How much is the proposed Sun Life MetLife settlement?

The official class action website says the proposed settlement provides up to $213.5 million in value, subject to court approval and final settlement terms.

$213.5M Sun Life MetLife Class Action Settlement (2026)

Q: Can policyholders file a claim now?

No claim form has been announced yet. Class members can review the official class action website and register their information for updates.

By Steve Levine

Sun Life MetLife life insurance class action settlement

Published: June 5, 2026

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

How Do I Find Class Action Settlements?

Find all the latest class actions you can qualify for by getting notified of new lawsuits as soon as they are open to claims:

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.
• 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. Eligibility depends on the policy type and subclass definition.

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

Filing Class Action Settlement Claims

Class action claim forms are submitted under penalty of perjury. Please submit only truthful information. Fraudulent claims can be rejected and reduce the funds available to legitimately affected class members. If you are not sure whether you qualify, review the eligibility details at the official settlement website above. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer news and class-action information site and is not the Settlement Administrator or a law firm; we do not process or decide claims.

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

Class Counsel Kim Spencer McPhee Barristers P.C.

Claim Deadline Not announced

Proof Required Claim process not yet announced

Official Website SunLifeClassAction.com