The Disability Board of Management is responsible for the overall administrative and financial management of the Disability Insurance Plan, including the review of the contract of insurance, review of any financial or service agreement, the financial status of the Plan, the services of the Insurer, the administrative fees and charges, the adequacy of reserves, the premium levels, the disposition of disputed claims, and other matters referred to it by the National Joint Council on the overall operation of the Plan, and for making appropriate recommendations to the National Joint Council.
Committee Advisor: Laura Mackenzie
Quarterly Report to the National Joint Council (March 2026)
Regular activities:
- The Board of Management has met two (2) times since the last Council meeting and considered four (4) appeals over the reporting period. The Board agreed with Sun Life’s (SL) decision to decline to provide disability benefits for four (4) appeals.
- In the four (4) appeal cases reviewed, SL declined to provide disability benefits as it was of the view that the medical information on file does not support a finding of continuous total disability that would prevent the claimant from performing the essential duties of their regular occupation for three (3) appeals, that the medical information on file demonstrated that the claimant had a pre-existing condition for one (1) appeal.
- The Board continues to receive monthly financial updates from SL.
- The Board reviewed their Terms of Reference following the Executive Committee’s approved revision to allow for an additional medical consultant and requested analyses on Board expansion. The Board discussed the logistics of Board expansion to allow for substitutes. It was agreed that each Employer Side member would ascertain their capacity before further changes be made to the Terms of Reference.
- The Board discussed the treatment of DI premiums during periods of leave without pay in cases where employees have alternative disability insurance coverage. The Board finalized a memo on this issue to be brought forward to the Executive Committee for awareness and direction, given the potential policy, financial, and employee impacts.
- The Board began developing their 2025 Annual Report and determined the conferences of interest for the next fiscal year.
Outstanding items:
- Thirty (30) appeals. Of these, twenty-five (25) appeals have been received by the NJC Secretariat from SL and are scheduled for review, and five (5) are still under review with SL.
Next Meetings: April 14, 2026; May 12, 2026; June 9, 2026