Canada Protection Plan (CPP) is best known for its no-medical and simplified issue term life insurance in Canada. These plans may suit people who want a faster application or who may have trouble qualifying for fully underwritten coverage. Its term portfolio includes options for healthy applicants as well as those with certain health conditions, high-risk occupations, or other factors that can make traditional coverage more difficult to obtain. The cost of Canada Protection Plan term life insurance ranges from $8.55/month to $304.29/month for $100,000 in coverage with a 10-year term. However, the exact cost will vary depending on factors such as age, gender, health profile, and smoking status.
Quick review
- PolicyAdvisor ratings: 5/5
- Best for: No-medical or simplified-issue term coverage
- Skip if: You need more than $1 million in term coverage
About Canada Protection Plan
Canada Protection Plan is a Canadian life insurance provider that was acquired by Foresters Financial in 2020. CPP was one of the early providers to expand access to no-medical and simplified-issue life insurance in Canada. Foresters Financial has roots dating back to 1874 and is headquartered in Toronto.
Following the acquisition, Canada Protection Plan’s simplified insurance expertise was combined with Foresters Financial’s financial resources and member-focused model. Policyholders who become Foresters members may also receive access to complimentary member benefits, subject to eligibility and the terms of those benefits.
Canada Protection Plan’s financial strength
| AM Best Rating | A |
| Insurance revenue | $83.4 million |
| LICAT ratio | 188% |
| Total assets | $19.6 billion |
Disclaimer: Figures and ratings are based on the latest available information and may change over time
What is Canada Protection Plan term life insurance?
Canada Protection Plan term insurance offers simplified life insurance options for Canadians who want temporary coverage without going through the full medical underwriting process used by many traditional term life insurance policies. Its product lineup includes simplified-issue options that may require only health questions, as well as Preferred Elite Term Insurance, a fully underwritten option for applicants who meet CPP’s preferred health criteria. Depending on the plan, applicants may qualify without a medical exam or with limited medical evidence.
CPP offers several term insurance options designed for different health profiles and coverage needs. Term insurance provides coverage for a set period, such as 10, 20, 25, or 30 years. If the insured dies while the policy is active, the insurer pays the stated death benefit to the beneficiaries. CPP’s term plans offer coverage of up to $1 million, subject to the applicant’s age, health, and the specific plan’s eligibility requirements.
Key features of Canada Protection Plan term life insurance
| Term plan name |
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| Policy issue age (min & max) |
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| Coverage range |
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| Renewability | Renewable up to age 80 for all term plans except decreasing term plans |
| Convertibility | Convertible up to age 70, not applicable to 25-year decreasing term |
| Conversion window | No sooner than 60 days before the 2nd certificate anniversary; before the anniversary nearest 70th birthday |
| Riders |
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Who is eligible for Canada Protection Plan life insurance?
Canada Protection Plan term life insurance is available to those aged 18 to 70, although the eligible age, term length, and coverage amount vary by plan. CPP offers five term insurance options, allowing applicants with different health profiles to qualify. Depending on the plan, coverage is available for people in good health, those with certain health conditions, and applicants who want no-medical, fully underwritten, or simplified-issue coverage.
Types of Canada Protection Plan term life insurance plans
Canada Protection Plan offers five term life insurance plans: Deferred Elite Term Insurance, Simplified Elite Term Insurance, Preferred Term Life Insurance, Express Elite Term Insurance, and Preferred Elite Term Insurance. Each plan is available with different underwriting requirements, coverage limits, and term options. This allows applicants to choose coverage based on their health profile and how much underwriting they are willing to undergo.
- Deferred Elite Term: Designed for those with less serious health conditions or those who have previously been declined for life insurance. It is a no-medical insurance plan that offers up to $350,000 in coverage with 10-, 20-, and 25-year level terms, plus a 25-year decreasing term option
- Simplified Elite Term: This term plan is a good option for those who are in relatively good health, participate in extreme sports, or prefer not to complete a medical exam or provide a doctor’s report. Coverage is available up to $500,000, with 10-, 20-, and 25-year terms and a 25-year decreasing term option
- Preferred Term: Designed for healthy applicants who want relatively quick coverage and competitive premiums. It offers up to $1 million in coverage for 10-, 20-, or 25-year terms, including a 25-year decreasing term option. There is no medical underwriting required for those seeking up to $500,000 of coverage
- Express Elite Term: A no-medical plan for applicants in excellent health who want higher coverage with a shorter application process. It offers up to $750,000 for applicants aged 18-50 and up to $500,000 for ages 51-60, with 20- and 30-year term options. Those who qualify for this term plan can also get Canada Protection Plan’s critical illness insurance
- Preferred Elite Term: CPP’s fully underwritten option for applicants in very good health who want its best term insurance rates. It offers up to $1 million in coverage for 10-, 20-, and 25-year terms, including a decreasing 25-year option
What is covered under Canada Protection Plan term insurance?
