For two centuries, Canada Life has been refining its underwriting techniques and constantly updating its personal and business lines for its clients. The company established its strengths based on its early life insurance products, but it has since developed complete lines of personal and commercial insurance that fit a variety of needs.
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Canada Life Financial
| Founded | 1847 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Employees | 11,763 (2023) |
| Employees in Canada | 2,407 (2022) |
| Insurance Products | Life, Health, & Disability Insurance |
Canada Life Insurance Quotes
Get a Quote nowContact one of Mitch’s insurance brokers today to find out how we can meet your coverage needs with help from Canada Life: Speak with a broker today: 1-800-731-2228
Company Overview
In 2003, the company became part of the Great-West Life Assurance Company, which gave to Canada Life Insurance even more financial assets and talented underwriters. Consumers look to Canada Life Insurance for:
- Insurance products that can be seamlessly integrated with investment options for added value
- A company that has the financial stability to handle billions of dollars in claims every year
- Access to international underwriting resources that can enhance any of the customized solutions the company wants to deliver
- Insurance products to protect a consumer’s loans and even credit card accounts
Canada Life Insurance is a very versatile company and stands as one of the larger insurers in Canada. The company works through a network of brokers that are all given a large supply of resources to help craft custom solutions. The company works hard through its network of brokers to make sure that every client gets the solution they need for their particular situation.
Canada Life’s Advantages
Canada Life Insurance is a company that is interested in protecting clients for their entire lives, and not just for the duration of any specific project. Whether the company is writing commercial or personal products, the focus is on helping each client get the best possible value for the longest period of time. Some of the advantages of working with Canada Life Insurance include:
- A Rich History – Normally, the history of an insurance company does not affect its contemporary clients. But the history of Canada Life Insurance is a story that has deep roots throughout all of Canada. From getting its start in iconic Canadian buildings to having founders associated with major historical breakthroughs in technology, Canada Life Insurance is a company that can say that it is truly a part of Canadian history.
- Turnkey Financial Solutions – Canada Life Insurance has developed a line of whole life insurance products that can include a variety investment options to meet any clients’ needs. The investment portion of a Canada Life Insurance whole life policy is extremely flexible, which makes it one of the more powerful investment tools in the Canadian financial industry.
- A Personal Corporation – Canada Life Insurance has products that are not just there to help a consumer with their finances, but also to help with their physical and mental well-being. Canada Life Insurance makes it a point to discuss how it not only helps the communities it serves in many ways, but also shows a level of compassion towards its customers that is unusual for such a large corporation.
Canada Life’s Insurance Products
Canada Life Insurance offers a very broad range of commercial and personal insurance lines that can be customized in a variety of different ways. The company also tries to add financial value for the client into its offerings every chance it gets.
Life Insurance
Life insurance products are the cornerstone of what Canada Life Insurance does.
- Term life insurance for short-term protection
- Participating life insurance that offers tax advantages
- Universal life insurance with comprehensive investment options
Disability Insurance
Canada Life Insurance takes a very personal and hands-on approach to crafting disability insurance products that meet the needs of each client.
Critical Illness Insurance
It is impossible to predict when or if you will have a need for long-term medical care coverage. Canada Life Insurance makes sure that you have the coverage you need if one of those life-changing events ever happens.
Commercial Life Insurance
Canada Life Insurance offers all of its personal life insurance products for its commercial clients as well. With life insurance from Canada Life Insurance, your company can protect key employees, create a succession plan, and protect the business against the untimely death of a partner or owner.
Commercial Disability Insurance
Companies need disability insurance to protect their employees and ensure smooth business operations. Commercial disability insurance can also:
- Attract new key employees
- Cover expenses if a key employee is injured
- Help ensure a smooth transition during the buyout process
Commercial Critical Illness Insurance
Critical illness insurance can help owners, partners, and employees to either overcome serious diseases and injuries, or provide financial assistance to help people get on with their lives after an injury or illness has occurred.
Canada Life Insurance Quotes
Get a Quote nowContact one of Mitch’s insurance brokers today to find out how we can meet your coverage needs with help from Canada Life: Speak with a broker today: 1-800-731-2228
Rating: 0.5
0.5 /5 stars
Overpayment errors
They make the overpayment errors and make the client responsible for using their resources and time to fix their error.
Rating: 1
1 /5 stars
Absolutely horrible company
0 stars. I have had the same issues everyone else has stated. Very hard to believe there actually is someone that works for them. Feels like it’s just a computer that does 1 task a day….
