Customer care

How to buy life insurance 

How do I purchase a Foresters Financial life insurance product?
Foresters Financial™ life insurance and annuity products are available through our network of independent advisors. If you have an insurance agent, simply ask about Foresters products. If you do not have an advisor, contact us and we would be happy to introduce you to someone in your area.

Where do I find the prices for your life insurance products? How much are they?

The cost of life insurance payments depends on many factors including the amount of coverage you want, your age, financial situation, and other lifestyle factors. To get an idea of how much coverage you may need, try our life insurance calculator

What are the steps involved in buying life insurance?

There are three main steps involved in buying life insurance:

1. You will need to complete an application which asks for basic information, such as your name and address and often asks for personal information such as height, weight, health, lifestyle and financial details. 
2. Depending on the product you choose, you may also be required to have an in-person medical exam in which a licensed healthcare professional will take samples and ask further questions about lifestyle and medical history. Insurance providers may also order your medical records for review. 
3. Finally, the insurance provider will review your application to determine your risk and your premiums and if your application is approved, they will issue you a policy. 

Payments and Premiums

How can I arrange for pre-authorized payments?

You can complete our pre-authorized chequing (PAC) form here and return it to us.

If I would like to start direct billing, what frequency is available?

You can select direct billing on a quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis.

When will I receive my billing notice?

Billing notices are mailed 1 month prior to your due date.

If I have already authorized Foresters Financial to take first premiums on the application, why do I need to authorize it again on the delivery receipt my advisor gives me when they bring the contract package?

We need delivery receipts whenever a change is made to the original policy. We request your authorization to take the premium payments again, just to ensure you agree with the change.

How do I change my banking information?

To change your banking information, mail or fax a letter along with a pre-authorized chequing (PAC form) to Foresters

Why was there a delay taking the funds from my account?

If your draft date falls on a weekend then the funds will be taken out on the next business day.

My application for life insurance

How can I get a summary of my MIB report?

You can obtain a copy of your The MIB report at no charge by contacting MIB toll-free at 866 692 6901 or request a copy online at https://www.mib.com/disclosuretransfer/disclosureservice/formrequest.

My certificate

Where can I find information about my member benefits?

To find out about your member benefits¹ as well as upcoming events in your area, sign up or log in to MyForesters.com or call 800 828 1540.

How do I make changes to my existing Foresters certificate?
If you want to make any changes to your Foresters insurance you should first contact your life insurance agent. You may also contact our Member Service Centre at 800 828 1540.

Membership

What is Foresters membership?

At Foresters Financial we’re proud to help everyday families achieve long-term financial health and security. But we’re so much more than an international financial services provider. Through our heritage as a fraternal benefit society, we provide over one million members with access to valuable member benefits and an opportunity to give back through volunteering opportunities that directly affect local communities.

Who are Foresters Members?

In Canada, Foresters members are anyone insured under a life or health insurance policy issued by The Independent Order of Foresters, or insured under a life insurance policy issued by Foresters Life Insurance Company after April 1, 2008.   To find out more about becoming a member talk to your life insurance agent.

Submitting a claim

How do I submit a life insurance claim?

To start, call our toll-free claims number at 800 828 1540 to report the death. Our hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday to Friday. A claims customer service representative will help you complete your claim. To do this, they will need the name of the insured, the date and cause of death and the name, address, and telephone number of the person who should be contacted. Then, we will send you a claim package to complete.

What information do I need to submit a claim?

To submit a claim, the beneficiary needs to complete a claimant’s statement and provide a certified death certificate (medical authorization will also be required on contestable claims). If the death is due to an accident or homicide, the beneficiary should also provide a copy of the police report and/or the coroner’s report. Additional medical information may be necessary on contestable claims (be sure to complete the names/addresses of the physicians who attended or prescribed for the deceased during the past 5 years).

What is a claimant’s statement?

A claimant’s statement contains two sections; one section is for information about the deceased and the other section is for medical information (used for contestable claims). All beneficiaries (or executor/trustee/guardian if applicable) must complete a claimant’s statement. 

How do I obtain a certified death certificate?

Most funeral homes will help the family of the deceased obtain a certified death certificate. You can also apply for this document on the deceased’s provincial or territorial government website. Certified death certificates have either a raised seal or a multicolored signature seal from the city or province that issued the certificate. In addition, the original death certificate should contain the signature of an appropriate officer of the county, city or state.

How are claims paid?

Claims can be paid by cheque to the beneficiary’s address which is provided on the claimant’s statement. 

Beneficiaries

Who is a beneficiary?

A beneficiary is the person (or other party) who has been designated to receive the life insurance proceeds upon the death of the insured person. The beneficiary is named in the insurance application when a policy is taken out and can be changed at the request of the policy owner.  

What is a contingent beneficiary?

A contingent beneficiary is the person or party who has been designated to receive the life insurance policy proceeds if the primary beneficiary should die before the person whose life is insured.

What happens if the beneficiary is an estate?

When the beneficiary is an estate, the court-appointed executor should submit a complete claimant’s statement, certified death certificate (medical authorization if applicable) and a copy of the court papers appointing the individual as the executor of the estate.

What happens if the beneficiary is a trust?

When the beneficiary is a trust, the trustee should submit the complete claimant’s statement, a certified death certificate (medical authorization if applicable) and a copy of the trust agreement.

What happens if the beneficiary is a minor child?

When the beneficiary is a child under the age of majority (this varies according to the province of residency), guardianship papers must be submitted with the claimant’s statement and certified death certificate (medical authorization if applicable).

Fraternal benefit societies

What is a fraternal benefit society?

A fraternal benefit society is a not-for-profit organization that unites individuals with a common bond and provides mutual aid programs for the benefit of its members and the broader community. 

