Looking for the best life insurance company in Canada? You might be overwhelmed with all the different options.
Only two out of every five Canadians have a group or employer-sponsored life insurance.
About half (49%) of this number have costly, whole-life insurance they might not need, while about one-third of the Canadian population doesn’t have any kind of life insurance.
This tells me that many Canadians are either not well-informed about life insurance or don’t want to deal with it.
I used to be a life insurance advisor with over 80 clients, and I understand that it’s a complex financial product. I will try to simplify what it is and shed some light on what I believe are the best life insurance companies in Canada.
- Easy online process
- One of the lowest term life insurance prices in the country
- The decision is instant and takes less than 10 minutes at most
- Helpful customer service
- A comprehensive range of insurance products
- A free and detailed comparison tool
- Instant quotes from up to 20+ insurance companies
- Easy, online approval process
- Wide range of life insurance policies
- Higher ceilings for death benefits
- A wide variety of riders
- Comprehensive and customizable permanent life insurance policies
Choosing The Right Life Insurance Company
Choosing the right life insurance company is just as important as choosing the right insurance policy. However, different considerations go into these two different choices.
Therefore, when you are going through the lists of some of the best life insurance companies in Canada and you are trying to figure out the best one for you, there are a few things you need to look into:
1. Financial Stability
You want your life insurance company to be financially robust so you can be assured that they will pay out.
There’s something called the A.M. best credit ratings, and if your life insurance company is B+ or above, it’s in good financial standing. You can check out the rating of your life insurance company here.
2. Right Insurance Policy (And Riders)
Almost all reputable life insurance companies will have a clear policy in place if you are simply looking for term life insurance. The “right policy” then would simply depend upon the cost-benefit analysis and the reputation of the life insurance company.
But if you are going for whole life insurance, you need to make sure the company has an ideal policy. You should look for one with a decent cash value element, a softer loaning policy, and numerous policy riders. The right company should also tailor your whole life insurance policy to your needs.
3. Cost
The cost can differ significantly between two different policy types, as some companies would have more expensive policies for either type, while others would have more affordable ones.
So, you have to determine whether the cost is justified. If there is virtually no difference between the payouts and the policy structure, simply going for the most affordable life insurance company is the pragmatic choice.
4. Reputation
As always, I recommend extensively researching the life insurance company you are about to choose. Look into their reviews and read through the experiences of previous clients.
Do the companies pay out the survivors immediately and smoothly? Do they try to cheat the survivors out of the death benefits on technicalities? How flexible are they about missing payments?
Best Life Insurance Companies In Canada
I have curated a few of the best life insurance companies in Canada based on the factors stated above (and a few more). The rates below are calculated using the online calculator of the life insurance companies based on a hypothetical candidate with the following characteristics:
- 40 years old
- Male
- Non-smoker
- An Ontario resident
- 20-year term policy or Whole life insurance policy
- Policy value: $1,000,000
Smokers tend to land at much higher rates than non-smokers. Still, we chose a non-smoker because only about 12% of Canadians smoke, so more people would find the non-smoker policy costs more relatable.
Males also tend to land at a higher rate than females. Furthermore, the higher your age, the costlier your policy is likely to be.
On the other hand, the reason for choosing a relatively high $1,000,000 policy amount (death benefit) is inflation. In twenty years or so, the purchasing power of one million dollars will be significantly less than what it is now.
The Best Online Life Insurance Companies In Canada
These days, you can save a lot of money by shopping with online life insurance providers. Since many of these online insurance brokers don’t maintain a traditional brick-and-mortar location, underwriting fees are often lower, allowing consumers to save more money.
Here are some of the best online life insurance providers in Canada.
1. PolicyMe
Insurance Types: Term life insurance only
Term Life Insurance Cost: $92.33/month for $1 Million (see assumptions above)
Whole Life Insurance Cost: N/A
Ratings: Website/Reviews.io: 4.84/5.00 (346 reviews)
Get a Free Quote: PolicyMe website
PolicyMe is on a mission to make the process of buying term life insurance significantly easier.
