May 11 2026

Securian Canada LTD Denial? Know Your Rights (Ontario)

As a long-time Ontario worker sidelined a couple of years ago by worsening medical conditions, you were just recently notified that your Securian Canada insurance benefits are in danger of being cut off. Ironically, while you only wish you were well enough to step back into the world you knew prior to your injury, your everyday realities paint a far different picture.

You’ve been reading the denial letter over and over, but with all its technical terminology and directives describing new tests, interviews, standards, and requirements, you feel overwhelmed, hardly knowing where to begin. The feeling is overwhelming: “little me” against a mighty giant…

If Securian Canada denied or cut off your LTD benefits in Ontario, act quickly. Read the exact reason for the denial, calendar the appeal deadline, request the reports and policy wording the insurer relied on, and gather medical evidence that shows not just your diagnosis, but how your condition limits your ability to work reliably day after day.

What is your Securian Canada denial letter really saying? Translating those phrases into plain talk:

“Insufficient medical evidence”

The insurer is claiming that your records don’t clearly show the limits of what work you’re able to do.

“Not totally disabled”

They believe you are able to work in some capacity, even if not at the level of your former employment.

“Able to do sedentary work”

The insurer is focusing on tasks you may be able to complete, but not on reliability: your ability to show up day after day and complete a full day’s work.

“Condition expected to improve”

The insurer is framing your condition as temporary, rather than as something that is likely to continue for years or even for life.

“Non-compliance with treatment”

The insurer is pointing out gaps in treatment or follow-up appointments you missed.

Re-reading the denial letter, be alert for mention of these 3 things:

1. Definition of “own occupation” vs. “any occupation”

Every LTD policy has a definition of disability, meaning what conditions must exist for the insured to collect the benefit. In most Canadian LTD policies, that definition changes after the insured has collected benefits for two years.

OWN OCCUPATION definition

During the first two years starting from the month benefits have begun, you qualify to receive those benefits if it has been verified you have been unable to perform the duties of your own occupation.

ANY OCCUPATION definition of disability

Starting from the COD (change of definition date), you are entitled to benefits only if it is proven that you are unable to work at any occupation for which you qualify based on your level of education, your training, and your work experience.

2. What their decision is relying on:

Paper reviews – The insurance company sends your medical records to a doctor, one who has never met you or examined you, and asks that doctor to determine your ability to work.
IME assessments – The insurance company arranges for a doctor whom they select, not your regular doctor, to verify the severity of your disability.
Vocational testing – These tests evaluate what jobs, given your education and training, you might be able to do despite your disability.

3. The appeal deadline (Get this on your calendar immediately.)

Know your rights after an Ontario LTD denial:

1. Your practical rights (what you can ask for):

a clear explanation of their decision
a list of documents they relied on (medical opinions, reports, vocational materials)
copies of key insurer reports that influenced the denial
your policy booklet, marked with the definition of disability that applies to you

2. Your financial protection rights (these are important reality checks):

Like many other people, you cannot wait months without income. You need to weigh “bridging options” while weighing your options and awaiting a final decision on your benefits:

Are there any sick leave benefits available through your former employer?
Do you qualify for CPP disability?
Are you eligible for ODSP?
What adjustments can be made to your family budget?

Rob Konduros Disability, Employment & Personal Injury Lawyer

For the past 40 years, when long-term disability benefits are unfairly denied, even when clear medical evidence says otherwise, my job has been to help reinstate and restore those benefits.

Providing local, hands-on advocacy for Ontario, I don’t get paid until you do.

Call me to find out more: 519 658 6341

Appeal vs. lawsuit. Which path makes sense?

1) Does your policy require an internal appeal?

(Some policies strongly encourage, or even require, an internal appeal before a lawsuit can be filed; a lawyer can confirm this quickly by reading the policy and the denial letter.)

2) When is filing an internal appeal the most reasonable option?

