Summary: Disability Insurance Companies in Canada
When a Canadian disability insurance company denies your long-term disability (LTD) or short-term disability (STD) claim, it can be financially and emotionally devastating. You pay your premiums — or your employer pays them on your behalf — expecting protection when you are too sick or injured to work. Instead, you are met with delays, unreasonable requests for more medical information, and wrongful denials.
It is important to remember that insurance providers like Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, and Desjardins are massive corporations focused on their bottom line. Their goal is to minimize payouts.
At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, we tilt the playing field in your favour. Led by former insurance industry lawyer Sivan Tumarkin, our national disability law team knows exactly how these companies operate, the tactics they use to cut off your benefits, and exactly how to force them to pay what you are owed.
Select your insurance provider below to learn about your legal rights and how to fight back against a denied claim.
List of Disability Insurance Companies in Canada
Sun Life
If your Sun Life disability claim has been delayed, cut off, or denied, you have legal options.
Canada Life
Has Canada Life denied your disability claim or cut off your benefits? Do not accept their decision. Learn how to enforce your rights and recover your compensation.
Manulife
Has Manulife wrongfully denied your disability benefits? Learn how to enforce your rights and get the compensation you are owed.
Desjardins
Has Desjardins wrongfully denied or terminated your disability claim? Discover your legal options and how to force them to pay.
Blue Cross
If Blue Cross has cut off your benefits, do not accept their decision. Learn how to enforce your rights and get the compensation you deserve.
RBC
If your RBC Insurance disability claim has been rejected or cut off prematurely, you have the right to pursue full financial compensation.
Industrial Alliance (iA Financial)
Facing a delayed or denied disability claim from Industrial Alliance? Find out how to legally challenge their decision and protect your income.
Co-operators
Wrongfully denied by Co-operators? Do not navigate the appeals process alone. Learn how to secure the benefits you are owed.
SSQ Insurance (Beneva)
If your SSQ Insurance (now Beneva) benefits have been terminated, discover the legal steps to challenge the denial and recover your money.
Wawanesa Life
Disputing a medical denial or benefit termination with Wawanesa? Find out how to protect your rights.
Empire Life
Has Empire Life refused to pay your disability claim? Learn exactly what steps to take to fight a wrongful denial.
Cigna
Dealing with a delayed or denied long-term disability claim from Cigna? Discover your legal options for fighting back and securing your income.
Equitable Life
Has Equitable Life wrongfully denied or terminated your disability claim? Do not accept their decision—learn how to enforce your rights and get paid.
Cumis
If your Cumis disability claim has been rejected or cut off prematurely, you have the right to bypass their appeals process and pursue full financial compensation.
First Canadian
A denial from First Canadian is not the final word. Find out how to hold them legally accountable and secure your owed disability benefits.
Humania Assurance
Wrongfully denied by Humania? Do not waste time on an internal appeal. Learn how to legally challenge their decision and protect your financial future.
SISIP Financial
If your SISIP Financial long-term disability claim has been denied or terminated, discover the exact legal steps to challenge the decision and recover your compensation.
FAQs About Canadian Disability Insurers
Why do insurance companies deny long-term disability claims?
Insurance companies look for any reason to deny or terminate a claim. The most common reasons include:
- “Insufficient” medical evidence: The insurer’s internal medical consultant (who has never examined you) disagrees with your own treating doctor.
- The “Change of Definition” at the two-year mark: Moving from the “own occupation” to the “any occupation” definition of disability, which insurers frequently use as an excuse to cut off payments.
- Surveillance and social media: Taking a photo or video out of context to argue that you are capable of returning to work.
- Pre-existing conditions: Arguing that your disability stems from a medical issue you had before your coverage began.
Should I Appeal a Denied LTD Claim?
No. The appeals process is highly skewed in the insurance company’s favour. When you appeal, you are simply asking the same company that just denied you to change their mind.
Appealing wastes valuable time, drains your energy, and gives the insurer more opportunities to fish for information they can use against you. The most effective way to respond to a denial or cut-off is to bypass their internal appeals process and start a legal claim.
Can I sue my disability insurance provider?
Yes. Your disability insurance policy is a legally binding contract. If your insurer denies a legitimate claim or prematurely cuts off your benefits, they are in breach of that contract. Furthermore, insurance companies in Canada have a legal duty to operate in “good faith.” If they handle your claim unreasonably, you can sue them not only for your owed benefits, but potentially for aggravated and punitive damages.
Does My Employer Decide If I Get Disability Benefits?
No. While your employer may sponsor your group benefits plan and help you submit the initial paperwork, the decision to approve or deny your STD or LTD claim rests entirely with the insurance company.
Don’t Fight the Insurance Company Alone
You do not have to walk away from the money you are legally entitled to. At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, our dedicated team of disability lawyers handles cases across Canada (excluding Quebec), strictly representing individuals — never the insurance companies.
Disclaimer: This guide was created by Samfiru Tumarkin LLP. It is an independent resource designed to help individuals understand their insurance rights and the appeals process. It is not produced by, affiliated with, or endorsed by any insurance provider listed on this page.