It started as an online platform that allowed Canadians to compare different insurance policies side-by-side.
Canadian Premier Life Insurance underwrites all the life insurance policies sold by PolicyMe. It has been operating in the country since 1955, has about $300 million in assets, and has a financial strength rating of A from A.M. Best.
The company also offers insurance policies issued by four other prominent names, including Canada Protection Plan and BMO Life Assurance.
PolicyMe is now Canada’s first completely online life insurance policy provider, which carries the same cost-benefit that digital banking does.
Since it doesn’t rely on a brick-and-mortar setup and a costly physical presence, it offers significantly cheaper life insurance policies compared to others. It also makes the process easier by cutting out brokers, medical professionals, and separate underwriters.
The term life insurance it provides offers fairly typical coverage. Your survivors get the death benefit in case of your early demise, regardless of the circumstances of your death (except suicide in the first two years of buying the policy).
- Easy online process
- One of the lowest term life insurance prices in the country
- The decision is instant and takes less than 10 minutes at most
- Helpful customer service
- 10% discounts for couples
- Free coverage for children (limited amount)
- No whole or universal life insurance
2. PolicyAdvisor
Insurance Types: Term life insurance, whole life insurance, disability insurance, and children’s insurance
Term Life Insurance Cost: $90.71/month for $1 Million (see assumptions above)
Whole Life Insurance Cost: $805.4/month for $1 Million (see assumptions above)
Ratings: Reviews.io: 5.00/5.00 (297 reviews) | Trustpilot: 4.7/5.00 (34 reviews)
Get a Free Quote: PolicyAdvisor website
If you are looking for the best life insurance companies in Canada, resources like this article can help.
But what might be even more helpful is getting a side-by-side comparison of several different insurance policies that Canadian life insurance companies are offering, and that’s where PolicyAdvisor comes into play.
It’s a life insurance policy search engine and tool that compares quotes from Canada’s 17 largest life insurance companies.
You can also consider it an online broker. The advice is commission-free, unbiased, and augmented by PolicyAdvisor’s online support.
The platform allows you to find the best rates for both term and whole-life insurance. It also provides several other insurance products, including disability insurance, but life insurance is still the platform’s primary offering.
The introductory price you get from the initial survey tends to be accurate since it’s based on the life insurance company’s calculators, so applicants need not worry about a different treatment once they pass the PolicyAdvisor’s layer and get to the insurance company directly.
The comparison tool is potent for whole-life insurance policies, where you can compare different policies with riders and features and find the right fit for yourself.
- A comprehensive range of insurance products
- a free and detailed comparison tool
- Unbiased advice
- Instant quotes from up to 20+ insurance companies
- Instant quotes from up to 17 life insurance companies
- Easy, online approval process
- Only licensed in Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba for life insurance policies
- Not ideal for applicants who prefer the old-fashioned way of buying life insurance policies
3. Manulife
Insurance Types: Term life insurance, whole life insurance, health insurance, etc.
Term Life Insurance Cost (for ten years): $174/month for $1 Million (see assumptions above)
Whole Life Insurance Cost: (No online calculator)
Manulife is an insurance giant. It’s the largest life insurance company in the country based on assets and has been serving the country for 130 years. It has a financial strength rating of A+ and has over $768.5 billion worth of assets under management, including its whole financial range, not just life insurance.
Manulife offers a wide range of life insurance policies. In the term life insurance segment, it has the basic CoverMe® insurance that offers individual coverage, family-focused term life insurance, and term life insurance that offers coverage for your business.
You can get up to $20 million in coverage for the business term insurance.
One unique term of life insurance by Manulife offers to reduce your premiums if you participate in certain health-related activities. Another term life insurance combines disability and critical illness coverage in the mix.
The permanent life insurance policies by Manulife are even more comprehensive and extensive in their nature and coverage. There are two basic policies, and the coverage starts from $25,000 and $100,000.
