Key Takeaways
- Sun Life offers personal health insurance plans, as well as critical injury insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care coverage.
- The company receives high marks for financial stability and has an established reputation in Canada.
- Though Sun Life plans are comprehensive and customizable, the company receives mixed customer reviews for customer service and claims handling.
Overview of Sun Life health insurance
Sun Life is one of Canada’s largest, most established providers of health insurance, offering a range of products to suit most needs and life stages. While the company has comprehensive plans that can be customized with add-ons, potential downsides include a lack of transparency regarding claim limits and mixed customer service experiences.
We took a close look at leading health insurance providers in Canada to assess their plans and benefits. Here’s an overview of how Sun Life health insurance stacks up:
Category: All-in-one
Types of coverage: Critical illness, Health and dental, Long-term, Travel health
Customer experience score: 2.65/5
Industry reputation score: 4.26/5
Awards:
- 2025 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World
- 2024 Canada's 50 Best Corporate Citizens
- 2023 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World
- 2023 Canada's 50 Best Corporate Citizens
- 2023 Dow Jones Sustainability North America List
We analyzed health insurance plans from nearly 20 different providers across Canada, evaluating each based on product variety, affordability, customer experience, and industry reputation. This included a breakdown of monthly premiums for 35- and 60-year-old policyholders, average cost per $100 of coverage, and what each plan includes. To assess customer experience, we reviewed feedback from platforms like Google, BBB, Insureye, Trustpilot, and Reviews.io. Lastly, we rated each company’s industry reputation using financial stability scores, employee satisfaction (via Glassdoor), and rankings from the Leger Corporate Reputation Study.
Key features of Sun Life’s health insurance plans
As a large insurer in the health space, Sun Life offers the following key features:
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Flexible coverage options
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With multiple plans in each category, coverage can be tailored to meet your needs.
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Prescription drug coverage
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All personal health plans include some level of reimbursement for prescription drugs.
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Online claims management
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The My Sun Life portal allows you to easily submit and manage your claims online.
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Family and dependent coverage
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Coverage can extend to include spouses and children up to 21 years old (25 for full-time students).
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Guaranteed renewability
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Some plans offer guaranteed renewals as long as you’re paying your premiums.
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Learn more: What does health insurance cover?
Types of Sun Life health insurance
Sun Life offers four different types of insurance: personal health insurance, critical illness insurance, long-term care insurance, and disability insurance.
Personal health insurance
Personal health insurance covers the costs of preventative care and illness treatment, typically including prescription drugs, dental care, paramedical treatments, and more. Sun Life offers three plans.
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Ideal for
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People who want low-cost coverage
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People who want affordable coverage with Emergency Travel Medical
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People who want the most comprehensive coverage
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Age requirements
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New applicants under 69; renewable for those over 70
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New applicants under 69; renewable for those over 70
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New applicants under 69; renewable for those over 70
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Prescription drugs
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60% reimbursement to $750 annual maximum
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70% reimbursement for first $7,000; 100% reimbursement for next $93,000; $100,000 annual maximum
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80% reimbursement for first $5,000; 100% reimbursement for next $245,000; $250,000 annual maximum
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Preventive dental
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60% reimbursement up to $500 annual maximum
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Optional; 70% reimbursement up to $750 annual maximum
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80% reimbursement up to $750 annual maximum
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Restorative dental
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No coverage
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No coverage
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50% reimbursement up to $500 annual maximum with 1-year waiting period
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Orthodontics
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No coverage
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No coverage
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60% reimbursement up to $1,500 lifetime maximum with 2-year waiting period
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Hearing aids
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60% reimbursement to $400 maximum every 5 years
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100% reimbursement up to $500 maximum every 5 years
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100% reimbursement up to $600 maximum every 5 years
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Accidental dental
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60% reimbursement to $2,000 maximum per fracture or injury
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100% reimbursement up to $2,000 per fracture or injury
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100% reimbursement up to $2,000 per fracture or injury
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Ambulance
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60% reimbursement ground or air ambulance
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100% reimbursement ground or air ambulance
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100% reimbursement ground or air ambulance
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Medical equipment and services
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60% reimbursement up to $2,500 annual maximum and $20,000 lifetime maximum (shared with private nursing)
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100% reimbursement up to $5,000 annual maximum
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100% reimbursement up to $5,000 annual maximum
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Private duty nursing
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60% reimbursement up to $2,500 annual maximum and $20,000 lifetime maximum (shared with medical equipment)
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100% reimbursement up to $5,000 annual maximum and $25,000 lifetime maximum
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100% reimbursement up to $10,000 annual maximum and $30,000 lifetime maximum
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Paramedical practitioners
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60% reimbursement up to $25 per visit with $250 annual maximum per practitioner; shared annual max. of $500 for psychology/social worker
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100% reimbursement up to $300 annual maximum per practitioner; shared annual max. of $1,000 for psychology/social worker
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100% reimbursement up to $400 annual maximum per practitioner; shared annual max. of $1,500 for psychology/social worker
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Vision care
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No coverage
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100% reimbursement up to $250 maximum every 2 years; $50 maximum per eye exam
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100% reimbursement up to $300 maximum every 2 years; $50 maximum per eye exam
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Emergency travel medical
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No coverage
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100% reimbursement for first 60 days of trip up to $1 million lifetime maximum
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100% reimbursement for first 60 days of trip up to $1 million lifetime maximum
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Semi-private hospital room
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Optional; 85% reimbursement up to $200 daily and $5,000 annually
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Optional; 85% reimbursement up to $200 daily and $5,000 annually
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Optional; 85% reimbursement up to $200 daily and $5,000 annually
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Critical illness
Critical illness insurance helps pay for the costs associated with life-altering illnesses, and Sun Life offers two plans to choose from.
