Manulife is offering eligible life insurance customers a discount to early cancer detection testing at Medcan clinics in Toronto and Oakville, Ont., the insurance giant announced Monday.
Those owning eligible individual life insurance policies, aged 50 and above, and enrolled in Manulife’s Vitality Plus program will receive 50% off the $1,895 price of the Grail Galleri test that can detect 50 types of cancer, such as breast, colorectal and lung cancer, before symptoms appear.
“We’ve advanced significantly in treatment, but many cancers are still detected at later stages and survival drops significantly,” Paul Savage, head of individual insurance at Manulife, said in an interview. “When caught at stage one, survival rates for common cancers are greater than 90%.”
The Grail Galleri test detects cancer signals based on a single blood draw and can identify the region of the body that it’s coming from, Savage said. It can detect signals for cancers that currently have no other testing options, such as pancreatic cancer.
Savage added that the Grail Galleri test should be used in addition to regular screening for common cancers like breast and colon cancer.
If the test detects a cancer signal, customers will be directed to contact their doctor for additional diagnostic testing. “Medcan will provide follow-up support, including consultations with their medical team and guidance on next steps,” Manulife said in an email.
“From an insurance perspective, a positive Galleri result does not automatically constitute a formal diagnosis. However, if follow-up testing confirms a cancer diagnosis, that information may become relevant for future insurance applications or claims, depending on the policy and timing,” the insurer said.
“For Manulife Vitality customers with existing insurance policies, individual test results will not be shared with Manulife. It will not impact existing insurance coverage, pricing or Manulife Vitality program status. However, test results may be accessed as part of our regular claim evaluation process, if relevant. When applying for new insurance, as with any new insurance application, it is the duty of the applicant to disclose all medical testing results, including the Galleri test.”
Manulife began using the Grail Galleri tests in 2022 when its U.S. insurance unit John Hancock started providing the discount to life insurance and retirement plan customers.
While the offer is currently only available to individual insurance customers, Manulife is working to expand the test availability to clients in other lines of business and other parts of Canada, Savage said. Eligible customers living outside the Greater Toronto Area can travel to Toronto or Oakville to use the discount.
Clients who can get early cancer detection are more likely to live longer, Savage added. “It’s also a big win for us if they deal with their cancer [earlier]. If they improve their health, … they’re less likely to claim or they’re more likely to claim later, which is a financial benefit for us.”