In one plan, you get an annual dividend as well, and you don’t need to pay premiums for life and can even opt for a 10-year or 20-year payment plan.
If you opt for the other plan, you can either keep paying till you are 100 or wrap it up in 15 years. There are also a wide variety of riders to choose from.
Despite being a relatively “conventional” insurance company, Manulife has made the process of obtaining life insurance online substantially easier, especially for term life insurance.
In addition, there are calculators that can help you determine the amount of coverage you need.
- Wide range of life insurance policies
- Higher ceilings for death benefits
- A wide variety of riders
- Easy process with reduced medical exam needs for term life insurance)
- Comprehensive and customizable permanent life insurance policies
- Amazing financial stability
- A discounted combined policy with two death benefits
- Fast approvals
- Finding the right policy can be difficult on your own
- Term life insurance costlier compared to pure online companies
- Weak online ratings
4. TermLite By Specialty Life
- Insurance Types: Term life insurance
- Term Life Insurance Cost: Around $250 per year for $1 Million (see assumptions above)
- Whole Life Insurance Cost: N/A
- Ratings: BBB: A+ (3 reviews) | TrustPilot: 4.4
- Get A Free Quote: TermLite website
TermLite offers an incredibly simple and practical term life insurance policy. TermLite policies are underwritten by Specialty Life, their parent company, which has an overall positive reputation.
Their “Term 20” life insurance policy is a 20-year term policy and is their best-selling product.
It’s primarily marketed towards applicants who are looking for mortgage coverage or new parents who want to make sure their kids are taken care of if anything happens before the parents reach adulthood.
One of the really good features that I’ve heard about TermLite is how easy their application and acceptance process is.
For one, they don’t require you to visit a doctor’s office or get a physical exam. The application process can be completed 100% online, without the need to visit agents either.
If, for any reason, you change your mind about your TermLite life insurance policy, they also feature a 10-day money-back guarantee. This extra peace of mind gives you the chance to cancel your policy or change it if you aren’t satisfied or rethink your decision.
Lastly, they have a 4.4-star rating on TrustPilot, which tends to be a really good sign when it comes to insurance companies.
- Quick and easy online application process
- Up to $1 million coverage
- No doctors exams or blood work required
- Available in 10, 20, 30, and 40 year terms
- Great online ratings
- 10-day money-back guarantee
- The entire process is online, so you’ll have to figure some things out for yourself
- Their monthly premium invoicing can be a bit confusing
5. Humania Assurance
- Insurance Types: Term life insurance (doesn’t require a medical exam)
- Term Life Insurance Cost: $159/month for $1 Million (see assumptions above)
- Whole Life Insurance Cost: N/A
- Ratings: TrustPilot Rating: 4.9
Humania Assurance is a wide-scale insurance company that offers individual, group, and company insurance policies.
They offer everything from accident insurance to mortgage insurance, and more. One of their more popular insurance packages are their life insurance products.
They offer several different term life insurance packages including Life Insurance Emma (a simple online-only enrollment policy), traditional term life insurance, and Insurance Without Medical Exam life insurance.
If you’re looking for something simple and easy, I’d recommend using the Life Insurance Emma product they offer. All you have to do is answer an online questionnaire, and you’ll be sent a personalized quote.
The site claims to offer simple term life insurance policies for as little as $8 per month. They have a 4.9-star rating on TrustPilot, meaning that they have a high public approval rating.
The Insurance Without Medical Exam Package is great for those who’ve been declined for health reasons by other insurers.
If you’re approved (the process is 100% online), then you may be able to receive up to $3 million worth of coverage. This is a higher amount of coverage than I’ve seen from similar policies that don’t require medical exams.
