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 (June 2024)
Regular activities:
- The Board of Management has met two (2) times since the last Council meeting and considered eight (8) appeals over the reporting period. The Board agreed with Sun Life’s (SL) decision to decline to provide disability benefits for five (5) appeals, disagreed with SL’s decision to deny the claim based on the limitation period for one (1) appeal, and had two (2) appeals closed based on resolution outside of the appeal process.
- In the six (6) appeal cases where the Board provided recommendations, 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 four (4) appeals, and that the claim was submitted beyond the limitation period for two (2) appeals.
- The Board continues to receive monthly financial updates from SL.
- The DI sub-committee tabled their recommendations on the provisions of the Disability Insurance Plan to the full Board.
- The Board completed their 2024 Annual Report of the Disability Insurance Plan Board of Management.
- The Board’s 2024-2025 annual budget was approved.
Outstanding item(s):
- Forty-six (46) appeals. Of these, thirty-eight (38) appeals have been received by the NJC Secretariat from SL and are scheduled for review, and eight (8) are still under review with SL.
Next meetings: January 14, 2025, February 11, 2025, March 11, 2025