Group Benefits Reviews

Manulife Group Benefits Insurance Reviews

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(86 reviews)
Manulife
1.3 out of 5 stars:
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Terrible experience

by Jen on Apr 3, 2016
1 out of 5 stars

My employer switched from GWL to Manulife a few months ago for benefits coverage. Apparently Manulife was significantly cheaper for the employer and nothing would change in terms of our benefits. This has not been true. From my perspective and based on my terrible experiences thus far, the reason that they are cheaper is because the employees are now paying for the difference. For example, Manulife has disallowed registered massages because the massage therapist obtained their certification in BC instead of in AB where they practise. This was frustrating because Manulife and my employer did not document this absurd requirement anywhere and now. My employer indicated that they were not aware of this policy so they actually refunded me for the massage. They have told me to get all of the details regarding the Reg Massage Therapist before I book a massage which is such a pain and creates extra stress. In addition, Manulife's website is down on weekends. On Sat, you cannot submit claims after 8pm and Sun, after 5pm. As a parent that works fulltime, it is very difficult to make time to process these claims except on weekends after my young kids have gone to bed. For me, I have actually stopped using my benefits because the thought of trying to process the claim and what Manulife will come back with causes me instant anxiety. Ugh

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KNow what you're talking about

by AbeJohnson32 on Sep 24, 2015
3 out of 5 stars

To the person who commented on the glasses - EVERY insurance company is this way..every business is this way in terms of the goods or services they offer. When it comes to general insurance guidelines, a claim is processed (paid) based on the date you are (1) dispensed your product - aka you take them home, and (2) the date you pay for your purchase. Not the day you submit your claim. Not the day you 'place your order'.
Think about it from a business perspective - if claims were paid based on the date you 'order your glasses' then you could have your claim paid, and 'cancel your order'. If claims were paid based on the date you submit your claim, people would wait months to submit but always purchase when they were not infact entitled to the purchsase. And who pays for your glasses?? Yes it is the insurance company, but where does the insurance company get the money? Your employer. Many small businesses also pay out each time an employee makes a claim. So if you submit a claim for $200, your employer is billed $200 on their next premium invoice..I've owned a business and I have dealt with all types of insurance plans and this type does exist.
In reality, it's common sence, and you are the one at fault if you can read a simple contract or ask your employer questions,... at the end of the day, it's your employer paying insurance company the premiums, so if everyone did what you are stating, then your employer would be out hundreds or thousands of dollars in premiums..
People always think their getting scammed when they don't get their way, but its really one business trying to protect another, and trying to protect their assets and revenue and avoid scams. Insurance companies aren't trying to withold their money from you, their trying to ensure they and your employers aren't being abused by people like you.

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Look Elsewhere

by Extremely Disappointed on Aug 1, 2015
1.5 out of 5 stars

My fiance has a policy through her work. Last year she had hernia surgery because of her job. Her claim took a long time to process Manulife "didn't receive" the forms that were faxed/emailed to them even though there were confirmations of the forms being sent 2 or 3 times. After her surgery and some healing time, she was forced back to work to early. Her surgeon's and general practitioner's reports stated she was not ready to return to work. Manulife's docotor (who only read reports) overrode these reports stating he saw no reason for her to be off work so Manulife cut her benefits. As a result of all this, not even a year later she is once again off work and looking forward to another surgery for a repeated tare and additional tares to the same spot. As mentioned by others on this site, Manulife is not interested in their customers wellbeing. They are only interested in taking your money and paying out as little as possible. Bottom line: If you have a choice, look elsewhere. The only way you'll be happy with this company is if you never have to file a claim.

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Forms - denial

by Michael T on Jun 23, 2015
1 out of 5 stars

They have multiple layers of forms to fill out before they will process a claim.And if you miss any detail it is denied and sent back.
Enough to frustrate the most patient and organized accountants in the world....
I have coverage through my employer and every time I see an ad for them I hope people read these reviews as I would never deal with them if I had the option.
The only reason I continue to go through their processes is that I won't let them win.
I have co-workers who just don't bother anymore.

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HORRIBLE TO DEAL WITH!

by Appalled on Nov 29, 2014
1.5 out of 5 stars

I have 4 years of negative experience with them! I did not choose this insurance company, my employer did. You have to leave several emails & voice mails before anyone will get back to you. I think their "Medical Consultant" is a Veterinarian , no offense to vets! I have an invisible disability which is certainly invisible to them. My symptoms are chronic and their answer is suck it up & keep going. All they care about is money & not their customers.

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Refusing to insure child

by frustrated on Jun 27, 2014
1.5 out of 5 stars

Our daughter has a heart murmur for which she has never received any treatment or medical intervention. Manulife has only recently allowed our her two siblings to be covered on our group insurance plan, after a full year of waiting. We have had to jump through all sorts of hoops and still our daughter, who doesn't even have to take antibiotics when she visits the dentist, is not a recipient of our family's benefits.

When I do contact Manulife they try to imply that they have no record of my husband's policy, because they never include his certificate number on any correspondence that we've received. I'm curious as to how they suppose that I'm receiving correspondence from them, because they certainly seem to have at least our address! I am very unimpressed with this company and their lack of desire to help.

He/she put me on hold for about 15 minutes and when they came to say they couldn't help me, the customer service representative, (admittedly I was angry by this point), pretended that he/she couldn't hear me. I demanded their name, and they simply continued to pretend that they couldn't hear me. I demanded to speak to a manager, and they continued the game of not being able to hear me....even fading their voice so that maybe I might think that the connection was fading out. I hung up and phoned back and guess what? The customer service rep that I got this time, could hear me just fine! And she was able to help me, quickly, I might add!

I get it, it's not fun to deal with an angry and frustrated customer and I was hopping mad, but just pass me off to management rather than implying that I don't know what I'm talking about or playing games with me!

Sadly the experiences that I've had when I've had to contact Manulife have more closely resembled my encounter with the fading out customer service rep rather than the lady who I later spoke with.

I just want our daughter, who is eight and as healthy as a horse to be taken care of! It's been over a year of waiting!

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