Class Action - Desjardins Cancer Coverage
The period to file a claim has ended
The period to file a claim ended on February 22, 2024.
If you are part of the group covered by the Court judgment of February 19, 2024, you should have received a notice by email. The claim period for this limited group ended on March 8, 2024.
Notice relating to premiums that continue to be charged
Please note that if premiums continue to be taken in your account for this Cancer protection, they will be included in the reimbursement cheques that will be mailed in late April 2024.
Notice to review your Junk email folder
The Claims Administrator will analyze your claim in the next few weeks to ensure its validity, and will determine whether you are a Class Member and whether you meet the eligibility requirements.
A Notice of Decision will be sent to notify you of the approval or rejection of your claim. Please check your Junk email folder if you do not receive it. The payment of accepted claims will be made by cheque by the end of April 2024.
Do you hold or have you held a Savings‑Life Insurance policy with Desjardins Sécurité Financière to which a premium for cancer diagnostic coverage was automatically added on June 1, 2016? You may be entitled to compensation, which you can claim now.
On July 9, 2019, the Superior Court of Québec (the “Court”) authorized Option consommateurs (the “Authorization”) to institute a class action against Desjardins Sécurité Financière, Compagnie d’assurance‑vie (“DSF”) on the grounds that on June 1, 2016, it added cancer diagnosis coverage (“Cancer Protection”) to Desjardins members’ savings‑life insurance (the “Savings‑Life Insurance”) and increased their premiums without their consent (the “Class Action”).
Please be advised that as part of its mandate as Court appointed claims administrator, EY may discuss certain information with you to assist you to better understand the class action claims process and how it affects you personally. At no time will EY request any information relating to your Social Insurance Number. Should you be contacted by parties seeking such information, be advised that these are not authorized representatives of the Claims Administrator and you should not share any information with them.
You are entitled to a refund of premiums paid for Cancer Protection between June 1, 2016, and November 24, 2023, if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You had subscribed to a Savings-Life Insurance related to your Desjardins account prior to June 1, 2016, to which DSF automatically added Cancer Protection on or around June 1, 2016;
- You have never made an insurance claim under Cancer Protection;
- You did not request and benefit from the mitigation measures offered by DSF in or around December 2017 (see Question 9 of the FAQ for more details); and
- You confirm that you never wanted Cancer Protection and wish to waive it so that your original Savings‑Life Insurance will be reinstated without Cancer Protection (see Questions 10 to 12 of the FAQ for more details). You can make a claim even if you no longer have Savings‑Life Insurance with DSF; in this case, you will have to waive Cancer Protection for the past and any potential future claims.
Since the Authorization of the Class Action, Option consommateurs has entered into a settlement agreement with DSF to settle the Class Action (the “Settlement Agreement”).
To take effect, the Settlement Agreement must be approved by the Court. A court hearing to this effect is scheduled for December 4, 2023.
This web site presents the information and relevant documentation to this Class Action and the Settlement Agreement thereof.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
This is a summary of the official documents related to the Class Action concerning the automatic addition of cancer diagnosis coverage to Desjardins Members’ Savings‑Life Insurance on June 1, 2016. In the event of any conflict or discrepancy between these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and the Settlement Agreement, the latter shall prevail.
Downloads/Additional information
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Order Approving the Settlement and the Lawyers' Fees – December 18, 2023 (in French)
- Short Form Notice - October 25, 2023
- Judgment Granting the Preliminary Orders Sought for the Approval Hearing of the Settlement Agreement – September 19, 2023 (in French)
- Settlement Agreement – September 18, 2023 (in French)
- Judgment Authorizing the Institution of the Class Action – July 9, 2019 (in French)
Make a claim
The period to file a claim has ended.
