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 (September 2025)
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 seven (7) appeals and disagreed with SL’s decision for one (1) appeal.
- In the eight (8) 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 seven (7) appeals, and that the information on file does not support a finding of continuous total disability that would prevent the claimant from performing the essential duties of any commensurate occupation for one (1) appeal.
- The Board received a presentation from SL on the 2024 Financial Results and 2025 Year-To-Date results of the 12500 DI Plan. In terms of claims statistics, it was shared that during the 2024 calendar year, there were 5,088 notified claims, an increase of 10% (compared to a 6% increase in 2023).
- The Board continues to receive monthly financial updates from SL.
- The forecasted 2026-27 budget for the Board was submitted for consideration to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, as well as a business case outlining the proposed solutions and their cost implications.
Outstanding Item(s):
- Thirty-four (34) appeals. Of these, twenty-eight (28) appeals have been received by the NJC Secretariat from SL and are scheduled for review, and six (6) are still under review with SL.
Next Meeting: November 7, 2025