TELUS and Sun Life launch eClaims solution for extended healthcare providers in Atlantic Canada

Electronic system gives physiotherapists, chiropractors and visioncare providers the ability to submit claims online, expediting the process and leaving more time to spend with patients

ST. JOHN'S, Aug. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - Beginning today, extended healthcare providers in Atlantic Canada registered with TELUS Health eClaims service can submit claims electronically on behalf of their patients who are plan members with Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, and spend more time with their patients in the process.

This electronic alternative for physiotherapists, chiropractors and visioncare providers will see plan members receive their benefits payments faster or directly at the point-of-care, improving and enhancing client satisfaction. Plan sponsors will also benefit from Sun Life's powerful anti-fraud technology that tracks unusual claims patterns, thereby helping to decrease the risk of loss from fraud under their employee benefit plans.

Providers can use their own management system or a portal on a website managed by TELUS to submit eClaims. The system makes it easy for healthcare providers to submit eClaims quickly so that they can:

• Spend more time taking care of their clients
• Minimize plan members' out-of-pocket payments with reimbursement assigned to providers
• Better manage their billing and receivables activities
• Decrease the paperwork involved in manual preparation and submission of receipts or insurance forms, and
• Reduce their claims processing time and costs.

"Since we announced our agreement with TELUS Health in May, we have received a number of inquiries from providers located on the East Coast. Our plan sponsors have told us that they are eager to have another fast and easy method for electronic claims submission, which demonstrates the growing popularity and demand for convenient paperless options where providers can immediately submit claims on behalf of plan members at the point of service," said Michael Naugler, Director, Business Development, Group Benefits, Sun Life Financial.

Providers already registered with TELUS eClaims are automatically enrolled in the system. In alignment with Sun Life's paperless strategy, payments to providers will only be made via electronic funds transfer (EFT). To receive payment electronically from Sun Life and provide their patients with cost-savings at the time of service, providers simply submit their banking information to TELUS by completing a form found on the TELUS portal. Otherwise the payment will be issued to the plan member.

"We are excited to make eClaims available to Sun Life plan members in Atlantic Canada," said Luc Vilandre, vice president, Health Benefits Management, TELUS Health Solutions. "By working with our insurance customers and allied healthcare providers in Canada to enhance their clients' experience, we can help achieve better health outcomes for all Canadians."

TELUS is a leader in Canada's claims and benefits management sector, providing drug claims processing for over 10 million Canadians. TELUS Health eClaims, launched in 2010, has experienced rapid adoption by the extended healthcare community with over 10,000 providers now on board.

About Sun Life Financial
Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth accumulation products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Chartered in 1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China and Bermuda.  As of March 31, 2012, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $494 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

Note to Editors: All figures in Canadian dollars.

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Financial Inc. and a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies.

About TELUS Health
TELUS Health is a leader in telehomecare, electronic medical and health records, consumer health, benefits management and pharmacy management. Our solutions give health authorities, providers, physicians, patients and consumers the power to turn information into better health outcomes. For more information about TELUS Health, please visit www.telushealth.com.

SOURCE: TELUS Corporation

For media inquiries contact:

Elisabeth Napolano
TELUS Media Relations
416-906-9830
[email protected]

Nadine Ricketts
Sun Life Financial
416-408-8603
[email protected]