Access to our solutions

Increasing access to help more people achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives.

At Sun Life, we know financial security and health are deeply personal to our Clients. We also recognize that unique barriers shaped by individual circumstances and local realities may prevent people from accessing the protection and guidance they need.

Our approach

When designing solutions for our Clients, we consider their unique local challenges and opportunities, developing market-specific initiatives that address barriers to access through innovation, partnerships and public policy advocacy. This approach aims to make it possible for Clients across locations, income levels and situations to benefit from the protection and guidance we offer. It also drives innovation, expansion of services and helps us deliver on our Purpose.

At Sun Life, we consider whole-person health when designing our products and aim to ensure more holistic coverage for our Clients’ unique needs. We are also embracing digital transformation and leverage advanced technologies to help better serve the evolving needs of our Clients.

Our commitment to increasing access is deepened by Sun Life’s Bridges Initiative which aims to close gaps and create paths to greater health and wealth for groups that have been historically excluded from or deprioritized in the financial services industry.

Increasing financial security

We’re focused on three areas to increase financial security: providing innovative financial products and services, empowering and educating people and increasing access to and use of protection and wealth products. We aim to help build long-term wealth and close insurance coverage gaps.

We offer a broad range of wealth and insurance solutions. Directly in line with our Purpose, they help our Clients and employees increase their lifetime financial security:

Insurance

Including life, health, supplemental health, disability, dental and vision insurance products. These products give people a financial safety net, allowing them to protect themselves and their families in moments that matter. We also offer medical stop-loss insurance, which provides self-funded employers protection for high-cost health claims.

Investments

Including individual and workplace savings, investment, pension, retirement income, market-based payout and annuity options. These options enable Clients to build savings toward their financial goals, including to and through retirement.

Financial advice

Including financial planning and retirement planning services. We have experts with deep understanding of the products and solutions available to help Clients achieve their long-term goals.

We recognize that the financial landscape is complex. Many people may benefit from additional support or resources to help them navigate their financial choices. We’re using new and integrated technologies and nudging strategies to make financial decisions easier for people. These approaches help motivate them to take actions to increase their financial security. For example:

  • In Canada, the Sun Life One Plan digital tool offers Clients personalized financial assessments and roadmaps, which adapt to their life stages and is accessible online or working with a Sun Life advisor.
  • In the U.S., our interactive platform, Benefits Explorer, is designed to provide employees with personalized, live educational content and customized tools to help them make well-informed benefits decisions.
  • In Hong Kong, MPF Navigator, an online investment tool, provides MPF members with recommended portfolios, for reference only, to help them achieve their retirement goals.

Across all of our markets, we see opportunities to reach and engage more people by creating relevant offerings and removing barriers to access. We are working to make insurance and wealth products available, accessible and affordable to more people – of different cultures, communities, income levels, generations and genders – to help them achieve their financial security goals. For example:

  • In Asia,  we offer affordable insurance products to help people in the mass market (including lower-income segments) meet risk protection needs at an accessible price point by working with local distributors.
  • In North America, our Sun Life Term Insurance for Diabetes solution helps Canadians with diabetes get access to affordable life insurance, among other benefits.
  • In the U.S. we've expanded our critical illness coverage to include family planning care, behavioural health and a broader range of health conditions and diseases.

Our experience shows that with greater knowledge and confidence, people can make better financial decisions. Across our regions, we’re increasing our financial education campaigns for Clients and community members through the following:

  • Advisors offer education on the importance of insurance, savings and investments through working one-on-one with Clients and help them build financial roadmaps to meet their short- and long-term goals.
  • Our websites are continually updated with easy-to-understand financial information, tools and calculators.
  • Interactive platforms are designed to provide Clients and plan members with personalized, live educational content and customized tools to help them make well-informed benefits and financial decisions.
  • In-person education sessions combined with social media lets us reach more people to help them understand the importance of financial security.

We also advocate to improve financial security in society. Our activities include contributing to public policy discussions, participating in industry forums, and sharing research and insights.

Improving access to health care and coverage

Sun Life is committed to being a partner for Clients throughout their health journey. That means offering insurance with appropriate coverage based on their evolving needs. It means helping them access the right care in complex health-care systems and, in some cases, providing the care via convenient digital solutions. It also means educating and empowering Clients to confidently make decisions about their health.

To meet today’s health-care challenges and improve health outcomes for Clients, Sun Life offers a wide range of products and services that support Client health and well-being. We serve individuals and families, as well as organizations that aspire to create healthier workplaces for their employees.

In today’s world, people face increased challenges when it comes to managing their health and accessing the right care at the right time. Managing complex chronic diseases requires prevention and consistent attention, while navigating the health-care system can be difficult, time-consuming and stressful. This is especially the case for those dealing with a serious health condition. To support our Clients living healthier lives, we leverage research and data to innovate new products and services that help address Client needs.