How do fraternal benefit societies operate?

In addition to sharing a common bond, fraternal benefit societies:

• Operate on a not-for-profit basis which means profits can be used towards fulfilling their common bond

• Have a representative form of government with a Board of Directors that is elected by members

• Provide life insurance and annuity benefits to their members as part of their purpose

How are fraternal benefit societies organized?

Fraternal benefit societies are organized into a system of lodges or branches. Through their branches, members have input into decisions that impact their branch and the whole organization. They can also participate in the election of the Board of Directors through the fraternal representative form of government.

How are the members of Foresters Financial organized?

Foresters members have a three-tiered form of representative government:

• Branches – You become a member of a Branch when you become a member.  Members can participate in the elections of Branch Councillors who in turn elect the Branch President and Vice President.
• Regional Assembly – Branches belong to a Regional Assembly which is organized geographically. All Branch Councillors are members of the Regional Assembly to which their Branch belongs. The Regional Assembly elects the Regional Council and Regional President.
• International Assembly – The International Assembly meets every four years to elect the Board of Directors, which is responsible for overseeing the business and fraternal affairs of Foresters. The Assembly also elects the International Fraternal President and the International Fraternal Vice President. 

How are fraternal benefit societies regulated?

As a Canadian-based fraternal benefits society, Foresters is regulated for solvency by the Canadian federal regulator, Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI). Foresters is also regulated for solvency in the US through its state of entry, New York.

Getting in touch with us

What is your phone number?

You can reach us toll-free at 800 828 1540

What is your fax number?

Our toll-free fax number is 877 329 4631

What are your hours of operation?

Our hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday.

What is your mailing address?

789 Don Mills Road
Toronto, ON
M3C 1T9

How long does it take for Foresters Financial to receive mail?

Although it varies depending on the sender’s location, regular post office mailing is 7 to 10 business days.

¹ Description of member benefits that you may receive assumes that you are a Foresters member. Foresters member benefits are non-contractual, subject to benefit  specific Eligibility requirements, Definitions and limitations and may be changed or cancelled without notice. 

• Life insurance made simple 

• Advantage Plus - For every stage of life 

• Guide to participating whole life insurance 

• Term life insurance - For a flexible foundation 

Unclaimed property generally refers to funds or assets that have been forgotten or gone unclaimed for an extended period of time. In the life insurance context, it can include the death benefit, maturity value, or a cheque sent to you that was not cashed.

If you believe you are the owner of unclaimed property being held by The Independent Order of Foresters or Foresters Life Insurance Company, or are acting on behalf of someone who has this belief, and would like us to investigate then please contact Foresters Financial at 800-828-1540 and a representative will contact you within five business days to find out more information about your circumstances.

British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec have laws requiring the holders of unclaimed property make reasonable efforts to locate and contact their rightful owners, if their last known address was in one of these provinces. For more information on provincial laws on unclaimed property, please visit the applicable provincial government website:

• For British Columbia residents - unclaimedpropertybc.ca 
• For Alberta residents unclaimedproperty.alberta.ca 
• For Quebec residents- revenuquebec.ca/en/bnr/pfnr/

We offer quality insurance products to meet your financial requirements. Our staff and independent insurance brokers are available to answer any questions or requests for information about your financial products.

Occasionally, you may believe your request for service or for a specific transaction did not meet your expectations or was not handled correctly. If your insurance broker cannot help you resolve your concern, we encourage you to contact us. 

Step one – Contact us

You can tell us about your problem or concern by telephone, fax or in writing. If you telephone, we may request that you express your thoughts in writing. We’re easy to contact.

Toll-free  800-828-1540

Foresters
789 Don Mills Rd.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M3C 1T9

Attention:  Customer Complaints             

How will the complaint be handled?

• We will acknowledge all complaints within five (5) business days.
• It is our goal to resolve all complaints as quickly as possible after investigating the circumstances, typically within thirty (30) days.
• If the details of the complaint are incomplete, we may request additional information to ensure the satisfactory handling of the complaint. If necessary, the complaint resolution period may be extended.
• A confidential complaint file will be opened and all information will be maintained in accordance with the privacy standards of the company and the jurisdiction where you reside.
• Be assured that your request will be treated with respect and a thorough explanation of the investigation and procedure will be provided, in writing, to the policy/certificate owner.  

Step two:  Our Ombudsman

If, after bringing it to our attention, you feel we have not resolved your complaint to your satisfaction, you are welcome to contact the Company Ombudsman.

Valerie Howes
416-467-2498
vhowes@foresters.com

Step three:  Contact the OmbudService for Life & Health Insurance

If we can’t address your complaints, you can contact the OmbudService for Life and Health Insurance /Ombudsman des assurances de personnes (OLHI/OAP). The Ombudservice is a national independent complaint resolution service for Canadian life and health insurance consumers. 

Toronto

Toll-free  888-295-8112
Local 416-777-9002
Fax 416-777-9750
Web olhi.ca

401 Bay Street
Suite 1507
P. O. Box 7,
Toronto, Ontario M5H 2Y4 

Montreal

Toll-free  866-582-2088
Local  514-282-2088
Fax  514-285-4076
Web  olhi.ca  

2001 University Street
17^th Floor
Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A6    

Other resources

You can also choose to contact your provincial regulator.  For example, if you live in Quebec, you can write to ask us to transfer your complaint to the Autorite des marches financiers for their review. 

Also, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) supervises federally regulated financial institutions like Foresters Life, to ensure they comply with federal consumer protection laws.  For more information about the FCAC, please visit their website at www.fcac-acfc.gc.ca or write to them at 427 Laurier Ave. West, 6th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 1B9.