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Eligibility
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Ages 18-65
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Ages 18-65
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Policy type/options
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Basic, Enhanced, Comfort
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10-year term, term to 75, lifetime
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Lump-sum benefit
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$25,000 to $50,000
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$25,000 to $3 million
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Covered conditions
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Up to 7 major conditions, including cancer, heart attack, and stroke
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26 full-payout illnesses
8 partial-payout illnesses
5 childhood illnesses (covered to age 24) |
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Optional benefits
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None
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Return of premium, owner waiver death, owner waiver disability, long-term care conversion
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Assistance services
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None
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Sun Life Medical Second Opinion
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Long-term care insurance
Long-term care insurance covers costs related to health as you age and can no longer take care of yourself. Sun Life offers one long-term care plan.
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Age range
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Ages 45-71 (benefit takes effect after age 65)
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Eligibility
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Must require:
- Constant supervision by another person due to deteriorated mental ability
- Substantial physical assistance with 2+ activities of daily living
- Stand-by assistance while bathing
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Coverage amount
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Monthly, income-style payout of $125 to $2,300 per week
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Waiting period
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1-2 years
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Optional coverage
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Automatic return of premium, inflation protection, premium waiver
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Assistance services
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Lifestage Care
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Disability insurance
Sun Life offers a range of disability insurance plans depending on your needs. Plans may be short-term or long-term, and each one may classify “disability” differently. To learn more about Sun Life’s disability offerings, you’ll need to speak to an insurance advisor with the company.
Pros and cons of Sun Life health insurance
Despite being established in the Canadian market and offering plenty of plan options, you’ll find a few downsides with Sun Life’s private health insurance plans.
- Strong financials and long history in Canadian market
- Multiple plan options
- Plenty of optional add-ons
- Digital portal for online policy and claims management
- Coverage available for families
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Some benefits have waiting periods
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Limited ability to get online quotes
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Disability insurance requires contacting advisor
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Reviews note concerns with claim eligibility and customer service
How much does Sun Life health insurance cost?
The cost of Sun Life health insurance varies depending on the type of plan you choose, your age, your health status, and the amount of coverage.
We looked at quotes for the Basic, Standard, and Enhanced personal health insurance plans and here’s what we found:
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35-year-old adult
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$61.32
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$112.57
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$163.25
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60-year-old senior
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$80.91
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$136.48
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$191.87
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Is Sun Life health insurance worth it?
Sun Life health insurance might be worth it if you’re looking for a range of private health insurance options backed by a trusted, reputable insurer with strong financial health. Plans typically include 60-80% reimbursement and might be attractive options if you’re self-employed or retired.
That said, reviews of Sun Life note disappointment with the customer experience, including frequent claim denials, lack of transparency, and poor customer service.
FAQ: Sun Life health insurance
One of the biggest disadvantages of Sun Life insurance is the customer experience. While the company’s health insurance coverage appears comprehensive, online reviews mention a lack of transparency around claim limits and poor customer service.
Our review process turned up more affordable rates for Blue Cross health insurance plans and somewhat better customer experience, but Sun Life receives better ratings for industry reputation and has a long history with insurance operations in Canada.
Sun Life’s personal health insurance plans are available to those under the age of 69, while critical illness insurance is available for those 18-65 years old.
