Right in the centre - Finding facts takes work
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- Published on Friday, July 2, 2021
By Ken Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press
In nearly 32 years of writing columns and stories, it is abundantly clear that we need newspapers more and more every day. There’s a lot of information floating around about every topic under the sun. Perhaps more than any other issue, C-19 has generated more information, both true and false, than any other topic I have ever covered.
We get reports from at least three layers of government in Canada and multiple layers of government in the U.S., coupled with numerous departments, universities, think tanks and lobby groups, I would guess that more words have been written, or spoken, about C-19 than just about any other topic in history.
Getting the facts is important, so I was particularly thankful to a reader who phoned me early this week and asked me if I had heard the following story.
He said he had heard that if people voluntarily got a COVID-19 vaccination, their life insurance policy would not be valid. If vaccination was mandated to an individual, it wouldn’t affect their life insurance. I thought the rumour was a bit far-fetched, but here is an explanation of how it started. Apparently, my reader friend wasn’t alone. A lot of people had heard the same story.
So, hearing that story, I went directly to one of our insurance people and here is what Scott Wilson, of Intent Planning, had to say.
“Hi Ken,
I’m glad you asked, because the rumours are entirely wrong and need to be corrected.
What happened was, a client called Manulife and asked if they would be covered after receiving the vaccine. Whoever was working in the call centre that day, gave the wrong information and said they wouldn’t be covered. The client was actually mis-advised over the phone they would not payout because the vaccine was experimental, and this has been shared extensively on social media. That client has since posted on social media a written letter from Manulife, stating, ‘the COVID-19 vaccination in no way negatively impacts current policies or coverage’. Here is a link to the fact check: https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-manulife-covidvaccine-idUSL1N2LH23I
Canada Life’s policy states:
“In recent weeks, we’ve received questions pertaining to risks of claim eligibility if a customer receives a COVID-19 vaccination. When a COVID-19 vaccine has been given by an authorized health professional, side-effects or complications from the vaccine would not limit an individual’s eligibility. Government-approved COVID-19 vaccinations are tested to make sure they’re safe and effective. While some people have reported side effects after being immunized with a COVID-19 vaccine in Canada, those side effects aren’t necessarily related to the vaccine.”
Here is a link to the full web page: https://www.canadalife.com/about-us/how-canada-life-is-supporting-you-during-covid-19.html
The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association’s (CLHIA) website also reiterates:
‘Contrary to misinformation being shared online, receiving a COVID-19 vaccine will have no effect on the ability to obtain coverage or benefits from life insurance or supplementary health insurance.’
Here is a link to the full webpage: https://www.clhia.ca/web/CLHIA_LP4W_LND_Webstation.nsf/page/CFFB22AA8524D58385258692004DDFFC!OpenDocument
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Scott Wilson”
If you have any other stories or rumours you would like The Banner & Press to check out, call me (Ken) at 204-476-6214 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Micah at 204-328-7494 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the writer’s personal views and are not to be taken as being the view of the Banner & Press staff.