Canada Protection Plan term insurance provides a tax-free death benefit to the policyholder’s beneficiaries if the insured dies while the policy is in force. The benefit can be used for any purpose, including replacing lost income, covering funeral expenses, or supporting the financial needs of dependents.
The amount paid depends on the coverage selected and the specific CPP term plan. Coverage can be available up to $1 million, subject to the plan’s eligibility, underwriting requirements, and the applicant’s age. CPP offers level term coverage, as well as decreasing term options designed for needs such as mortgage protection.
CPP term insurance is primarily designed to provide financial protection after death. It does not build cash value like permanent life insurance. Any additional benefits or riders, where available, are subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.

Pros and cons of Canada Protection Plan term life insurance
| Pros | Cons |
| Multiple term plans for different health profiles and underwriting needs | No-medical plans generally have lower coverage limits than fully underwritten options |
| No-medical and simplified-issue options available | No-medical coverage may cost more than comparable fully underwritten coverage |
| Term options include 10-, 20-, and 25-year terms, with 30-year coverage available on Express Elite plan | Rider availability varies by product |
| Coverage of up to $1 million available on select plans | Decreasing term coverage is not renewable or convertible |
| 25-year decreasing term options available for needs such as mortgage protection |
How much does Canada Protection Plan term insurance cost?
The cost of Canada Protection Plan term insurance starts at $8.55/month for a female non-smoker and $18.00/month for a male non-smoker seeking $100,000 in coverage for a 10-year term.
Cost of Canada Protection Plan insurance (2026):
| Age (in years) | Male (non-smoker) | Female (non-smoker) |
| 20 | $18.00/month | $8.55/month |
| 30 | $18.81/month | $8.82/month |
| 40 | $20.16/month | $17.19/month |
| 50 | $35.64/month | $29.43/month |
| 60 | $87.66/month | $64.62/month |
| 70 | $304.29/month | $192.51/month |
*Illustrative term life insurance cost for a male and a female non-smoker seeking $100,000 in coverage for a 10-year term
What riders are available with Canada Protection Plan term life insurance?
Canada Protection Plan offers several optional riders such as accidental death benefit, child term benefit, hospital cash benefit, and critical illness rider. The available rider options vary by plan.
- Accidental death benefit: Available on CPP’s term plans for issue ages 18 to 65, this rider provides an additional death benefit if the insured dies as a direct result of an accident, subject to the policy’s conditions and exclusions. The maximum benefit is the lesser of five times the base coverage and $250,000
- Child term benefit: This rider provides $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 of term life insurance for each eligible natural or adopted child. The parent must be aged 18 to 60 when the rider is issued, and eligible children must be between 30 days and 17 years old. The child’s coverage can be converted to permanent life insurance after their 20th birthday and before their 21st birthday, subject to the policy terms
- Hospital cash benefit: Available with Simplified Elite, Express Elite, Preferred, and Preferred Elite Term plans, this benefit pays $25, $50, or $100 per day when the insured is hospitalized as an inpatient for more than 24 hours because of a covered sickness or injury. The daily benefit can be doubled for qualifying intensive-care hospitalization
- Critical illness rider: This optional rider is available specifically with Express Elite Term. It provides critical illness protection alongside the term life insurance coverage, giving eligible policyholders an additional living benefit if they meet the rider’s covered-condition requirements
Does Canada Protection Plan offer decreasing term life insurance?
Yes, Canada Protection Plan offers 25-year decreasing term life insurance on select term plans. With a decreasing term policy, the death benefit gradually decreases over the policy term, making it suitable for financial obligations that are expected to decline over time, such as a mortgage.
CPP offers the 25-year decreasing term option under Deferred Elite Term, Simplified Elite Term, Preferred Term, and Preferred Elite Term. The coverage decreases according to the schedule set out in the policy, while premiums are based on the policy terms and underwriting at issue. Unlike CPP’s level term plans, decreasing term coverage is not renewable or convertible.
Can Canada Protection Plan term insurance be converted to permanent coverage?
Yes, Canada Protection Plan term life insurance policies can be converted to permanent life insurance. The conversion can be done without providing new medical evidence. This can allow policyholders to maintain life insurance coverage as their needs change, even if their health has declined since the original term policy was issued. The conversion option is available up to the policy anniversary nearest the insured’s 70th birthday. Conversion cannot be requested until at least 60 days before the second certificate anniversary.