With Sun Life and our network of partners, people don’t have to go through it alone. Helping Clients access the right care, at the right time, is a top priority – and we believe it’s an important competitive differentiator.

More people are turning to digital options to access health care. Sun Life continues to invest in virtual care solutions to help Clients connect digitally with health-care professionals.

  • In Canada, for example, our subsidiary, Dialogue provides employers and organizations with a health platform supporting physical health, mental health, and Employee Assistance Programs that their employees and dependents can access at any time. Another example is Online Pharmacy by Pillway1. Using this service, Clients can order their medication with a few clicks and have it delivered to their doorstep, all while having digital and phone access to pharmacist support and medication management tools.
  • In the U.S., Sun Life Health Navigator powered by PinnacleCare provides personal care advisors who help Clients navigate the health-care system and the ability to access the diagnoses, care and doctors they need. Certain Clients can now access this and a host of other care services and resources directly through an app.

We’re also creating opportunities for underserved2 groups to access the care and coverage they need, with the goal of helping them achieve financial security and live healthier lives. Location, income, background or work arrangement should not prevent people from accessing care. In Hong Kong, Sun Life continues its long-term partnership with Bowtie, a virtual insurer with a vision to bridge the health protection gap and transform the way people access healthcare in Hong Kong. Through digital technology, Bowtie makes health insurance more affordable and accessible for individuals and small-medium enterprises. Another example is dental care. Our DentaQuest business in the U.S. is connecting underserved populations with quality oral health care and promoting preventive care. In Canada, Sun Life is proud to be the administrator of the Canadian Dental Care Plan, which will help make oral health care more affordable for up to nine million Canadians who previously did not have access to dental insurance.

Key programs and support services for Client health

Canada

  • Extended health, dental and insurance benefits
  • Lumino Health Provider Search
  • Virtual Primary Care
  • Online Pharmacy, by Pillway
  • Sun Life Term Insurance for Diabetes
  • Diabetes Care Program
  • Can Quit Program (for smoking cessation)
  • Respiratory Care Program
  • Educational resources on nutrition, fitness, stress management and more
  • Administration of the Canadian Dental Care Plan
  • Medical Second Opinion
  • Women’s Health Toolkit for employers

U.S.

  • Comprehensive dental, vision, disability and supplemental health insurance benefits
  • DentaQuest dental benefits design and administration
  • Access to dental care from Advantage Dental+ practices
    • DentaQuest's Preventistry®3  approach
  • Health Navigator powered by PinnacleCare
  • Clinical 360+, including access to care programs for:
    • Specialty and infusion drugs
    • Kidney and heart care management
    • Musculoskeletal conditions
    • Health Navigator care advocacy and navigation
    • Mental health resources
    • Interactive health tools
  • Whole-person care service
  • Absence management solution

Asia

  • Nationwide Blood Glucose Screening Programme (Malaysia)
  • eSunPro (Hong Kong)
  • Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme4 (Hong Kong)
  • Sun Well (Hong Kong)

Canada

  • Mental health practitioner coverage
  • Mental health strategy toolkit for employers
  • Mental health training and resources
  • Mental Health Coach, provided by Kii Health
  • Employee and Family Assistance Program
  • Virtual mental health care (e.g. Stress Management and Well-Being provided by Dialogue)
  • In-patience substance use treatment

U.S

  • Mental health toolkit for employers
  • Virtual mental health support for our members with cancer

Asia

  • Employee Assistance Program (all markets in Asia where we operate)

Canada

  • Faster access to specialists5
  • Expedited surgeries (where permitted by law)5
  • Video-based & in-person musculoskeletal assessments and treatment Pharmacogenomic testing
  • Rehabilitation
  • Video-based & in-person mental health support (counseling and cognitive behavioural therapy, independent medical examinations)

U.S.

  • Return to work program
  • Virtual, integrative care for musculoskeletal conditions and long COVID

Client access to programs and support services listed above may vary.

Mental health is one of the key issues of our time. The World Health Organization estimates that one in eight people around the world live with a mental health disorder6. In Canada, half a million people miss work each week due to mental illness7. That’s why we continue to prioritize mental health for our Clients and communities. We have developed programs and partnerships focused on removing barriers to effective treatment and recovery.

In Canada, for example, our Mental Health Coach, provided by Kii Health (the “Coach”), supports Group Benefits Clients’ mental health journeys. The program engages Clients most at-risk of developing mental health problems. The Coach provides these Clients with personalized care options, leveraging resources already available to them in their benefits plan through their employer, and regular check-ins for ongoing support. Through our partnership with Goodpath in the U.S., we offer employer Clients virtual whole-person care, an employee benefit that provides care for physical conditions and mental health, including unlimited therapy sessions. Sun Life disability Clients can proactively support their employees' mental and physical health, helping to reduce the need for absences or extended leave.

