Sun Life launches Disability with Health Navigator to improve health outcomes and provide ongoing health support for employees
WELLESLEY, Mass., Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Life U.S. now offers Disability with Health Navigator, strengthening employer health plans by providing personalized care navigation to employees, whether they are facing a disabling health condition or simply looking for health support. With the cost of healthcare rising each year and employers assessing their benefits strategies, health solutions that improve outcomes and efficiency of care are at the forefront of benefits conversations between brokers and their employer clients. Health Navigator, Sun Life's personalized advisory service, helps people access specialized second opinions, specialty providers, centers of excellence and alternative sites of care.
"When an employee is dealing with a serious health condition, timely guidance can make a meaningful difference," said Joi Tillman, president, Group Benefits, Sun Life U.S. "By combining disability insurance with Health Navigator, we can help employees find appropriate care and give employers another way to support better health outcomes and a more effective benefits strategy."
Why include healthcare navigation in disability insurance?
When someone is facing a major health condition, whether a disease diagnosis or an injury, the added stress of finding the right medical providers, tracking down the necessary paperwork, and making various appointments can weigh heavily on a person and their family. Health Navigator services promote better health for the member with year-round access, and help the employer retain a valued employee if they are facing a major health event.
Workplace health challenge | Disability with Health Navigator solution |
Managing a serious health event can be complicated and time consuming, potentially exacerbating health issues, delaying recovery, or extending time away from work. | Personal care advisors help coordinate care by identifying appropriate providers, facilitating expert second opinions, gathering medical records and paperwork, and managing appointments. |
Common disabling conditions, such as back injuries, may recur or relapse, leading to additional care needs and more medical spend. | Through its extensive network of clinicians and relationships with centers of excellence, Health Navigator can influence more effective and efficient care, helping to reduce the need for additional, higher-cost treatment in the future. |
Employees may want support before a condition leads to disability leave, so they can return to health more quickly and remain at work. | Every employee enrolled in Disability with Health Navigator has access to the solution year-round, regardless of whether they have filed a disability claim, making it a valuable component of employers' core healthcare strategy. |
"Pairing Health Navigator with disability coverage creates a holistic approach to maintaining health or returning to health and productivity after a major health event," said Jen Collier, president, Health and Risk Solutions, Sun Life U.S. "Getting people to the right specialists and treatment centers sooner seems like a simple answer, yet it can be incredibly challenging in the current healthcare climate. Focusing on a more connected health and benefits experience is how we're going to move the needle on costs and access to care."
An employee benefits solution that supports employers' business goals
While disability coverage protects the income and supports the health of the member, more efficient and effective care can lead to reduced leave duration – or even prevent the need for leave altogether. Most employees in the U.S. have access to disability insurance through their employer, whether fully paid or through enrollment. Including Health Navigator in disability insurance ensures a broader range of employees will be able to utilize the service whether their condition is potentially disabling, or they are simply looking for support for ongoing care.
Health Navigator can take an employer's available benefits, health programs and support services into account when an employee asks for help, and then the care advisor can direct the employee to relevant services or coverage. Health Navigator is also available as a standalone service and through Sun Life's medical stop-loss coverage, which protects employers who self-fund their health plans from the risk of high-dollar claims. Health Navigator provides navigation and advisory support; it does not provide medical care.
To learn more about Sun Life Disability with Health Navigator, visit www.sunlife.com/dihealthnav.
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 June 30, 2026, Sun Life had total assets under management of C$1.70 trillion. 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.
Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping approximately 48 million Americans access the care and coverage they need. Through employers, industry partners and government programs, Sun Life U.S. offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. Sun Life employs more than 8,300 people in the U.S., including associates in our partner dental practices and affiliated companies in asset management. Group insurance policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), except in New York, where policies are issued by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, Mich.). For more information visit our website and newsroom.
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Devon Fernald
Sun Life U.S.
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SOURCE Sun Life U.S.
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