Rating: 0.5
0.5 /5 stars
0 Stars
Zero stars. Canada Life is at the bottom of an already disreputable industry. Skid row drug dealers are more caring and responsive than Canada Life. Hard to believe THIS is the insurer that the federal and provincial government decided would manage the benefits of thousands of hard-working employees.
CBC Ottawa is running a series called “Begging for Benefits” and it’s all about how Canada Life is ruining the lives of workers everywhere. Normally, a series title like that would get a news organization sued, but there’s no chance of that. It’s all true. CBC is boldly running that series and Canada Life hasn’t said peep.
Rating: .5
.5 /5 stars
Dont go to them
I can get nobody and they find always a reason not to pay
Rating: .5
.5 /5 stars
0 star. A joke this company!
My organization recently switched to Canada Life for insurance, and I’ve had a highly frustrating experience:
1. I called with an urgent matter and endured a 60-minute wait, only to be abruptly disconnected.
2. I tried their chat service, waited for over an hour, and was disconnected without speaking to anyone.
3. Even my pharmacist encountered the same issue.
4. I sent three emails, waited for over 15 days, and received no response – it’s as if nobody’s there.
5. In desperation, I contacted the doctors’ line, waited for 45 minutes, explained my situation, but was promised a call back that never happened.
6. Feeling even more desperate, I submitted a claim-like request, attached a PDF letter detailing everything, and requested a response to my email. I’ve been waiting for 5 days and counting.
7. In all my 60 years, I’ve never experienced such disastrous and stressful service.
8. I intend to file complaints with my organization and Canada Life, advocating for improvements in these paid services for both myself and others.
When I tried to send a complaint to the ombudsman, they wrote that they cannot because of technical problems!!!!
Rating: .5
.5 /5 stars
Trash
Absolutely trash service. Insane wait times to connect with someone, if they even decide to pick up your call at all. I finally reached someone and asked them to remove one of my plans with a previous employer and they said I would have to do that through the employer, so I did. When I logged on a week later to make a claim with my new plan, they said it would take a day to remove the old plan – that would have been helpful to know when I called in and asked???? Besides that, just getting my new plan active took two months. I have cancer. I have claims to make and they just kept pushing back the activation date, two days at a time, for weeks after it should have been live. I know posting this review won't do anything but their only route for complaints is to call in and talk to someone – as if I want to wait another three hours just to have them tell me to "just wait a day" to put in my claim. It's been so many days and we don't all have free time to just sit about waiting to make claims. Despicable treatment of sick, paying Canadians.
Rating: .5
.5 /5 stars
They insure nothing
I’ve been trying to get a hold of them (someone, ANYONE) for MONTHS and I haven’t been able to even email someone. Still paying my meds out of pocket because my credentials do not work. Obtaining a card or managing my enrolment has become a laughable, imaginary impossibility. I’ve worked for convenience stores that had better coverage than this company provides. If your employer switches your “benefits” plan to Canada Life, you’re sc****d.
Rating: .5
.5 /5 stars
AWFUL – that pretty much sums it up
We recently submitted a claim for a medication. The first time we filled it, the out of pocket cost was approximately $17 which wasn’t too bad. Not even a month later, we refilled the prescription and the out of pocket cost was now $22. Upon further review, Canada Life came up with silly reasons about why they didn’t cover more. The same exact cost was submitted for the claim on both prescription refills, the same dispensing fee. Our plan is to cover 80% of this particular medication. The medication cost is $50.56. The dispensing fee is $7.49. Canada Life paid $35.71. Out of pocket was $22.34. But then about three weeks ago, I ordered the exact same medication (same DIN and manufacturer) and the costs were all the same (medication was $50.56, dispensing fee was $7.49 and insurance paid $40.21… so out of pocket was $17.84) HOW? So Canada Life doesn’t actually cover 80%. It’s cover what they want to cover and that’s that.
Rating: .5
.5 /5 stars
The worst
This is by far the worst benefits company. They are expensive, barely cover anything, and leave payments pending for months. Customer service is non existent.
Rating: .5
.5 /5 stars
The worst
Had to wait an hour just to speak to an agent and then not only was she not apologetic but she was impatient and unpleasant. Wasn’t the first time for the wait either as I had to call twice just to try to find out if two very basic and simple procedures (exam and scan) were covered. Had the codes and proper documentation which I sent the through their website twice only to be told that they hadn’t received anything and that even if they had it would take at least 15 days just to give me an answer. I’ve been dealing with group benefits my whole life and NEVER have I dealt with a worst company.
