The latest report in Sun Life's Designed for Health series reveals a troubling trend in long-term disability (LTD) claims among Canadians. Mental disorders, circulatory disorders and cancer are the top three reasons for LTD, but their claims don't stop there. Employees on disability leave are increasingly struggling with multiple, overlapping health disorders, making their LTD claim more complex.

Multiple chronic conditions (known as "comorbidities" or "multiple morbidities") have become more common among Canadians. Sun Life looked at the drug claims data from over 1.5 million people on LTD and found:

Diabetes is a common thread throughout many LTD claims and illustrates how chronic health conditions are overlapping:

"Long-term disability claims are often complex and our data tells us that Canadians, more than ever, are struggling when it comes to their health and well-being," says Marie-Chantal Cà´té, Senior Vice-President, Sun Life Health. "Dealing with multiple chronic conditions can be challenging and requires a holistic and comprehensive approach to recovery. As a trusted health partner to millions of Canadians and their families, our mission is to empower our members with personalized solutions, ensuring easier access to the care they need."

Supporting Employees on LTD to Return to Work 

The presence of two or more health issues often worsens the primary condition and makes disease management more complicated. This can mean a long and difficult road to recovery. Those with comorbidities often see a delay in returning to work and remain on claim for longer than the average claim.

"The road to recovery looks different for everyone. When helping an employee return to health, it's important we look at the full picture of their health, from comorbidities to personal stressors, to come up with a treatment plan that is right for them," says Cà´té. "We take an empathic approach to care that helps employees regain a sense of normalcy."

Sun Life takes a holistic approach to supporting our plan members. Some of the innovative health solutions we offer include:

Read the 2025 Designed for Health Report to learn more about the trends in long-term disability claims in Canada.

About Sun Life

Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2025, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.55 trillion. For more information, please visit sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars

To contact Sun Life media relations, please email Media.Relations@sunlife.com.

SOURCE Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada

SOURCE: Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada

SOURCE: Sun Life Financial Inc.

COMTEX_466493243/2197/2025-06-19T07:30:00