Published
June 5, 2026
Updated
July 9, 2026
If you held a MetLife Universal Plus or Flexiplus universal life policy in Canada, you may share in this proposed $213.5 million settlement — here is who qualifies and why OptiMet holders are left out.
What Is the Sun Life MetLife Class Action Settlement About?
A proposed class action settlement has been reached in litigation involving certain individual life insurance policies sold by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of Canada, also known as MetLife, in the 1980s and 1990s.The class action concerns three types of universal life insurance policies: Universal Plus, Flexiplus and Optimet. According to the certified class action notice, the lawsuit alleges that certain cost of insurance charges and administration fees were adjusted contrary to the policy contracts, allegedly causing some policyholders to pay more than they should have.
The case also involves the meaning of the "Maximum Premium" number listed in certain policies. Plaintiffs contend that this number represented the highest annual premium a policyholder would ever have to pay to keep the policy in force.
The policies were originally sold by MetLife in Canada from 1987 through 1998. They were later administered by Mutual Life Assurance Company of Canada, Clarica Life Insurance Company and Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada.
Sun Life denies wrongdoing. The parties reached an agreement in principle to resolve the class action, but the settlement is still subject to court approval.
Status
Settlement Approval Pending
settlement in principle announced · court approval still required
Settlement Amount
Up to $213.5 Million
proposed total settlement value for eligible policyholders if approved
Claim Deadline
Not Announced
no claim form has been posted yet
Proof Required
Policy Records May Help
keep policy documents, statements, premium notices and Sun Life or MetLife letters
Who Qualifies?
The class action was certified on behalf of three national subclasses involving policies sold by MetLife in Canada during the period 1987 through 1998. Being a member of one of these subclasses is not the same as receiving money: under the proposed settlement, only Universal Plus and Flexiplus policyholders are in line for compensation. According to the official class action website, OptiMet policyholders will not receive benefits under the settlement, though they remain part of the certified class.Universal Plus Class
You may be included if you owned or currently own a Universal Plus policy sold by MetLife in Canada during the period 1987 through 1998, including successor owners of the policy.Flexiplus Class
You may be included if you owned or currently own a Flexiplus policy sold by MetLife in Canada during the period 1987 through 1998, including successor owners of the policy, and the monthly cost of insurance and/or monthly administration fee was increased in one or more of 2001, 2006, 2015 or the ninth year of the policy.OptiMet Class
You may be included in the certified class if you owned or currently own an OptiMet policy sold by MetLife in Canada during the period 1987 through 1998, including successor owners of the policy, where an increased cost of insurance rate was charged and paid starting in year nine of the policy. Note, however, that the official class action website states OptiMet policyholders will not receive monetary benefits under the proposed settlement.How Much Can You Get?
The official class action website says the proposed settlement provides up to $213.5 million in total value.Exact individual payment amounts have not been announced. If the settlement is approved, compensation may depend on the type of policy, whether the policy is current or former, policy history, charges paid and the final settlement terms approved by the court.
According to the official class action website, the proposed settlement would provide direct monetary compensation to certain current and former Flexiplus policyholders for a portion of past cost of insurance and administration fee increases, and to certain current and former Universal Plus policyholders for a portion of the cost of insurance charges paid in excess of the "Maximum Premium" amounts set out in their policies.
The proposed settlement also includes non-cash relief for current policyholders: a freeze on cost of insurance rates and administration fees for current Flexiplus policyholders, and a cap on future cost of insurance charges for current Universal Plus policyholders.
OptiMet policyholders will not receive benefits under the proposed settlement, according to the official class action website.
Can You File a Claim Now?
No. A claim form has not been announced yet.The settlement has been reached in principle, but it is not final. The settlement and notice to class members are still subject to court approval.
Class members can review the official class action website and register their information with class counsel to receive updates about future developments.
Do You Need Proof?
The official claim process has not been posted yet. Because this case involves specific life insurance policies, policyholders should keep any documents that may help confirm ownership, successor ownership, policy type, payment history or charges.Useful records may include policy documents, annual statements, premium notices, letters from MetLife, Mutual Life, Clarica or Sun Life, proof of successor ownership and records showing cost of insurance or administration fee charges.
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What Is the Court Approval Date?
The settlement approval hearing is scheduled for September 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.Until the court approves the settlement, the settlement is not final and payments cannot move forward.
Can You Opt Out?
The opt-out deadline listed in the certified class action notice was September 17, 2021.Class members who did not opt out by that deadline generally remain part of the class action and will be bound by the result, including any court-approved settlement.
Key Dates
• 1987 through 1998: MetLife sold the affected Universal Plus, Flexiplus and Optimet policies in Canada.• September 5, 2018: The Ontario Court of Appeal certified the lawsuit as a national class action (Fehr v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2018 ONCA 718).
• February 20, 2020: The Ontario Superior Court of Justice settled the certification order.
• September 17, 2021: Opt-out deadline passed.
• April 30, 2026: Sun Life announced a settlement in principle valued at up to $213.5 million.
• June 2, 2026: The official class action website posted the settlement details, including confirmation that OptiMet policyholders will not receive benefits.
• August 31, 2026: Deadline to send Class Counsel written submissions supporting or opposing the settlement.
• September 8, 2026: Settlement approval hearing scheduled.
What Should Policyholders Do Now?
Policyholders who believe they may be included should review their life insurance records and confirm whether they owned a Universal Plus, Flexiplus or Optimet policy sold by MetLife in Canada between 1987 and 1998.Class members can also visit the official class action website to review case updates and register their information with class counsel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for the Sun Life MetLife class action settlement?
The class action involves certain Universal Plus, Flexiplus and OptiMet life insurance policies sold by MetLife in Canada between 1987 and 1998 and later administered by Sun Life. Under the proposed settlement, only current and former Universal Plus and Flexiplus policyholders receive monetary compensation. According to the official class action website, OptiMet policyholders will not receive benefits under the settlement.Is the settlement approved?
No. The parties reached an agreement in principle, but the settlement and notice to class members remain subject to court approval.How much is the proposed settlement?
The proposed settlement provides up to $213.5 million in total value, subject to court approval and final settlement terms.Can policyholders file a claim now?
Not yet. No claim form has been announced. Class members can review the official website and register for updates while the court approval process continues.What is the next important date?
The settlement approval hearing is scheduled for September 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.Sources
• Official Class Action Website: SunLifeClassAction.com• Case Updates: Sun Life Class Action Updates
• Sun Life Announcement: Sun Life Reaches Settlement in Principle to Resolve Class Action
Related Cost-of-Insurance Settlements
Other universal life insurance cases involve similar claims that cost of insurance or administration charges were raised beyond what the policies allowed:• Kansas City Life $40M Cost-of-Insurance Settlement
• Pacific Life PDX Insurance Settlement
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Settlement Amount
Up to $213.5 million
Case Title
Fehr v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
Case Number
2018 ONCA 718 (certification)
Court
Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Final Approval Hearing
September 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
Covered Policies
Universal Plus, Flexiplus and OptiMet policies sold by MetLife in Canada from 1987 through 1998
Only Universal Plus and Flexiplus policyholders are compensated under the proposed settlement; OptiMet policyholders receive no benefits
Class Counsel
Kim Spencer McPhee Barristers P.C.
Claim Deadline
Not announced
Proof Required
Claim process not yet announced
Official Website
SunLifeClassAction.com
