Press Release: Sun Life Financial
December 12, 2001
WELLESLEY HILLS, MA -- Sun Life Financial yesterday announced it has signed a unique marketing agreement with Assist
America, Inc., the nation's largest provider of global emergency medical travel assistance services through employee
benefit plans. As of February 1, 2002, Assist America's comprehensive global services will be included with new
group life policies written through Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, a member of the Sun Life Financial group
of companies. It will be included with existing group life policies beginning with March 2002 renewals.
Assist America's programs allow insured employees and their families to access a worldwide network of more than
600,000 pre-qualified medical providers when traveling more than 100 miles away from home. They can call Assist
America 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for advice.
``Employees and their families can now take comfort knowing that if they become ill or injured while traveling,
they can get timely, quality medical care anywhere in the world,'' said Michael E. Shunney, Vice President of Sun
Life Financial's Group Insurance Division. ``Many people don't know how or where to seek medical and personal care
when they are away from home. Now with one simple phone call employees can get the answers they need.''
Through services provided by Assist America, covered employees will have access to medical consultation and evaluation,
medical referrals to trained multilingual medical personnel, hospital admission guarantee, critical care monitoring,
and if medically necessary, evacuation to the nearest facility that can appropriately treat the situation.
If an employee is traveling alone and will be hospitalized for more than seven days, Assist America will transport
a friend or family member to his or her location. If minor children are left alone as a result of an employee's
medical situation, Assist America will provide the children with transportation back to their residence or to a
designated family member. If an escort is needed, Assist America will provide one at no cost. Assist America also
helps employees fill prescriptions using local physicians and pharmacies. Some of its other clients include the
American Medical Association, DreamWorks, Mobil-Exxon and Yamaha Motor Corp.
``We are pleased to be associated with a forward thinking organization like Sun Life Financial,'' said George W.
Howard III, President of Assist America. ``As a premier provider of core employee benefit products, Sun Life Financial
recognizes the importance of enhancing their basic group life policy to meet the immediate needs of their clients.
Our emergency medical assistance program is an expanding membership benefit that affords employers peace of mind
knowing they are providing for their employees.''
About Sun Life Financial
Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of wealth
accumulation and protection products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Tracing its roots back
to 1871, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including the United
States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India and Bermuda. As of September
30, 2001, the Sun Life Financial group of companies has total assets under management of US $189 billion. Sun Life
Financial Services of Canada Inc. (NYSE: SLC) trades on the New York, Toronto (TSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock
exchanges under ticker symbol ``SLC'', and on the London Stock Exchange under ticker symbol ``SFC''.
In the U.S., the Sun Life Financial group of companies sells a wide variety of innovative products including group
and individual life insurance, group disability and medical stop-loss insurance, individual fixed and variable
annuities, investment products and mutual funds. Visit www.sunlife-usa.com
for more information.
About Assist America
Assist America, Inc., based in Princeton, New Jersey, is the nation's largest provider of global medical travel
assistance services through employee benefit plans. More than 150,000 American companies and enterprises and more
than 14 million people are protected worldwide. Benefits apply for people traveling 100 miles or more away from
home, and include a global network of over 600,000 pre-qualified medical providers. For more information about
Assist America, please visit www.assistamerica.com.
SOURCE: Sun Life Financial