The 25-year decreasing term option is not convertible to permanent insurance. For convertible CPP term policies, the conversion window ends at the policy anniversary nearest the insured’s 70th birthday. The available permanent insurance options and other conversion conditions depend on the specific term plan and policy contract.
How does Canada Protection Plan compare to other providers?
Canada Protection Plan term life insurance stands out for its no-medical, simplified-issue, and fully underwritten options. Its five term plans cater to different health profiles, with coverage of up to $1 million on select plans, 10-, 20-, and 25-year terms, and a 30-year option on Express Elite Term. Most term insurance policies can also be converted to permanent life insurance without new medical evidence, subject to the plan’s conversion provisions. To compare Canada Protection Plan with other leading Canadian insurers, read our guide to the best term life insurance companies in Canada.
Our advisor’s take on Canada Protection Plan term life insurance
One of our expert advisors recently assisted a 35-year-old non-smoking professional who wanted to protect his family against the financial impact of an early death. His main priorities were sufficient coverage for his mortgage and family income, a term that matched his financial obligations, and a straightforward application process without unnecessary medical requirements.
- Age: 35-year-old non-smoking Canadian
- Coverage need: $500,000 in coverage to replace income, help pay the mortgage, and support future education costs
- Primary concern: Accessible underwriting, competitive premiums, flexible term options, and the ability to access permanent insurance later without repeating medical underwriting
- Our comparison: We evaluated Canada Protection Plan’s term insurance options alongside other major Canadian insurers. We compared different features, including term options, coverage limits, conversion provisions, and available supplementary benefits
Why Canada Protection Plan stood out:
- Multiple underwriting options allow our client to choose between no-medical, simplified-issue, and more traditionally underwritten term coverage based on his health profile and insurance needs
- Optional benefits and riders supplemented the base policy with features such as accidental death coverage, child term benefits, hospital cash benefits, and critical illness protection on eligible plans.
- Conversion to permanent insurance is available on eligible term policies without new medical evidence
How to buy Canada Protection Plan term life insurance?
In order to buy Canada Protection Plan term life insurance, here are the steps you need to follow:
- Share your basic details, including your age, smoking status, desired coverage amount, and preferred term length. Based on these details, our advisors will get the best term life insurance quote
- Our advisors will help you review a Canada Protection Plan quote alongside term life insurance policies from other Canadian insurers to compare coverage, premiums, and underwriting requirements
- Once you select the plan that best fits your needs, you can proceed with the application. Depending on the CPP plan and your personal circumstances, you may only need to answer health questions, while some applicants may require additional medical underwriting
- Once underwriting is complete and your application is approved, Canada Protection Plan will issue your policy. Your coverage will begin according to the terms and effective date specified in the policy
Frequently asked questions
Does Canada Protection Plan offer no-medical term life insurance?
Yes. Canada Protection Plan offers no-medical and simplified-issue term life insurance options. Depending on the plan, you may qualify without a medical exam, while some coverage options involve additional health questions or underwriting.
How much term life insurance can I get from Canada Protection Plan?
Canada Protection Plan offers up to $1 million in term life insurance coverage on select plans. The maximum coverage available depends on the plan, the applicant’s age, health profile, and underwriting requirements.
What term lengths does Canada Protection Plan offer?
CPP offers 10-, 20-, and 25-year term options on several plans, while Express Elite Term also offers a 30-year term. A 25-year decreasing term option is available on all plans, except Express Elite Term Insurance.
Can I get Canada Protection Plan term insurance if I have a health condition?
Yes, you can get Canada Protection Plan term insurance if you have a health condition. CPP offers several underwriting options designed for different health profiles, including plans for applicants with certain health conditions or those who may have previously been declined for traditional life insurance. Eligibility will depend on the specific condition, health history, coverage amount, and plan requirements.
Can Canada Protection Plan term insurance be converted to permanent life insurance?
Yes, CPP term policies can be converted to permanent life insurance without new medical evidence, subject to the policy’s conversion provisions. The 25-year decreasing term option is not convertible, and conversion is generally available until the policy anniversary nearest the insured’s 70th birthday.
Does Canada Protection Plan offer decreasing term life insurance?
Yes, CPP offers a 25-year decreasing term option on select plans. The death benefit decreases over time, making this type of coverage suitable for financial obligations that are expected to decline, such as a mortgage.
What riders are available with Canada Protection Plan term life insurance?
Depending on the plan, CPP offers optional benefits including an accidental death benefit, child term benefit, hospital cash benefit, and critical illness rider. The availability and terms of these benefits vary by product.