- Multiple term life insurance policies offered
- You can get life insurance without a medical exam
- They offer 100% online-only application
- They offer 10, 20, 30, and 40-year policies
- High online ratings
- The difference between their various life insurance packages can be a bit confusing
The Best Brick & Mortar Life Insurance Companies In Canada
Although buying life insurance online is arguably easier, some people prefer the simplicity and authenticity of talking to an agent face-to-face.
With that in mind, here are some of the best brick-and-mortar life insurance companies in Canada.
6. Canada Protection Plan
Insurance Types: Term life insurance, whole life insurance
Term Life Insurance Cost: $104.4/month for $1 Million (see assumptions above)
Whole Life Insurance Cost: $817.2/month (Life Pay) | $764.1/month (Term 100) for $1 Million (see assumptions above)
Ratings: BBB: 3/5 (2 reviews). It’s a BBB-accredited Company
Few life insurance companies in the country are as open-minded about insuring people with pre-existing medical conditions as Canada Protection Plan is.
The only trade-off is the cap on coverage at $750,000, which is still quite a decent amount. It’s a relatively younger company and was founded in 1992.
The simple ideology behind CPP’s life insurance policies is providing coverage for people with medical issues without probing or testing them further.
The company offers critical life health insurance coverage as well. You can get both term and permanent life insurance even if you work in a hazardous environment or there are other factors that make you a less than ideal candidate for other life insurance companies in Canada.
The company offers six permanent life insurance plans. The plans vary based on the applicant’s health condition and range from people with serious medical conditions to people in excellent health.
For applicants with serious medical conditions, there is a cap on how much insurance they can buy, and it’s divided into two categories based on age.
There are five-term life insurance policies, and they are spread out on the spectrum of the applicant’s health. The maximum coverage you can get varies based on age, and it’s capped at $350,000 for applicants with severe health problems.
- Ideal for people with pre-existing medical conditions
- Straightforward and honest life insurance policies
- No medical checkup required
- A wide variety of term and permanent policies are available
- Term plans can easily be converted to permanent plans until you turn 70
- Monthly or annual premium frequencies
- Decreasing term option
- Coverage is capped at $1,000,000, even for healthy applicants
- Coverage for applicants with a pre-existing health condition is limited
- Term life insurance can be slightly more expensive
7. Empire Life Insurance
- Insurance Types: Term life, permanent life, no medical life,
- Term Life Insurance Cost: $38 per month for $500,000 (see assumptions above)
- Whole Life Insurance Cost: Online Quote not available
- Ratings: BBB: C+ (1 review)
Empire is one of the larger insurance providers in Canada and is currently ranked among the top 10 in the country based on the number of policies they’ve underwritten.
They offer a variety of insurance and investment products, including life insurance and retirement investment funds. This gives you the opportunity to create a completely customized life insurance policy and retirement fund at the same time.
You’ll be able to choose between term and whole life insurance policies. They even offer no medical exam life insurance policies for those who’ve been denied for medical reasons or simply don’t want to go to the doctors’ office.
Empire offers a competitive Permanent Participating Life Insurance policy that allows you to invest part of your premium into the company by purchasing shares.
This, in turn, gives you a chance to earn quarterly dividends. The more stock you purchase, the higher the dividend payments you’ll see.
They offer a mostly online application process. However, you will have to speak to an agent on the phone to finalize your policy. Depending on the policy you choose, you may also need to complete a physical exam as well.
- Mostly online application
- No medical exam insurance offered
- They offer a whole life insurance policy that allows you to purchase company stock and earn dividends.
- Lots of policy variety
- They don’t offer term life insurance policies with more than $500,000 of coverage to those over age 25
8. Sun Life
Insurance Types: term life insurance, whole life insurance
Term Life Insurance Cost: $139.84/month for $1 Million (see assumptions above)
Whole Life Insurance Cost: (No online quote)
Ratings: Trustpilot: 2.9/5.00 (8 reviews) | BBB: 1.17/5.00 (6 reviews)
Sun Life is another giant in the Canadian life insurance sphere. The company has a market capitalization of $38.18 billion and a financial strength rating of A+. The company also underwrites annual premiums of about $20.9 billion.
