customer service

Sun Life Financial offers disability insurance to its customers, which includes income protection and vocational and clinical support for disabled employees. This insurance covers both short-term and long-term disability, with short-term benefits being paid out almost immediately and long-term benefits having longer waiting periods. Sun Life's disability insurance also includes critical illness benefits, retirement savings, an employee assistance program, medical supplement, and activities of daily living benefits.

While Sun Life Financial does offer disability insurance, there are a number of negative reviews online from customers who have had issues with the company. Many of the reviews mention problems with customer service, including reports of unhelpful and nasty staff, a lack of response, and issues with receiving payments. Some customers have also reported issues with Sun Life's disability insurance affecting their mental health and causing financial strain.

Sun Life Financial's website provides a range of resources for customers, including the ability to submit and track claims, get a dental ID card, and find a dentist. The website also offers career opportunities and student and graduate programs for those interested in joining the company.

For customers experiencing issues with Sun Life Financial's disability insurance, the company recommends reaching out to the employer's HR department or benefits administrator for assistance.

Frequently asked questions