Canada Life Long-term Disability Claim Denied in Ontario: Your Rights

This resource explains what happens if Canada Life denies your long-term disability (LTD) claim in Ontario, why they deny benefits, what action you can take to win your benefits and get compensation, and other facts about LTD denial by one of Canada’s largest insurance companies.

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Can Canada Life deny my LTD claim?

Canada Life can’t deny your claim for long-term disability benefits if you are legitimately disabled and unable to work for a long period of time. If your treating doctor (or doctors) provides documentation that states that you can’t perform your duties due to an injury or illness, Canada Life must pay you as per the policy.

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Why does Canada Life deny LTD claims?

Canada Life denies many eligible LTD claims. Like other insurance companies in Ontario, they use a number of common reasons for denying your claim. These include situations where:

• They do not consider you to be “totally disabled“
• Disagreement with your doctor’s opinion
• Insufficient medical evidence to support your claim
• The possibility of you working in a different occupation
• Evidence from surveillance that suggests you can work
• You may have a pre-existing condition

It is crucial to recognize that if Canada Life cites a reason for denying a long-term disability claim in Ontario, it does not automatically imply that the explanation is correct. Insurers may make mistakes or misinterpret information, and their judgment could be based on insufficient or erroneous facts. Insurance companies have a vested interest in declining claims since it enables them to retain more funds and increase overall profits for the organization.

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Canada Life stopped paying my benefits after two years

Canada Life often terminates long-term disability benefits after two years due to a change in the definition of disability. This occurs when the criteria for being considered ‘totally disabled’ in Ontario changes.

• For the first two years, you are covered under “own occupation” coverage, meaning benefits are payable if you can’t perform the duties of your job that you had before becoming disabled.
• After two years, the definition changes to “any occupation,” meaning benefits are only payable if you can’t work in any job suited to your education, training, or experience.

At this point, Canada Life often challenges your doctor’s position and asserts that you can perform “some type of job.”

To continue receiving long-term disability benefits, you must prove that your condition prevents you from doing any work, not just your own job.

The insurance company may make you attend a skills assessment. The purpose of this test is to give the insurer a chance to build a case to cut you off of LTD payments. If your condition shows that you are still totally disabled, the insurer will have to continue to pay you benefits – something that insurance companies do not want to do.

If the insurance company says you’re not totally disabled, you should contact a long-term disability lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP immediately for a free consultation. Find out how we can help you get the compensation you are legally owed by your insurer.

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What should I do if Canada Life denies my LTD claim?

There are some key things you should do if Canada Life denies your LTD claim in Ontario:

• Don’t panic. It’s understandable to feel stressed or worried when your claim is initially denied. But know that a denial is not necessarily the end of the road.
• Confirm the denial in writing. Canada Life’s denial letter should explain why they denied your claim, and will identify what you need to address.
• Get medical info from your doctor: If you haven’t already done so, make sure you have all relevant medical data about your disability that will support your request for benefits.
• Contact a disability lawyer: You should contact an Ontario long-term disability lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP immediately for help. Our experienced team will provide you with a free consultation so that we can review your unique situation and the details of your denial, and help understand what your rights are. From there we can determine the best course of action to win your benefits and get proper compensation from Canada Life.

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Can I appeal Canada Life’s denial?

Yes, you can appeal Canada Life’s decision to deny your long-term disability claim in Ontario.

The appeal is a review process carried out internally by the insurance company, rather than a third-party or governmental body. In other words, you are asking Canada Life to review their reasons for rejecting your request for LTD benefits in the hopes that they will change their mind.

• LEARN MORE: Appeals and long-term disability FAQ

Through our years of experience with thousands of clients, we have found that insurance companies rarely approve benefits following an appeal. It is in the insurer’s best interest to maintain their position on your claim and continue to deny LTD payments while you are unable to work. They may also use the appeal process to eat into the amount of time you have to take legal action against them to get compensation.

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Is there a better option than an appeal?

While there is a chance that you can get your benefits through an appeal, there is a better option available in Ontario: You can pursue a legal claim through a long-term disability lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

How a disability lawyer can help

Dealing with a denial of long-term disability benefits can be an overwhelming experience. At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, we understand the challenges that our clients face when their insurance company abandons them. Our experienced LTD lawyers for Ontario can provide a number of benefits for someone who has been denied disability payments by Canada Life, including:

• Providing an understanding of your rights: We can review the details of the denial and explain what your best course of action is. You will be able to make an informed decision about how to proceed, and understand the benefits of filing a legal claim.
• Dealing directly with Canada Life: We reduce your stress and anxiety by becoming your representative. Our team will handle the process from start to finish, including all communications with Canada Life. Instead of having to handle countless phone calls, emails and your insurers tactics, you can focus on your recovery
• Navigating the complex legal system: Our lawyers know how to use the legal process quickly and efficiently to get you results. Fighting for compensation and winning LTD benefits is our specialty.
• Understanding how Canada Life thinks: Our disability lawyers once worked for large insurance companies. We know how they think, what their tactics are, and how to beat them at their own game.

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How long do I have to file a legal claim against Canada Life in Ontario?

If Canada Life denies your request for long-term disability benefits in Ontario, you have a maximum of two years to file a legal claim for compensation. After two years, you may lose your chance to use Canada’s legal system to get the money you are entitled to through your disability insurance policy.

Even if you think that two-year window has closed, we recommend you contact our team immediately to find out if you still have legal options.

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How long does it take to win an LTD denial?

The time it takes to win your LTD claim against Canada Life in Ontario depends on different factors. Each case is different, so it can be simple or complicated. Sometimes, our team can sort things out with the insurance company quickly with a few exchanges, but other times it may take additional months to get the money you deserve.

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How much does it cost to fight an LTD denial in Ontario?

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, you don’t pay anything until you win your claim against Canada Life for LTD benefits or compensation. Our disability lawyers are only paid when we settle your case.

This is called a contingency fee arrangement. It allows people who might not be able to afford a lawyer to have access to justice in Ontario and across Canada. Our fees are calculated as a percentage of what we recover, plus disbursements – no hidden fees.

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I just applied for LTD but feel I’m going to be denied

If you think there’s a chance that Canada Life may reject your claim for LTD benefits, don’t hesitate to contact our team for a consultation to find out how you can best prepare for the denial.

SEE ALSO
• Long-term disability FAQs
• Rights when denied LTD for mental health
• WATCH: Disability Law Show

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Canada Life LTD Denial Lawyers in Ontario

If your LTD claim is denied by Canada Life in Ontario, Samfiru Tumarkin LLP stands ready to help. Our team, including long-term disability lawyers in Toronto and Ottawa, knows how to respond to the insurer.

While your health and wellbeing may not necessarily be in their best interest, it is our top priority. Before you walk away from your rights, call us for a free consultation to find out how our involvement can make a difference. We help individuals all across Canada (excluding Quebec) at all stages of their Canada Life LTD claim, including applying for benefits, looking at the appeal process and applying legal pressure to secure the money you need when you can’t work.

We’ve helped countless Canadians, like Sandra Bullock and Julie Austin, get the compensation they deserve after being turned away by their insurer. Call Canada’s most positively reviewed law firm at 1-855-821-5900, email Help@DisabilityRights.ca, or contact us online for a FREE consultation.