I just had another interesting conversation with Great- West Life with respect to me applying for CPPD. They informed me that GWL will fill out the medical information pages. No need to see my family physician for this information or their input. I queried this and they informed me that they are allowed to complete this form and that they have enough medical information on file with respect to my illness that they believe that I will be accepted for CPPD. Never heard of this but I approved them submitting instead of my doctor filling in this medical form. Has anyone done this before or even heard of this?
Maybe @David_Brannen has heard of it.
I would let them since they volunteered.
What about doing a non medical narrative?
They don’t think that is necessary?
My opinion is they are taking responsibility for it so let them.
If it’s denied then maybe do the appeal yourself.
My discussion with GWL indicates that the legislation was amended last year to allow insurance companies complete the medical portion of the CPPD application. GWL indicated to me that I have a very strong application based on the last two years of medical evidence. Seeing how it is in their best interest to see me on CPPD, I figure they must know what they are doing.
I can tell you that this is news to me! I had previously reviewed the 2018 amendments and saw nothing like this, I just reviewed them again and didn see anything. I happened to be speaking with a CPP medical adjudicator this morning, so I asked her about this and she knew nothing of it. I took the final step of calling Service Canada and the people I spoke with agreed with me that this makes absolutely no sense.
However, stranger things have happened, and given that this could be a new policy or change, it is possible that people are not aware of it yet…but I can tell you it really doesn’t make sense. Insurance company’s can provide supplemental medical records, but the medical report form is very specific in that it needs to be filled out by a doctor or nurse practitioner.
I expect what is going on is that the insurance company will send the Medical Form to your doctor to fill out as part of the process in putting together your claim, so you don’t have to do it yourself.
If they are taking the lead to do the application, then see how it goes. I am going to continue to make inquiries about this in the meantime.
David Brannen
Disability Lawyer with Resolute Legal
The response posted above is based on the limited factual information made available and is not intended as a full and complete response to the question. The only reliable manner to obtain complete and adequate legal advice is to consult with a lawyer, fully explain your situation, and allow the lawyer enough time to research the applicable law and facts required to give an adequate opinion. The basic information provided above is intended as a public service only, a full one-on-one discussion with a lawyer should be done before taking any any action. The information posted on this forum is available to the viewing public and is not intended to create a lawyer client relationship with any person. If you want one-on-one advice, please click here to request a free consultation or call toll free 1-877-282-5188 to speak with a member with our disability claim support team.
Thanks for the reply David. I found this very strange also. I did question this and GWL stated not to worry we will be filling out the medical form so you don’t have to ask your doctor to do this. Simply give us your permission to do this and we will do it. So I gave them my authority to complete the medical part of the CPPD application. I will let you know the outcome. I do have an annual medical with my family physician in March and I will ask him about this. I might ask him to fill out the medical form also.
I haven’t spoken to my insurance company (GWL) with respect to the medical report as I have a doctors appointment on March 07th and will most likely ask him to fill out the CPPD medical report. However, I am in the process of filling out the CPPD Benefits Application (form ISP 1151) and I did notice on page 3 para 2 that an insurance company can submit all medical records if the applicant is receiving LTD benefits, otherwise, the applicant must have a medical doctor/nurse practitioner to complete the medical report (form ISP 2519). This must be why GWL indicated to me that I don’t have to have to see my family physician to complete and submit this medical report. GWL has indicated to me that they have more than enough on me, medically speaking, that they will submit all medical documents that they have on file with respect to my case. They did say that I have a very strong medical file in support of being approved for CPPD.
Steve, I don’t believe this is a legislative, or even a procedural change, although it looks like the CPP disability people have updated the wording on their website to make it clear that this practice is acceptable. On your application, in the medical report section, you can put “GWL will forward my medical file”. This practice has been in place, and accepted, for quite some time.
