He said the bank failed to inform him that his disability insurance did not cover mental conditions
A former medical student suffering from mental illness is embroiled in a legal battle against RBC, which he has accused of discriminating against him based on his disability.
Bryan Robson started in the University of Saskatchewan’s medical program in 2012, reported CBC News knowing he couldn’t afford the $14,000 per year in school and living expenses, he got an RBC line of credit. But two years after that, he started experiencing intense anxiety and depression. After being diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder, he had to quit the program.
Along with the line of credit he got with RBC, he got a disability insurance policy with the bank, which he had expected would cover the $170,000 of debt he had accumulated. But RBC told him that wasn’t the case.
According to Robson, an RBC employee told him after he dropped out of the medical program that the insurance applied did not cover mental illness. He also later learned that it was only applicable if he were working.
In a statement, a spokesperson for RBC said that RBC creditor disability insurance coverage covers both mental and physical disabilities; however, some policies offer disability coverage only if the client is working a certain number of hours per week at the time of the application.
The spokesperson said applicants are made aware of eligibility requirements, and are advised of coverage details again upon approval of their line of credit. But Robson said he didn’t get enough information about the risk when he signed up, and his illness prevented him from working when he left the program.
“These details were not in the documents I signed,” Robson said.
RBC has pursued legal action against Robson to retrieve the money he’d borrowed. In response, Robson approached the Canadian Human Rights Commission, citing discrimination based on disability. Negotiating with the bank, the commission managed to lower the repayment amount to $50,000 in the spring. In November, it was lowered further to $17,000, which Robson said a family member offered to cover for him..
But Robson refused to take the settlement offer. Instead, he requested that his file with the Human Rights Commission be sent to its investigations unit; that would allow RBC to withdraw the settlement offer and proceed with action to collect the money it says Robson owes.
After the investigations stage, the case will be dismissed, referred to a conciliator for a new settlement negotiation, or taken to a tribunal for a public hearing. A hearing would be the best outcome for Robson, who wants RBC to apologize and update its insurance disclosure policies for students applying for lines of credit.
He also hopes public awareness of his case can help others in similar circumstances. “Those people, if this information makes them realize that they're not as trapped as they might think they are, that's why it's valuable,” he said.
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Bryan Robson started in the University of Saskatchewan’s medical program in 2012, reported CBC News knowing he couldn’t afford the $14,000 per year in school and living expenses, he got an RBC line of credit. But two years after that, he started experiencing intense anxiety and depression. After being diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder, he had to quit the program.
Along with the line of credit he got with RBC, he got a disability insurance policy with the bank, which he had expected would cover the $170,000 of debt he had accumulated. But RBC told him that wasn’t the case.
According to Robson, an RBC employee told him after he dropped out of the medical program that the insurance applied did not cover mental illness. He also later learned that it was only applicable if he were working.
In a statement, a spokesperson for RBC said that RBC creditor disability insurance coverage covers both mental and physical disabilities; however, some policies offer disability coverage only if the client is working a certain number of hours per week at the time of the application.
The spokesperson said applicants are made aware of eligibility requirements, and are advised of coverage details again upon approval of their line of credit. But Robson said he didn’t get enough information about the risk when he signed up, and his illness prevented him from working when he left the program.
“These details were not in the documents I signed,” Robson said.
RBC has pursued legal action against Robson to retrieve the money he’d borrowed. In response, Robson approached the Canadian Human Rights Commission, citing discrimination based on disability. Negotiating with the bank, the commission managed to lower the repayment amount to $50,000 in the spring. In November, it was lowered further to $17,000, which Robson said a family member offered to cover for him..
But Robson refused to take the settlement offer. Instead, he requested that his file with the Human Rights Commission be sent to its investigations unit; that would allow RBC to withdraw the settlement offer and proceed with action to collect the money it says Robson owes.
After the investigations stage, the case will be dismissed, referred to a conciliator for a new settlement negotiation, or taken to a tribunal for a public hearing. A hearing would be the best outcome for Robson, who wants RBC to apologize and update its insurance disclosure policies for students applying for lines of credit.
He also hopes public awareness of his case can help others in similar circumstances. “Those people, if this information makes them realize that they're not as trapped as they might think they are, that's why it's valuable,” he said.
Related stories:
Life insurance payment mix-up exposes gap in resolution protocol
Benefits specialist unveils digital mental health program