Rating: .5
.5 /5 stars
Horrible Canada Life
CANADA LIFE’s bottom line is ONLY MONEY. Other companies have at least 3 or 4 bottom lines but NOT CANADA LIFE . It appears all that matters is the BOD and senior mgt make their millions to acquire homes and vacations in all the ‘right places’. It is very clear the only vision CANADA LIFE has is to TRAP you, take your money and give you nothing but grief UNLESS you have perfect health. GO WITH ANOTHER COMPANY DONT CHOOSE CANDA LIFE TRUST ME. SHAME ON CANADA LIFE
1. Takes weeks to make contact and that’s even when going through their fraud line.
2. Horrible annoying music then call gets dropped after a 2 -3 hour hold. Outdated phone system.
3. Outdated website with dead ends.
4. No clear accessible leadership in place. Employees are evasive and ‘weak’ regarding the horrid service their paying clients receive.
5. Fake words for upset customers.
6. Has no Communication dept.
Rating: .5
.5 /5 stars
Bad company
I use this company if i run out of my insurance company only. Service is horrible ,submitting claim online is worse and waiting to get the money is longer than anything i have ever experienced. With my insurance company i submit my claim in 2 clicks and get the money back in same day or the next day latest even on weekends or holiday. With Canada life you have to fill out a very long form and if you lucky and get the money it is about 10-15 business days. It is very hard even for the provider to submit the claim online and don’t even let them then you give up and don’t claim it. I don’t recommend this company to anyone if you have the choice find something else
Rating: 2
2 /5 stars
Unbelievable Apathy and Mentality
Applied for short term disability through my employer benefits. Countless mistaken referrals from one Dept to another given incorrect contact numbers repeatedly.
If I’d been single I’d have been living in my car by now.
They don’t appear to care. Navigating their system is a baffling ordeal. Avoid at all costs.
Rating: 1
1 /5 stars
Service in the Dark Ages
I have unfortunately been called upon to claim group disability benefits twice because of separate health issues. Disability insurance is a critical financial security product intended to replace your income when you are disabled. But Canada Life doesn’t seem to understand that or care about their customer’s well-being. I dealt with a number of reps and, without exception, they lack any semblance of empathy and their sole purpose is to avoid paying benefits. In both cases, benefit payments were months behind; they continuously escalated demands to make it difficult to be paid; they lied to me; they didn’t understand their own product or the Statutory Conditions around them; and, they didn’t listen.
Canada Life has provided the worst possible service comparable to what I imagine it being in the Dark Ages. Very, very frustrating experience when you least need to be frustrated, that is, when you’re sick. It is beyond unconscionable to have the additional stress of Canada Life’s inability and unwillingness to meet their contractual obligations on top of serious illness. As it stands, I am being forced to sue them for both claims – and I will claim punitive damages for Canada Life’s bad faith behaviour toward me.
I STRONGLY suggest that you avoid purchasing Canada Life products; switch carriers if you are insured with them; and, most importantly, avoid their group insurance programs.
Canada Life is owned by Great-West Lifeco which is owned by Power Financial, the same company which owns Investors Group.
Rating: 1
1 /5 stars
I pay high premium for family coverage however they only pay back 10% out of 80% coverage because of coordination of benefits, so having 2 insurances I pay out of pocket constantly. Estimate they sent (as primary) was 80% and with my coordianation was supposed to cover 100% of expense. However, after submitting claim, they only paid 10% and I had over $400 out of pocket expense. Total rip off of customer. As having coordination will only benefit your secondary insurance not you as a customer. You still pay out of pocket.
Rating: 1
1 /5 stars
The worst company ever
They covered my medical expenses, then sent me a letter that I had to pay back.
The worst company ever
Rating: 1
1 /5 stars
worst company on the planet
I have paid for monthly supplemental life insurance with them for 28 years. This month (Sept 2020) they suddenly raised my rate without notifying me. Now brace yourself – my monthly rate was raised from $62.26 to $478.19 And I am 61 years old and totally healthy. Can you believe it? Thanks for having my back Canada Life.
Rating: 1
1 /5 stars
Won’t pay out legitimate claims
I was insured though Great West-Life. I had prescription coverage. My partner has a neurological disorder and required non cosmetic botox. We filed the claim online and were informed that we required special permission from our doctor. We got the special paperwork filled out, received a letter confirming that it was now covered by Great West-Life, and refiled the paperwork. They again rejected it because the doctor used a generic version of the botox. This was clear on our initial claim. Our coverage finished and I spent hours on the phone trying to get them to honour the prescription. Their phone staff said they would call back but never did. They clearly just waited until my patience ran out. I would not recommend them.
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