Sun Life Financial will begin new partnership with health care service provider Medical Confidence in January
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Sun Life Financial will launch a new program next month for plan holders receiving disability benefits.
The initiative is alongside health care service provider Medical Confidence and will be rolled out throughout January.
Founded in 2009, the Canadian firm provides a network of more than 11,000 leading specialists, which Sun Life plan holders will be able to access through the new program.
Presenteeism and absenteeism are a major drain on the Canadian economy each year, so any efforts to minimize the number of employees missing work will be warmly welcomed by the business community.
The collaboration means that Sun Life plan members who are absent from work due to a disability will be able gain faster access to a wide range of physicians and specialists.
They will also receive one-on-one consultations, and regular contact with health professionals to help guide them through their treatment and recovery.
It should make a real difference for those struggling with a disability, explains assistant vice-president, Product Development, Group Benefits, Sun Life Financial Canada, Jean-Michel Lavoie.
“With disability, there is some independent medical evaluation – the IME (independent medical examination) is a one-time referral to a specialist, and then the specialist provides a recommendation,” he says. “We will continue to do that, but as a compliment, some of our clients who require a longer process, in coaching or case management with a specialist – that’s where Medical Confidence will come into play.”
While Canada’s health care system is generally well-regarded on an international basis, wait times is one factor it doesn’t score so highly. This is also the case for those on disability benefits, many of whom need the right treatment before they can return to work. The Medical Confidence tie-in is a response to these concerns, says Lavoie, who explains what the process will entail
“The member will go through our internal case manager team, then we empower our case manager to pick and choose resources to help their client,” he says. “That will help them get back on the right track and back to work faster.”
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The initiative is alongside health care service provider Medical Confidence and will be rolled out throughout January.
Founded in 2009, the Canadian firm provides a network of more than 11,000 leading specialists, which Sun Life plan holders will be able to access through the new program.
Presenteeism and absenteeism are a major drain on the Canadian economy each year, so any efforts to minimize the number of employees missing work will be warmly welcomed by the business community.
The collaboration means that Sun Life plan members who are absent from work due to a disability will be able gain faster access to a wide range of physicians and specialists.
They will also receive one-on-one consultations, and regular contact with health professionals to help guide them through their treatment and recovery.
It should make a real difference for those struggling with a disability, explains assistant vice-president, Product Development, Group Benefits, Sun Life Financial Canada, Jean-Michel Lavoie.
“With disability, there is some independent medical evaluation – the IME (independent medical examination) is a one-time referral to a specialist, and then the specialist provides a recommendation,” he says. “We will continue to do that, but as a compliment, some of our clients who require a longer process, in coaching or case management with a specialist – that’s where Medical Confidence will come into play.”
While Canada’s health care system is generally well-regarded on an international basis, wait times is one factor it doesn’t score so highly. This is also the case for those on disability benefits, many of whom need the right treatment before they can return to work. The Medical Confidence tie-in is a response to these concerns, says Lavoie, who explains what the process will entail
“The member will go through our internal case manager team, then we empower our case manager to pick and choose resources to help their client,” he says. “That will help them get back on the right track and back to work faster.”
Related stories:
Ex-med student suffering from mental illness accuses RBC of discrimination
Manulife pilot brings digital therapy to Canada
