Hi,
I have disability benefits through CanadaLife. I am working physically in Canada but fell ill when travelling abroad.
Situation is emerging such that getting treatment abroad will be a better option. But for disability paychecks etc. I need Canada Life.
Will Canada Life accept documentation etc. from foreign doctors directly ?
PS: My province is back logged and hence do not Canadian family doctor to liason.
Thanks.
Youâll have to look at the wording of your LTD policy to find this out. Every LTD policy/contract has its own clauses.
I really doubt any Canadian LTD policy will accept a foreign doctors documentation, but again itâs depends on your contract. Also, most LTD policies limit how long you can be out of country or province and still get LTD payments. Iâve seen them range from 7 days to 4 months, Iâve also seen one that said leaving their province would immediately terminate their LTD payments unless prior request and approval was granted.
As the other commented noted, it will first depend on what your LTD policy says. But if it doesnât specify Canada-based doctors (which most LTD policies do not say this), then techically, yes, you can use out of country doctors. But, the clinical records and reports need to be in english or you will have to pay to get official certified translations if you want the insurance company to use them. If the doctor you are seeing has appropriate credentials, and they are following a standard of care accepted by the Canadian Medical community and Insurers, then the insurer may accept the information. There are no guarantees and it is certinaly not an ideal situation. This is something I recommend you address directly with your LTD insurer before you get to far into it.
David Brannen
Disability Lawyer with Resolute Legal
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I had cervical disc replacement in Mexico in 2023 due to the long wait times in Canada. The care was excellent there. I attempted a return to work but due to other related complications in my back (DDD) and other issues,and having a stressful job, I had to go on LTD. I am with Manulife. They asked for my surgeons reports, mriâs and nerve conduction tests at the start of my claim, which they accepted. When I recently returned to Mexico for a one year follow up, he advised I could not to return to my usual employment and wrote a letter stating that. Manulife would NOT accept it and stated âhe doesnât practise in Canada therefore we cannot accept itâ. He is certified to practise in three countries, including the USA
Do you have a gp? Take the letter to your gp and get it Canadianized.
I lost my GP and recently was assigned a new one. He wrote me off stating I needed further rehab prior to a return to work. (I have already been discharged from physio to continue it at home ). Manulife has already sent me to their Independent Neurologist 6 months ago, for which we have still not received the results even after asking for them more than once, my requests go ignored. They had the audacity to ask me, if I have been referred to a specialist! Yes I have seen two! Mine who they wonât accept, and theirs! I will not speak to them on the phone anymore as I am so enraged with them I have asked for email correspondence only.
Just gotta jump through the hoops. I assume if the IME were in their favour it would have been produced months ago⌠Do keep seeing your gp occasionally even if he seems dismissive as most LTD policies require you to be under the care of a physicianâŚ
Yes, continue to consult with your medical care provider.
Respectfully, @Caro, primary care provider (P. C. P.) has been an acceptable option since the ânewlyâ indicated shortage of physicians in this country.
The amazing nurse practitioner, whom I am so fortunate to have as my clinician, uses the letters PCP, to represent Primary Care Provider (an unfortunate acronym, to say the least).
Manulife, to date, has accepted the most recent bi-annual update (May, 2024)
Hth
Thank you for your consideration
Yeah I didnât think about other carers we donât really have them here as a gp replacement yet.
Oops I accidently deleted my post while editing itâŚ
Youâre master policy/contract (ask for a copy if you donât have it) will likely state something like you must be getting reasonable medical treatment. What you have described definitely sounds like reasonable medical treatment.
I would send Manulife an email asking the following:
Please state where in my LTD policy/contract that medical documentation can not be provided by a physician licensed to practice in the United States.
Please state where in my LTD policy/contract it says my physician must be practicing within Canada.
In the past you have accepted medical information that originated in Mexico, why have changed your medical documentation acceptance criteria?
In summary, please state exactly (and be very specific with terms from my LTD contract) on how my LTD contract allows Manulife to legally not accept Dr. Xâs medical letter. I Please respond with 5 business day.
Iâd start there and see what reasons they give
I was seeing a nurse practioner in the absence of a family doctor. They are even harder to get in to see than a doctor here! She was great but she recently left the clinic. My primary care for the first few months was my physiotherapist, but when my return to work plan didnt work out,I was told I a note from phsysio was no longer sufficient.
Thank you for this information! I wish I had found this forum months ago! Manulife has recently asked for my detailed job description and what medications I am currently taking. When I sent them the paperwork, they then asked for printouts from my pharmacy. Assuming im not being truthful I guess. Once they respond back asking for more (as they always do) I will be asking for my full and complete file from them (including the assessment from THEIR IME) along with the list you have just provided me. My mental health has deteriorated significantly throughout this process as well.