Bridges Initiative

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The world is changing fast.

[Logo] Sun Life 

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At Sun Life, we're changing with it.

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Our purpose in action: Bridges Initiative

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Through our Bridges initiative, we're closing gaps and creating paths to greater health and wealth for underserved communities.

Already in 2024, we've reached more than 29 million clients through solutions that target the needs of an underserved group.

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Term Insurance for Diabetes

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In Canada, our market leading term insurance for diabetes is unlocking access to affordable insurance for people living with diabetes.   

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DentaQuest

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In the US, DentaQuest is expanding access to affordable preventative dental care for millions,

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Life Insurance for ASHI

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and in the Philippines, a customized life insurance product is ensuring over 120,000 low-income women and families. We're innovating, finding new sources of growth, and accessing new markets to help more people achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives.

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These aren’t just solutions. They’re Bridges.

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These aren't just solutions, they're bridges, closing gaps and creating paths.

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Learn more in our 2024 Sustainability Report.

[Logo] Sun Life

The challenge:

Life insurance provides crucial financial security by covering living expenses, medical bills, debts and other costs in the event of death or an accident, protecting families from severe financial strain. Yet in the Philippines, less than 30% of the population has life insurance coverage⁶.

Underserved groups, especially women, have limited access to financial resources and are less likely to have life insurance, leaving them more vulnerable to the financial hardship after the loss of a loved one.

The initiative:

In 2025, Sun Life Grepa Financial Inc. expanded its mission to make affordable life insurance solutions more accessible by partnering with ASA Philippines Foundation. ASA Philippines Foundation (ASA) is a leading non-profit microfinance organization dedicated to uplifting underserved women and their families. With over 1,800 branches across the Philippines, ASA empowers women micro-entrepreneurs by providing microfinance and the support they need to achieve their dreams and aspirations.

The impact:

By the end of 2025, more than 240,000 members had enrolled in the program.  With a yearly premium of only PHP 1,500 (~$35), family coverage allows members to enroll up to five dependents, helping to increase the financial security of women and their families across the Philippines. 

The challenge:

The U.S. faces a significant shortage of dental providers specialized in caring for the elderly and people with disabilities, who have complex oral health needs. In Iowa, there is a dentist workforce shortage, particularly in rural areas, which significantly impacts elderly adults and patients with disability who already face substantial barriers to dental care. These challenges include a lack of specialized providers, limited Medicaid and Medicare coverage, and physical access barriers.

Oral diseases persist among the aging population and people with disabilities globally, and currently, the World Health Organization estimates that oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people. Despite improvements in high-income countries, concerns like caries remain active, especially among elderly adults retaining natural teeth. In addition, adults with disabilities face numerous risk factors that impede oral hygiene and access to dental care, increasing susceptibility to cavities.

The initiative:

Sun Life and DentaQuest have partnered with the University of Iowa College of Dentistry to support their Geriatric and Special Needs Certificate Program to help prepare dentists to be leaders and teachers in geriatric dentistry and dentistry for adults with specialized health care needs. The program offers comprehensive educational experiences that integrate clinical training with didactic learning across the full continuum of care – from preventative services to complex treatment planning for these vulnerable populations.

The impact:

From 2024 to 2025, this program served 3,824 patients, the majority of whom are Medicaid patients, and accumulated over 4,400 clinical visits. The program has also produced 19 graduates, contributing to faculty positions nationwide.