Insurance company denies claim after woman suffers stroke during childbirth

Jennifer Wilson has been unable to work after suffering a stroke in March 2011. Her mortgage insurance company refuses to approve her claim, citing the type of stroke she suffered

An Airdrie woman finds herself battling her insurance company after she suffered an injury that left her unable to work and unable to make her mortgage payments.

For the last three years, Jennifer Wilson has fought TD Insurance after she suffered a stroke while delivering her child in March of 2011. Wilson’s mortgage insurance policy lists strokes as a covered event but the company refuses to pay.

Wilson and her husband purchased a home while she was employed as an elementary school teacher. At the advice of their bank, TD Canada Trust, the couple purchased mortgage insurance should an unforeseen circumstance occur.

“They said when we got the house, buy this mortgage protection, in case the worst happens, and then it did,” said Wilson. “We were devastated but after, we got over the shock we thought we're ok, we protected ourselves.”

“Now the fight with TD has become bigger than the stroke.”

The claim was escalated to TD’s ombudsman in the hope the agency would change its stance on Wilson’s claim. The ombudsman sent Wilson a letter indicating her denial was due to the fact her stroke damaged the pituitary gland, which regulates hormones, and not her brain itself.

A frustrated Wilson contacted CTV Calgary Consumer Watch reporter Lea Williams-Doherty who approached TD Insurance for further explanation on the denial over what appeared to be a technicality.

In an email, a TD spokesperson stated:

“Our policy covers cerebrovascular strokes, which means strokes that occur in the brain. This specific kind of stroke can have immediate and critical health consequences. Because our customer did not suffer a cerebrovascular stroke, she was not eligible for coverage – which you’ll find is aligned with industry standard.”

Wilson has hired legal representation and will take her claim against TD Insurance to court.

With files from CTV's Lea Williams-Doherty