A new survey conducted by Ipsos for Sun Life revealed that while nearly 90% of Canadians have experienced the loss of a loved one, half do not know where to begin when faced with a death. Nearly 40% of respondents had difficulty managing the deceased’s personal affairs and belongings, while one in three felt overwhelmed by probate and estate administration.
Meanwhile, one in four reported financial challenges, including funeral costs and loss of income, while another quarter struggled to balance work with the emotional toll of grief.
To address this, Sun Life has partnered with Empathy to provide bereavement support to its policyholders.
Empathy, available to millions of users through partnerships with employers and insurers, provides bereaved individuals over 18 years old with structured support through its digital platform. The service offers access to a dedicated care team member for confidential, one-on-one guidance.
The platform also provides personalized step-by-step assistance with estate and account settlement, funeral planning and obituary writing, and grief resources to help individuals manage emotional challenges.
Sun Life now offers Empathy as a complimentary service to beneficiaries as part of the group life insurance claims process, making it one of the first insurers in Canada to integrate bereavement support into its life insurance offerings.
“Managing the death of a loved one is complex, yet so many people do it alone because they don’t know where to go for help,” said Marie-Chantal Côté, senior vice president of Sun Life Health. “Our new partnership with Empathy allows us to offer support to people going through one of life’s most difficult situations.”
"Empathy is on a mission to help as many people as possible navigate life's most challenging moments, including the loss of a loved one. By combining the power of our comprehensive platform with human care, we've made significant progress towards our vision," said Ron Gura, co-founder & CEO of Empathy.
"Through this partnership with Sun Life, we're proud to broaden our impact and make a meaningful difference for Canadians."
