We are here for you
We are committed to providing you with the support you need as it relates to your benefits plan and employees. Please don't hesitate to call us about your specific circumstances at 800-247-6875, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET., or reach out to your Client Relationship Executive.
We invite you to learn from our collection of webinar and whitepaper content ranging from compliance updates to planning your virtual enrollment, and more.
As COVID-19 continues to affect us all, our commitment to providing the best service to our Clients is unwavering. We continue to be nimble and adjust our practices as needed to meet your needs and those of your employees. We have:
Short-Term Disability is based on an illness or injury and symptoms that result in an individual being unable to work. We do not pay Short-Term Disability benefits for requests due to asymptomatic quarantine, reluctance in returning to work, or a positive test alone. However, there may be situations where an absence or statutory disability claim is supported.
Our Short-Term Disability Case Managers have received specialized COVID-19 training. Additionally, we have a small team consisting of our top technical experts ready to review claims, help to answer questions and ensure benefit decisions are made timely. Our Short-Term Disability team works closely with Sun Life’s Medical Director as well as trained Clinicians to deliver the highest quality of service and claim management.
We have also streamlined guidelines to assist with evaluating COVID-19 disability claims:
If a plan member has tested positive for COVID-19, is experiencing symptoms, and cannot perform the duties of their occupation, we will review the member's claim for Short-Term Disability benefits. Benefits will begin after the member meets the eligibility requirements, elimination period, and applicable contractual provisions. Benefits may be offset by other sources of income. If the employee remains disabled after that time, we will work with them to obtain required medical documentation.
Plan members and plan sponsors still need to complete a Short-Term Disability claim statement as part of the application process. This allows us to validate important information such as health status, last day worked, salary information, and also confirm coverage.
Our Claims and Medical Teams will assist in gathering the information needed. We realize that, given current conditions, employers and healthcare providers are operating and communicating in non-traditional ways.
If a plan member has a flu-like illness but has not been tested or does not have a positive test result for COVID-19:
We will continue to adjudicate each claim based on the definition of total disability and,
We will apply the elimination period
We will not pay Short-Term Disability benefits to a plan member who only tests positive for COVID-19, is not ill, and otherwise does not meet the applicable policy’s definition of disability. This applies whether they self-isolate:
For clarity, if plan members do not have signs of an illness but are placed under quarantine by a doctor or public health official, they will not be eligible for Short-Term Disability benefits.
Employees may qualify for other benefits including, but not limited to, unemployment compensation, and other federal, state, or local statutory benefits or other absence-related benefits.
Please note that the information above is intended to be a summary, and all claims decisions are subject to the terms of your group’s specific insurance policy.
We’ve made our portability notice to employees easier: you can copy and paste this content into an email, add the requested information, and send to all impacted employees at once. (The word document may appear in the bottom left of your screen.) You may also want to share this flyer with employees to remind them why keeping their benefits is important. Employees can call Sun Life to talk about their options.
Many Sun Life Clients have our EAP through ComPsych and have access to a broad range of resources and services. Because of the special circumstances surrounding COVID-19, Sun Life and ComPsych are offering support resources to clients who have not purchased EAP benefits – at no extra charge.
The following clarifications and changes apply to medical underwriting for Group Life, Disability and Critical Illness plans as appropriate.
You and your employees can submit claims, view claims information, report time, and more by visiting www.sunlife.com/account.
As an alternative to submitting standalone STD claims online, DocuSign provides a guided electronic way to complete and sign required claims forms. Employees and employers can call 800-247-6875 to get started.
Both you and your employees can complete and submit EOI applications online. You must be registered on Sun Life Connect for at least 24 hours before employees can use this online service. Visit www.sunlfe.com/account to get started.
We can quickly switch you to electronic bills. Please call Client Services at 800-247-6875, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET or email us at your.bill@sunlife.com. You can also make payments online by visiting www.sunlfe.com/account. You can choose one-time payments or recurring auto payments. If it’s your first time paying your bill online, you’ll first need to set up a payment profile. Here are videos to walk you through the steps of paying a bill online:
With over 150 years of history, we’ve got you covered.
Public health resources
This content is not to be considered legal advice. We recommend Clients speak with legal counsel specializing in labor and employment law to ensure your organization meets requirements
Group insurance policies are underwritten by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Wellesley Hills, MA) in all states except New York. In New York, group insurance policies are underwritten by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, MI).
© 2022 Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481. All rights reserved. The Sun Life name and logo are trademarks of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada. Visit us at www.sunlife.com/us.
SLPC 30745 02/22 (exp. 02/24)