Apart from being one of the largest and most extensive life insurance companies in the country, with over a trillion dollars of assets under its management if we combine all of its businesses and domains, Sun Life is also one of the most expensive term insurance providers in the country.
The main benefit of opting for a company like Sun Life is the range of options it offers. for example, in term life insurance alone, Sun Life offers four different policy types.
The most basic option gets you maximum coverage of $100,000, while the premium term life insurance offers maximum coverage of about $15 million, with up to 30 years of coverage.
Some term life insurance policies also include living benefits in case of a terminal illness and business protection, among others. Not many insurance companies offer such options with term life insurance.
Moreover, the company offers three types of permanent life insurance policies. The simplest one offers you a maximum of $25,000 coverage, which is enough for funeral arrangements.
Meanwhile, the best option offers up to $10 million of coverage and comes with many of the same riders as Sun Life’s term life insurance does.
- A decent range of life insurance policies
- Riders and additional features for both term and permanent life insurance
- Coverage of up to $15 million for term life and $10 million for permanent life insurance
- Convertible up to 75 years, which is better than the industry standard
- Minimum caps on certain policies
- Fewer term-life duration options (10 and 20 years mostly)
- Expensive term-life insurance
- Slow and conventional underwriting practices
9. Desjardins Life Insurance
- Insurance Types: Term life insurance, whole life insurance, home and auto insurance, travel insurance, and more
- Term Life Insurance Cost: Online Quote Not Available
- Whole Life Insurance Cost: Online Quote Not Available
- Ratings: BBB: A- (6 reviews) | TrustPilot: 2.3 (12 reviews)
Desjardins is a large Quebec-based insurance provider that offers life, health, and retirement insurance policies. They also offer travel insurance, home insurance, auto insurance, and more.
As far as insurance providers go, Desjardins doesn’t seem quite as modern. They don’t offer an online quote generator, an online chat box, or price comparisons.
If you want to receive a quote for a policy, you’ll need to submit your phone number into a form and wait for a Desjardins representative to contact you.
Once you’ve been contacted, you’ll need to meet with an agent in-person. All of this means that the application process is a bit longer than most.
If you’re purchasing term life insurance, then you’ll need to get a medical exam as well, since they don’t offer no-medical life insurance.
One of the really good things about Desjardins, though, is that they allow you to bundle multiple policies and save. They’re not just a life insurance company. They’re a one-stop shop for all different types of insurance.
This makes them a good option for those who are just now starting families, businesses, or purchasing their first home.
- Desjardins offers multiple types of insurance
- You can bundle different insurance policies together and save
- Desjardins offers competitive rates and customized packages
- As a policyholder, you’ll receive exclusive product/service discounts from Desjardins affiliates
- There’s no online quote generator
- You have to meet with an agent in person to discuss your policy
10. LaCapitale Financial Security & Life Insurance (Becoming Beneva)
- Insurance Types: Disability and hospital insurance, life and health insurance bundle, travel insurance
- Term Life Insurance Cost: Online quote not available
- Whole Life Insurance Cost: Online Quote not available
- Ratings: BBB: A+ (0 reviews)
LaCapitale is a mid-sized insurance provider based out of British Columbia. They’re one of the few life insurance companies I’ve come across that not only is BBB-accredited but has an A+ rating as well. They’re currently undergoing a name change to Beneva.
They offer several different policies, including term life, disability and travel insurance. The interesting thing about LaCapitale’s term life insurance policy is that it’s bundled with their health insurance policy.
If you’re not also looking for a health insurance policy, then you’ll likely end up paying a higher premium than you’d expect. However, if you are interested in health insurance as well, then this can be a great way to bundle the two types of coverage and save.
The only downside of LaCapitale is that they don’t offer an online application process. Everything will be completed over the phone and in person.