So no medical required? GWL simply sends all my medical records on file and that is it? That’s what they are doing so I will let them that it from there. If Service Canada asks for my doctors (written)input then I will make a doctors appointment and submit a medical report signed off by him.
Yes, a medical file from the insurance company can suffice, and be more than adequate, in certain cases (and you can be sure that your LTD insurer knows a lot about this which is why they suggested it as a way of fast tracking the process. Obviously CPPD likes it too, as evidenced by their recent updating of their documentation on their website and CPP application form). GWL will send an extensive medical file which includes your entire medical history while on claim - medical consultation reports, test/investigation reports and medical updates from your doctors to GWL, etc. If Service Canada requires anything else, they will ask for it.
Thanks again for the reply and insight Joanne. Sounds like I must have a great file for CPPD if the insurance company is going this route. I always thought I did but this makes it much clearer. Now I just have to finish completing my portion of the application…
Joanne, is right on this. It is a unique procedure only for people on an approved LTD claim. It is because that LTD claim will already contain the same medical report form (Insurer Attending Physician Statement Form) as well as supplemental medical information obtained by the Insurer.
David Brannen
Disability Lawyer with Resolute Legal
The response posted above is based on the limited factual information made available and is not intended as a full and complete response to the question. The only reliable manner to obtain complete and adequate legal advice is to consult with a lawyer, fully explain your situation, and allow the lawyer enough time to research the applicable law and facts required to give an adequate opinion. The basic information provided above is intended as a public service only, a full one-on-one discussion with a lawyer should be done before taking any any action. The information posted on this forum is available to the viewing public and is not intended to create a lawyer client relationship with any person. If you want one-on-one advice, please click here to request a free consultation or call toll free 1-877-282-5188 to speak with a member with our disability claim support team.
Thanks David and Joanne. I thought as much. Makes it much easier to submit my claim. I have asked GWL if they will review my application to ensure that it reflects all my medical conditions and that the flow of information accurate. I simply want to ensure that I get approved on my first application. After all it is in GWL’s interest that I have put forward the best application possible. I will let you know the final result.
My LTD insurer (GWL) asked that I apply for CPPD and that they will send my medical file to CPPD so no need to have my doctor fill our the medical report portion of my CPPD application. CPPD called to inform me that they want expedite the review/decision on my application due to my illness. I don’t have terminal cancer but it is a serious, where I am concerned that the cancer has metastasized to my upper left lung. CPPD indicated that they can’t make a decision based on the medical file that GWL did submit and as such they will be going to my doctor to ask for additional medical information. I thought as much as GWL submitted a medical file up to July 2018. I asked them about this and they informed me that that was adequate for CPPD to make a decision. My first thought was with my medial file incomplete, CPPD would decline my application. This would then give GWL reason to say I am fit to work and terminate my LTD. Great to see CPPD going out and asking for an updated medical file from my doctor. A final note, CPPD did indicate that my application was very complete and answered all the relevant questions necessary for CPPD to make a decision with a complete medical file. I basically took all the advice from this site and studied David’s Blueprint on how to properly complete a CPPD application. So thanks to David for his expert guidance and to all who provided me with advice on this site. CPPD indicated that once they receive my doctors report they will be able to make a quick decision on my application.
Hello, I just known this group last January 2019. I was on LTD and applied CPP-D last Oct. 2018, i wish i’ve known this group before i applied. i’m With GWL insurance and approved them to send my medical file, didn’t bother to ask GP for medical report. I received a call from Service Canada that i forgot to answer one question and told me Doctor will call sometimes on February but till now there’s no call from them. it’s been 5 mons of my application. Thank you Steve for the updates, it gives me idea what to do. definitely i will go to my GP to ask him send to SC my latest result from specialist. i hope it’s not too late, getting worried but not much we can do, crossing my finger for the good result.
Jammer, SC told me to wait a phone call from their doctor sometime on February. i’m so worried about my application. it’s too late to find out about Blue print strategy.
