As part of the 2014 Ontario budget, which was passed on July 24, 2014, the Ontario government proposed to amend the Insurance Act (Ontario) by requiring mandatory insurance of long-term disability (“LTD”) benefits provided by employers. The amendment prohibits the provision of LTD benefits by Ontario employers unless the benefits are provided through an insurance arrangement with a licensed insurer.

The purpose of the amendment is to protect recipients of LTD benefits from reductions in their benefits when their employer faces financial challenges. This change will be effective on a future date to be proclaimed. Terms and conditions, including limitations, restrictions and exemptions, may be set out in regulations to come.

The requirement to insure LTD benefits is not new. The federal government introduced a similar requirement for federally-regulated employers in 2012, which came into effect on July 1, 2014. The federal requirement is prospective meaning that LTD benefits that were in pay to employees on that date do not have to be insured.

Ontario employers with self-insured LTD benefit plans should consider insuring their plans in the near future, in anticipation of the change.

By: Heather Di Dio and Aiwen Xu

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