- They allow you to bundle health and term life insurance
- They have a high customer approval rating
- You can’t purchase term life insurance without the health insurance bundle
- They don’t offer online quotes or an online application process
11. BMO Life Insurance
Insurance Types: Term life insurance, whole life insurance
Term Life Insurance Cost: $105.9/month for $1 Million (see assumptions above)
Whole Life Insurance Cost (60-year old male. Max Coverage $50,000): $175/month for $1 Million (see assumptions above)
Ratings: N/A (Too many financial products)
As one of the big five banks in the country, BMO has made a mark for itself in a wide variety of financial products, and life insurance is no exception.
BMO’s life insurance policies, both term and permanent, can be described in two words: simple and affordable. As for financial stability, BMO is a banking giant with a vast financial moat.
Unfortunately, this simplicity comes with a lack of product diversity. You only have one type of term life insurance, and it’s available for Canadians between the ages of 18 and 75.
You also need to go through a medical exam and can get coverage of up to $5 million. The term options are in five-year increments between one and three decades, but the term life coverage expires when you turn 85.
On the other hand, permanent life insurance is even more simplified and less flexible. It’s only available for Canadians between the ages of 50 and 80, and you can get maximum coverage of $50,000. That’s a decent enough amount for end-of-life expenses, but nothing more.
BMO’s permanent life insurance is not the financial instrument to transfer wealth to the next generation. It doesn’t come with the riders common in most other permanent life insurance policies.
- Market-competitive pricing
- Term life insurance includes optional like critical illness and premium waiver
- A decent maximum death benefit ceiling of up to $5 million)
- Convertible up until you turn 70
- Very limited permanent life insurance policies
- Limited life insurance options
- No online application process
12. Industrial Alliance Life Insurance
Insurance Types: term life insurance, whole life insurance
Term Life Insurance Cost: $99/month for $1 Million (see assumptions above)
Whole Life Insurance Cost: Online Quote not available
Ratings: BBB: 1/5 (2 reviews)
Closing the list is Industrial Alliance Life Insurance. It’s another publically listed financial company, and while it’s not exactly a giant, it has considerable assets under management, and its financial strength rating is A+.
The company offers a wide variety of insurance products, including both term and whole-life insurance policies. It also offers participating and universal life insurance policies.
For term life insurance, the company gives you two options. The first one is the Access Life option, which is ideal for people who have difficulty getting insured.
It comes with no medical exam, and you can choose a term as long as 25 years and have the option to convert your policy till you turn 71. Its maximum amount of coverage is also capped at half a million dollars.
The other option, Pick-A-Team, is more flexible, requires a medical exam, and offers coverage for up to $10 million.
The company offers four permanent life insurance options. You can choose an option that doesn’t require you to go through a medical exam or another option that offers up to $10 million in coverage.
One permanent life insurance policy is also designed specifically for individuals that are 65 years old or older and have a medical condition that resulted in the loss of autonomy. This insurance pays out a monthly sum till the applicant turns 100, like an annuity.
- Relatively affordable pricing
- Permanent life insurance coverage for specific medical conditions
- Term and permanent policy options are available with no medical exam required
- Decreasing payment options available
- Flexible term life policies
- Decent face value ceiling
- Limited-term life insurance options
- Poor online reviews
How Much Life Insurance Coverage Do You need?
Your personal situation will be unique, but here are some general guidelines for helping you estimate your life insurance coverage needs.
A general rule of thumb for life insurance coverage is to have coverage equal to 7-10 times your annual salary. If you want a more detailed analysis, try the steps below:
- Income replacement: Calculate how many years your family would need your income to maintain their current standard of living. Multiply your annual salary by the number of years you want to replace your income.
- Debts and expenses: Estimate the total amount of your mortgage, loans, credit card debts, and other financial obligations. Also, consider any immediate expenses your family would face in the event of your passing, such as funeral costs.
- Future expenses: Consider future expenses your family may face, such as your children’s education costs, your spouse’s retirement, or any other major life events.
