{"settlement":{"id":"sun-life-metlife-universal-life-insurance-2026","slug":"sun-life-metlife-universal-life-insurance-2026","title":"Sun Life / MetLife Universal Life Insurance Class Action","category":"Insurance","status":"Claims not yet open","tags":{"industry":["Insurance"],"geographic":["Canada-wide"],"recoveryType":["Cash payment","Other"],"eligibilityTrigger":["Held an account or contract"]},"classDefinition":"Class members are people who owned or own a Universal Plus, Flexiplus, or OptiMet universal life insurance policy sold by Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. (MetLife) in Canada between 1987 and 1998, including successor owners, former policyholders, and estates. The Flexiplus Class covers those whose monthly cost of insurance and/or administration fee was increased in 2001, 2006, 2015, or the ninth year of the policy, and the OptiMet Class covers those charged an increased cost of insurance rate starting in year nine. Only Universal Plus Class and Flexiplus Class members may receive a payment; OptiMet Class members will not receive benefits under this settlement.","plainLanguageSummary":"If you owned a Universal Plus or Flexiplus universal life insurance policy sold by MetLife in Canada between 1987 and 1998, you may be eligible for a payment and future policy benefits once the settlement is approved.","eligibilityCriteria":[],"recoveryRange":"Payment amount not yet stated; total settlement value is $213.5 million","filingInstructions":"","caseBackground":"This class action, Fehr et al. v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, concerns how Sun Life administered three universal life insurance policies (Universal Plus, Flexiplus, and OptiMet) that were originally sold by Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. (MetLife) agents in Canada between 1987 and 1998. The lawsuit alleges Sun Life improperly administered these policies, including through increases to the cost of insurance and administrative fees. Sun Life denies liability and has defended the lawsuit.\n\nThe parties have agreed to a proposed settlement with a total value of $213.5 million, which still needs court approval. If approved, certain Flexiplus and Universal Plus policyholders would receive direct monetary compensation for past charges, and current eligible policyholders would receive future policy benefits such as permanent rate and fee freezes or a cap on future cost of insurance charges. An Ontario court is scheduled to decide whether to approve the settlement on September 8, 2026.","administratorName":"CA2 Inc.","administratorContacts":[{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"1-800-538-0009"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"sunlife@classaction2.com"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://www.sunlifeclassaction.com"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"Sun Life Class Action c/o CA2 Inc., 9 Prince Arthur Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 1B2, Attn: Claims Administrator"}],"administratorRole":"claims","agentName":null,"agentContacts":[],"agentClaimFormHelp":false,"classCounselName":"","classCounselContacts":[],"classCounselFirms":[],"submissionMethods":[],"sourceDocuments":[{"url":"/uploads/60aa9528e3189cf05640e520-SunLife_SettlementApprovalHearing.pdf","title":"Notice to Class Members"},{"url":"/uploads/022845d5efd20611b8f56d34-Class-Counsel-Summary-of-Settlement-Approval-Hearing.pdf","title":"Additional Settlement Document"},{"url":"/uploads/39f27514bdad2253c3208f53-SunLife_SettlementApprovalHearing-FR.pdf","title":"Avis aux membres du groupe"},{"url":"/uploads/a2e123a89c5a3409210efa9f-Class-Counsel-Summary-of-Settlement-Approval-Hearing-FR.pdf","title":"Document supplémentaire"}],"shortFormNoticeUrl":"","longFormNoticeUrl":"/uploads/60aa9528e3189cf05640e520-SunLife_SettlementApprovalHearing.pdf","settlementAgreementUrl":null,"claimFormDocumentUrl":"","claimForms":[],"claimFormsButtonLabel":"claim-form","claimFormsUnavailable":false,"claimFormsUnavailableReason":null,"claimFormGuides":[],"additionalDocuments":[],"optOutFormUrl":"","optOutInstructions":"The ability to opt out of this class action has already expired, so the settlement, if approved, will bind all class members.","objectionFormUrl":null,"objectionInstructions":null,"faqs":[{"answer":"The parties have agreed to a proposed settlement, but it still needs court approval. A hearing is scheduled at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto on September 8, 2026 to decide whether to approve it.","question":"What stage is this settlement at?"},{"answer":"No. Class members who do not oppose the settlement do not need to take any action at this time. A claims process has not opened yet.","question":"Do I need to do anything right now?"},{"answer":"Yes. All class members can make a written submission to the court to support or oppose the settlement by delivering it to Class Counsel on or before August 31, 2026. The submission must include your full name and contact information. Email SunLifeClassAction@complexlaw.ca to learn more.","question":"Can I object to or support the settlement?"},{"answer":"No. The ability to opt out of this class action has already expired. If the settlement is approved, it will be binding on all class members.","question":"Can I still opt out?"},{"answer":"The total value of the settlement is $213.5 million. Certain Flexiplus and Universal Plus policyholders may receive direct monetary compensation for past charges, and current eligible policyholders may receive future policy benefits. Individual payment amounts are set out in the Settlement Agreement, which must still be approved by the court. OptiMet Class members will not receive benefits under this settlement.","question":"How much money will I receive?"}],"eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"owned-policy","text":"Did you own, or do you now own, a Universal Plus, Flexiplus, or OptiMet universal life insurance policy?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"This includes successor owners, former policyholders, and estates.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"sold-by-metlife","text":"Was the policy sold by Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. (MetLife) in Canada between 1987 and 1998?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"charge-increase","text":"If you held a Flexiplus or OptiMet policy, was your cost of insurance or administration fee increased (Flexiplus: in 2001, 2006, 2015, or the ninth policy year; OptiMet: starting in year nine)?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"This condition applies to the Flexiplus and OptiMet sub-classes; Universal Plus owners can answer No.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":false}],"uncertainMessage":"Some of your answers were Not sure, so we could not confidently determine your eligibility.","qualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement.","nonQualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you do not appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement."},"claimCategories":[],"proceedings":null,"relatedSlugs":[],"group":null,"cardSummary":"If you held a Universal Plus, Flexiplus, or OptiMet universal life insurance policy sold by MetLife in Canada between 1987 and 1998, this proposed settlement may affect you. A court has to approve it before any payments are made.","proofRequired":"","claimTime":"","claimAmount":"Amount not yet determined","coverageStartDate":"1987-01-01","coverageEndDate":"1998-12-31","deadline":"","optOutDeadline":"","objectionDeadline":null,"approvalHearingDate":"2026-09-08","approvalHearingDates":[{"date":"2026-09-08","label":""}],"approvalPending":false,"resolution":"settlement","judgmentAppealed":false,"seriousHarmEnabled":false,"quietPresentation":false,"formHelperEnabled":false,"dateAdded":"2026-07-23","lastUpdated":"2026-07-26","firstPublishedAt":"2026-07-23 22:08:40","claimsOpenedAt":null,"lastVerifiedAt":"2026-07-23","languages":["en","fr"]}}