Evolving our disability solutions improves outcomes

April 21, 2026

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With the growing complexity of disability management, we’re focused on finding opportunities to promote early intervention and support faster recovery. We’ll continue to evolve and enhance our offerings to ensure long-term plan sustainability and provide improved supports for plan members.

Here are some recent initiatives we’ve taken to address the increasing complexity of disability claims:

  • Innovation in gathering holistic health information. Our use of the innovative Psychosocial Questionnaire provides us with a comprehensive view of a plan member’s health.  
  • Faster access to specialty care. Through our partnership with Medical Confidence, we’ve reduced average wait times to see a specialist by 360 days.1
  • A specialized case management model. Throughout 2026, we’ll be transitioning Disability Case Managers and Disability Managers to one of two areas of specialization: short-term disability/salary continuation or long-term disability. We’ll reach out to Clients directly if any changes affect their plans. No action is required from them at this time.
  • Digital claims innovation. We’ve digitized information gathering from health-care practitioners, reducing time to complete a request by over 40%.
  • Back to work supports. We’ve built free employer and employee toolkits that outline best practices and clarify roles, expectations and legal obligations. 

We’ll share this with Plan sponsors in a Focus Update on April 23, 2026.

Questions? We’re here to help.

Please contact your Sun Life Group Benefits representative.

 

1Cumulative average for the 2024-2025 calendar years, as measured and reported by Medical Confidence. Wait days saved are measured based on confirmed wait times for appointments with a specialist (where a specialist referral was already in place) or using published research on median regional and provincial wait times (where a specialist referral was not already in place). Wait days saved don’t reflect the additional savings associated with Medical Confidence coordinating tests and investigations before the first specialist appointment. They also don’t reflect any additional time a plan member may have waited for a specialist referral, without the involvement of Medical Confidence.