One million and counting: Canadian insurance industry's first National Healthcare Provider Ratings Network hits significant milestone

TORONTO, May 31, 2017 /CNW/ - One million ratings in under one year – that's the overwhelmingly positive response from Clients to Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada's ("Sun Life") national healthcare provider ratings network, an industry first and digital health innovation. 

The network gives almost three million Sun Life Clients access to search and contact peer-rated healthcare providers across the country, such as: chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, chiropodists, naturopaths, osteopaths and psychologists.

Sun Life invites Clients who submit a paramedical healthcare claim to rate the service provided on a scale from one to five. Those ratings are then shared to empower other Clients looking for providers closest to them.

Since its inception in late 2016:

• Over one million ratings have been submitted in only nine months;
• Over 65,000 providers have been rated, covering all provinces and territories across the country; and
• Rating activity has increased 60 per cent in the first quarter of 2017.

"Last year, we set out to help Canadians manage their health by removing one of the most common obstacles they faced – finding a trusted healthcare practitioner," said Chris Denys, Senior Vice-President of Possibilities, Digital Health Solutions, Sun Life Financial Canada. "As the leading group benefits provider in Canada, we harnessed the power of the Sun Life community to create the ratings network and give a voice to our Clients who are inspiring each other to take charge of their health and well-being."

Digital Health Solutions is focused on supporting Canadians with their health needs by helping them:

• Find new and better ways of accessing healthcare products and services;
• Act by making healthy choices to support wellness goals; and
• Better manage chronic conditions with advanced technologies and insights.  

"The speed at which we hit the one million ratings milestone is truly remarkable," Denys continued. "A huge thank you to those who took the time to rate their healthcare providers. This is just the start – we would like to be a destination around health and plan to expand this network to cover more services as well as new digital models for delivering them to Canadians."

"The provider network with search feature is an easy way for prospective clients to find us and learn about the services our team offers," said Brennan Corey, Facility Manager, King West Club, CardioGo. "It's a win for our clients, our practitioners and our club."

The healthcare provider ratings network is available to Sun Life Clients online at mysunlife.ca or through the my Sun Life Mobile app, the highest rated insurer app available, having received a five-star rating from the Apple store.

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies.

About Sun Life Financial 
Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individuals and corporate Clients. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2017, Sun Life Financial had total assets under management of $927 billion. For more information please visit www.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 except as otherwise noted. 

Media Relations Contact:
Yasna Criscione
Sun Life Financial
416-204-8110
yasna.criscione@sunlife.com

SOURCE Sun Life Financial Canada