Of the 30% of all LTD claims that are mental health related, more than half, 53%, are for depression.

More claims are anticipated in the future, due to an aging population and rising rates of obesity.ĭepression Most Common Cause of Disability Among Mental Health Claims The report speculates that slower growth and decreases for some medical conditions may be due to more effective treatment. Claims for depression, anxiety, and other mental illness are up 27% since 2014, whereas most other causes of disability are in decline or have plateaued. In addition, mental health claims are growing at a much faster rate that other claims. It is reasonable to assume that denials are also up 16% (or more), since insurance companies cannot pay more in claims than it takes in for premiums over the long term and still make a profit.ĭepression, Anxiety, and Other Mental Illness Account for Most ClaimsĪs noted above, mental health claims accounted for 30% of all claims, compared to 15% for cancer, 12% for accidents, 11% for musculoskeletal disorders, 9% for arthritis, 5% for neurological disorders, and 5% for circulatory disorders. According to Sun Life, LTD claims have increased 16% overall since 2016. Long Term Disability Claims Are IncreasingĬlaims are up across the board, not just for depression and anxiety. This report, Designed for Health – A Focus on Mental, provides a very general overview of mental health claims, with some interesting statistics. It has vast amounts of health, employment, and other data related to all types of disability claims. Sun Life insures more than six million Canadians. In fact, 30% of all long term disability claims are mental health related, which is more than the next two most common causes of disability combined, with cancer at 15% and accidents at 12%. The report confirms what many in the industry have suspected for some time: LTD claims for depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses are on the rise. Sun Life recently released some internal statistics regarding mental health and long term disability claims.

Sun life insurance disability claim