- Existing assets and insurance: Subtract any existing assets (savings, investments, retirement accounts) and existing life insurance policies from the sum of the previous expenses and debt. The remaining amount is an estimate of the coverage you may need.
Should You Choose Term Life Insurance or Whole Life Insurance?
As the two most popular types of life insurance, people are always wondering if you should choose term life insurance or whole life insurance. Let’s go over it here.
Term Life Insurance
Term insurance is a type of life insurance that provides coverage for a specific period, or “term,” usually ranging from 10 to 30 years. If the policyholder passes away within the term, the death benefit is paid out to the beneficiaries.
Term insurance has no cash value component and is generally more affordable than whole-life insurance.
- Affordability: Much lower premiums than whole life insurance
- Simplicity: Provides a specified term with no investment or cash value component.
- Flexibility: You can choose a policy term that aligns with your financial obligations, such as a mortgage or children’s education.
- Limited Coverage Period: If you outlive the policy term, you receive no benefits and may need to purchase a new policy at a higher premium.
- No Cash Value: Term life policies don’t accumulate cash value or offer an investment component.
- Increasing Premiums: If you need to purchase a new policy after the initial term expires, premiums may be significantly higher due to age and other factors.
Whole Life Insurance
Whole life insurance, on the other hand, provides coverage for the entire life of the policyholder. It combines a death benefit with a cash value component that accumulates over time.
Premiums for whole life insurance are typically higher than term insurance, but the policy can also serve as a long-term savings or investment vehicle.
- Lifetime Coverage: Whole life insurance provides coverage for your entire life
- Cash Value: Whole-life policies accumulate cash value over time, which can be borrowed against and used to pay premiums
- Forced Savings: The cash value component forces you to save.
- Level Premiums: Makes it easier to budget for insurance costs.
- Higher Premiums: Whole life insurance policies usually have higher premiums compared to term life insurance, which may not be affordable for some individuals.
- Complexity: Whole-life policies can be more complex than term-life policies due to the cash value component and potential dividends.
- Less Flexibility: Whole-life policies may have limited flexibility in adjusting coverage levels or premiums compared to term-life policies.
- Lower Returns: The cash value component of whole-life policies may offer lower returns compared to other investment options.
can You switch life insurance providers?
Yes, you can switch life insurance providers. However, there are some factors to consider before making the change:
- Policy type: If you have a term life insurance policy, you can generally switch to another provider without much difficulty. You’ll need to apply for a new policy with the new provider and go through their underwriting process, which may include a medical exam. If you have a permanent life insurance policy, such as whole or universal life insurance, the process may be more complicated due to the cash value component.
- Age and health: Your age and health can impact the premiums for a new policy. As you get older or experience health changes, securing a new policy might be more difficult, or the premiums may be higher than your existing policy.
- Policy features: When switching providers, carefully review the features of the new policy to ensure it meets your needs. This includes coverage amount, term length, riders, and any other specific provisions.
- Cancellation fees: Check your current policy for any fees associated with cancelling or surrendering it. Some life insurance policies may have surrender charges or penalties for early cancellation.
- Coverage gap: Ensure that your new policy is in force before cancelling your existing policy to avoid any gaps in coverage.
Before switching providers, comparing quotes from multiple companies is a good idea.
In Canada, life insurance premiums are typically not tax-deductible. Life insurance premiums are considered a personal expense, and they do not qualify for tax deductions in most cases.
There might be some exceptions, such as when a business purchases life insurance for a key person or employee or when life insurance is used as collateral for a loan.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult with a tax professional or visit the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website.
Conclusion
It’s important that you don’t confuse a good policy with a good company. Even the best policy at an ideal rate would be useless if the company is in the habit of contesting or delaying payments, thus creating unnecessary complications for your survivors.
Finding the best life insurance companies in Canada is more than just about the rates, so consider all the essential factors before deciding on a life insurance company and policy.
Still not sure which one to choose? Check out this PolicyMe vs PolicyAdvisor comparison.