Missing documents can be quickly located.
Your medical team is supportive and available to clarify information.
The denial was based on a misunderstanding that you can correct with evidence.

3) When is getting legal advice early especially important?

There are tight deadlines.
There has been an adverse IME or paper review.
Surveillance was suspected or even mentioned.
There are “any occupation” review issues.
There are complex health conditions (pain/fatigue, mental health, cognitive impairment).

What a strong appeal package includes:

cover letter with a clean, calm summary of the denial issues
an organized, dated evidence index
an updated letter from your treating physician
specialists’ notes
employer records
symptoms/reliability log

Avoid the kind of mistakes that make a denial hard to reverse. Don’t:

miss the deadline, even by a single day
send a long, emotional letter without evidence
allow records to say “doing well” without functional context
submit statements that are inconsistent across different forms, doctors, or conversations
try to “tough it out,” delaying action until finances collapse

When to talk to an Ontario LTD lawyer:

You’re overwhelmed and cannot keep up with forms and deadlines.
Securian is relying on a doctor’s opinion with which you disagree.
You are nearing an “any occupation” change or cutoff in benefits.
Your condition is variable or “invisible” (fatigue, chronic pain, mental health).
You need clarity in choosing to appeal or to take legal action.

FAQs: Securian Canada denied my Long-Term Disability

1. What are the most common reasons Securian Canada denies LTD claims?

Common reasons include alleged insufficient medical evidence, a finding that you are not totally disabled, a claim that you can do sedentary work, an opinion that your condition should improve, or concerns about treatment gaps or missed follow-ups.
2. What does “insufficient medical evidence” usually mean?

It usually means the insurer is saying your records do not clearly show how your condition limits your ability to work. In LTD claims, diagnosis alone is often not enough. The evidence needs to show function, reliability, stamina, focus, and whether you can sustain work consistently.
3. What does it mean when Securian says I can do “sedentary work”?

It usually means the insurer is focusing on tasks you may be able to do in theory, while giving less weight to whether you can do them reliably, repeatedly, and for a full workweek. That is why evidence about attendance, pain flare-ups, fatigue, focus, and recovery time matters so much.
4. What is the difference between “own occupation” and “any occupation”?

During the early stage of many LTD claims, the test is often whether you can perform the duties of your own occupation. Later, usually after the change-of-definition date, the test may become whether you can work in any occupation suited to your education, training, and experience. That change can make benefits harder to keep.
5. How long do I have to appeal an LTD denial in Ontario?
6. What evidence matters most in an LTD appeal?

Strong LTD appeals are built on evidence that shows how your condition affects your real-world ability to work. That can include updated doctor letters, specialist notes, employer records, failed return-to-work attempts, and a clear record of symptoms, restrictions, and reliability issues. Function often matters more than labels alone.
7. What should I ask my doctor to include in a supporting letter?

A strong letter should explain your specific restrictions and limitations, how often symptoms occur, how long they last, how they affect focus or stamina, and whether you can realistically sustain work on a regular basis. The more specific the functional detail, the more useful the evidence becomes.
8. Do I have to attend an IME if Securian requests one?

If Securian requests an independent medical exam, take the request seriously. These exams can play a major role in the insurer’s decision. It is important to prepare carefully, stay accurate and consistent, and understand that the results may be used against your claim if they are not properly addressed.
9. Can Securian use surveillance or social media against me?

Yes. Surveillance and social media can be used by insurers to question the severity of your limitations. A short moment caught on video does not automatically prove full-time work capacity, but it can still affect how the insurer frames your claim. Consistency matters.
10. Should I file an internal appeal or speak to a lawyer first?

That depends on the policy, the denial reasons, the deadline, and the evidence already in the file. An internal appeal may make sense when missing documents can be fixed quickly or the denial is based on a misunderstanding. Early legal advice becomes more important when deadlines are tight, the insurer relied on an adverse review, surveillance is involved, or the claim is moving into an any-occupation stage.

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