Manulife Group Benefits: What Employers Should Know

Current as of October 2026. Government programs, tax rules and prices change. Check the official sources listed at the end of this page before making a decision, and confirm details with a licensed advisor.

Who Manulife is, in brief

Manulife is the brand of Manulife Financial Corporation, a Canadian financial services company. According to its annual information form, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company was incorporated on June 23, 1887, by a Special Act of Parliament, and the company's head office is at 200 Bloor Street East in Toronto. Its common shares trade under the symbol MFC on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges, among others.

In Canada, Manulife offers group benefits to employers of many sizes, sold through licensed advisors, brokers and consultants rather than directly off the shelf. That means most employers meet Manulife through an advisor who quotes it alongside other insurers.

GroupBenefitPlans.ca is not affiliated with Manulife, does not sell Manulife products, and is not endorsed by Manulife. This page summarizes publicly available information as of October 2026 so employers can ask sharper questions. Insurer products change often, so always confirm current details with a licensed advisor or with Manulife directly.

What Manulife publicly lists for employers

Manulife's group benefits page for advisors describes a range of coverage that can be combined into a plan, including a stream for small businesses with 2 to 50 employees. The building blocks it lists include:

Not every option is available to every group, and the mix offered to a 6-person design studio will look different from the one offered to a 200-person manufacturer. An advisor can tell you which pieces Manulife would actually quote for a business your size, and which are standard versus add-ons.

• Life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D)
• Health care (including drug stop-loss pooling) and dental care
• Short-term and long-term disability, plus absence management solutions
• A Health Care Spending Account and an Employee Assistance Plan
• FlexCare, described as health and dental benefits for contract and part-time workers
• Flexible benefits, with online administration through a tool called FlexLink, and a Taxable Savings Account option
• Provincial plan replacement coverage for employees waiting to receive provincial medical coverage
• U.S. and international solutions, including international pooling options

The member experience day to day

For employees, a plan is only as good as it feels on an ordinary Tuesday: snapping a photo of a physio receipt, checking whether there is room left for new glasses, or pulling up a benefits card at the pharmacy counter. Manulife's member site describes the Manulife Mobile app as a way to submit claims with photos or files, check claim status, see remaining coverage balances for categories like dental and vision, and save a digital benefits card to a phone.

Manulife also promotes wellness features to members. In January 2024 it announced a partnership with Aeroplan, and as of October 2026 its member pages say participating members can link an Aeroplan account to the Manulife mobile app to earn points for health and benefits-related activities and challenges. Its member pages also describe an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) that a plan may include, with services such as short-term counselling, online resources and work-life supports, plus mental health and counselling services. If mental health support is a priority for your team, ask an advisor exactly what a quoted plan includes.

If you are a Manulife plan member looking for help with a login, a claim or a benefits card, please go to Manulife's official website at manulife.ca or contact Manulife directly. GroupBenefitPlans.ca cannot see member accounts or claims.

What happens when an employee leaves

One detail employers sometimes overlook is what departing staff can do next. Manulife publishes an individual plan called FollowMe Health for people leaving a Manulife group benefits plan. As of October 2026, Manulife's page says applicants aged 18 or older who apply within 120 days of losing their group benefits get guaranteed acceptance with no medical questions. Depending on the plan level chosen, coverage can include prescription drugs, dental care, vision care and health practitioner services.

This matters if you have employees nearing retirement or a team with turnover. Our guide to benefits after termination explains the wider picture, and an advisor can confirm the current conversion rules.

How to evaluate Manulife against other insurers

No single insurer suits every employer. The fair test for Manulife is the same as for any carrier: compare like-for-like quotes and read the plan details, not just the marketing. Our guide on how to compare group benefits quotes walks through this, and our provider comparison page explains what a side-by-side review should cover. Things worth looking at:

• Premiums for each benefit, and how renewals have typically been handled for groups like yours
• Coinsurance, annual maximums, paramedical limits and how the drug plan is designed
• Disability definitions, waiting periods and return-to-work support
• Spending account options and how they pair with insured coverage
• Coverage for part-time, contract or remote employees
• How easy the app and claims process feel for your actual staff

Questions to ask a licensed advisor

A licensed benefits advisor can request quotes from several insurers, including Manulife where it fits, and explain the trade-offs in plain language. Before your first conversation, jot down what your team really uses: massage and physio after long shifts, therapy, regular prescriptions, braces for the kids, or the flexibility of a health spending account.

Good questions include: Does my business qualify for Manulife's small business plans, and what participation or contribution rules apply? Which benefits are core and which are optional for a group our size? How does the Manulife quote compare with two or three alternatives for the same design? How would part-time or contract staff be covered? If we are switching providers, how are ongoing claims and drug approvals handled?

Getting a neutral second opinion

Whether you are weighing Manulife for the first time or already have a Manulife plan and want to see how it holds up at renewal, an independent review can help. GroupBenefitPlans.ca does not sell insurance or give advice. It simply introduces Ontario employers to licensed advisors who can explain options across the market.

When you are ready, get matched with a licensed benefits advisor who can compare Manulife with other insurers for your team.

Common questions

Is GroupBenefitPlans.ca part of Manulife?

No. GroupBenefitPlans.ca is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with Manulife. It is a referral and information service that introduces employers to licensed group benefits advisors.

Does Manulife offer group benefits for small businesses?

Yes. As of October 2026, Manulife's advisor-facing group benefits page describes group benefits for small businesses with 2 to 50 employees, alongside plans for larger employers. Eligibility rules and available options vary, so an advisor can confirm what applies to your group.

Can employees keep Manulife coverage after they leave?

Not the group plan itself, but Manulife offers an individual plan called FollowMe Health. As of October 2026, Manulife says people aged 18 or older who apply within 120 days of losing their group benefits get guaranteed acceptance with no medical questions.

I am a Manulife plan member. Can you help with my claim or login?

No. GroupBenefitPlans.ca has no access to member accounts. Please use Manulife's official website at manulife.ca, the Manulife Mobile app, or contact Manulife directly for claims, logins and benefit cards.

GroupBenefitPlans.ca is a referral and information service. Advice and coverage are provided by the licensed professional and relevant providers. An enquiry does not activate insurance.