Another focus is helping people stay at work when facing an illness or injury, when appropriate. We offer accommodation, disability management and return-to-work services for Clients enrolled in Sun Life’s employer disability plans (North America).

We offer a growing suite of resources that give people the latest health insights, provide answers on health topics that matter to them and inspire healthier living. In Canada, for example, our Diabetes Care Program is a digital program that offers a tailored plan, one-on-one support, virtual education, and diabetes-related resources. In the U.S., DentaQuest's Preventistry®3 approach promotes oral health education and preventative care. We believe this helps members improve outcomes and avoid costly dental treatments.

Drawing on our experiences in creating wellness solutions for our own employees, we share what we’ve learned with others. We do this by developing resources, such as Designed for Health reports, Bright Papers, videos and podcasts that all employers can use to advance health in their own organizations. For example, our Designed for Health Shifting tides in disability claims report provides unique and actionable insights into mental health and chronic disease in the workplace.

We continue to be a thought leader. We work with researchers and government bodies to solve issues standing in the way of every employee getting health benefits and preventive health care. We are also focusing on better understanding the risks climate change will have on our business, including on Client health and well-being.

Refer to our Sustainability Report for 2025 progress highlights.

2025 Highlights

  • Number of Clients reached through standalone solutions that target the need of an underserved group8 28.8 million.
  • Since CDCP launched on May 1, 2024, more than 6 million members have been enrolled and close to 98% of oral health providers across the country are billing to the CDCP.
  • Expanded our Family Leave Insurance FLI product to 17 new states in 2025, making it easier for small and mid-size employers to help their employees meet family care needs. Sun Life now offers family leave products to employers in 31 states through statutory and voluntary programs.
  • Launched the Expert Cancer Review service in the U.S., which provides members facing a cancer diagnosis with access to an objective, documented second opinion from an independent oncology specialist.
  • More than 240,000 members signed up for affordable and accessible life and family insurance coverage for the newly launched group insurance program by Sun Life Grepa together with the ASA Philippines Foundation9.
  • Helped 130,000 public school teachers in the Philippines secure their financial futures through budgeting tools and financial education sessions.

Learn more about our progress and performance in our 2025 Sustainability Report.

Recognition

60th Anvil Awards

Sun Life Philippines and AHA! Behavioral Design® was recognized at the 60th Anvil Awards winning both the Grand Anvil Award and the Gold Anvil Award for the first behavioral finance program for public school teachers in the Philippines.

Corporate Financial Education and ESG Leadership

Received two awards from The Institute of Financial Planners of Hong Kong for Corporate Financial Education and ESG Leadership – Gold Award.

Insurance Asia Awards

Sun Life Malaysia was recognized at the 2025 Insurance Asia Awards, winning the Education Insurance Initiative of the Year award category. This award underscores our continued efforts to champion financial literacy through our InsureLit Campaign that deploys educational initiatives to reach various audiences and create meaningful engagement around insurance and takaful literacy.

More resources

Explore more sustainability topics

Sustainability topics

We’re focused on taking action on 16 priority sustainability topics that our stakeholders identify as most important and that we believe have the biggest impact on our business.

Back to sustainability topics

Client experience

When Clients feel truly understood and supported in personal areas such as finances and health, trust is built — strengthening relationships, driving loyalty and reinforcing confidence in every interaction.

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1 SHG Pharmacy Inc. and SHG West Pharmacy Inc., doing business as Pillway pharmacies, are partially owned by Simpill Health Group Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada has partial ownership of Simpill Health Group Inc.

2 A group of people that have been historically excluded from or deprioritized in the financial industry, including underinsured or uninsured populations. Underserved groups will differ across countries but generally include low-income individuals, the emerging middle-class in developing economies, people with chronic health issues and disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, underrepresented ethnicities, religious groups, immigrants, and those living in rural communities.

3 Preventistry is a registered trademark of DentaQuest, LLC.

4 The Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) is a policy initiative implemented by the Hong Kong Government to regulate indemnity hospital insurance plans offered to individuals by insurance companies. Sun Life Hong Kong s one of the insurance companies.

5 Sun Life offers faster access to specialists and expedited surgeries for group disability plan members primarily through its partnership with Medical Confidence. The service supports employees on disability leave by helping them navigate the health-care system, reduce wait times and return to work sooner.

6 World Health Organization. "World mental health report: transforming mental health for all". 2022.

7 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. “Workplace mental health playbook for business leaders”. 2020.

8 Includes products and services that aim to address the unique needs of underserved groups. Excludes SLC Fixed Income, U.S. (In-force Management), Asia (High Net Worth, Regional Office) and Corporate Support. Includes Asia Joint Venture (Malaysia).

9 ASA Philippines Foundation, Inc. ("ASA Philippines") is a non-profit, non-stock corporation specializing in microfinance.