BMO Critical Illness Insurance Review – Updated 2024

BMO Insurance Critical Illness Insurance rating and review

As one of Canada’s largest financial institutions, BMO can take advantage of its heft and economies of scale to offer clients comprehensive, customizable critical illness coverage at the best prices through its Living Benefit suite of products.

PolicyAdvisor Rating

Most Comprehensive Critical Illness Insurance for Price

AM Best Rating A

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Pros and cons

Pros

  • Comprehensive: 25 conditions covered
  • High coverage amounts available
  • Multiple terms available, including whole life cover
  • Limited pay and Return of premium options available

Cons

  • No online access
  • No digital/e-policy, only a paper policy will be issued
  • No children’s coverage available
  • No second option available
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Who is BMO?

The Bank of Montreal, known these days as BMO Financial Group, is Canada’s oldest bank and one of the 10 largest financial institutions in North America. During its 200-year history, BMO has expanded internationally, helping customers manage their money and protect their assets and loved ones. They are the only financial institution in Canada named to Ethisphere’s 2019 list of the World’s Most Ethical Companies.

BMO are known mainly for their financial services like everyday banking, long term savings, lending, and mortgages. Through BMO Insurance  they offer various life insurance and related products in Canada and operate as one of the country’s largest insurers.

Types of critical illness insurance policies BMO Insurance offers

Yes. BMO’s critical illness insurance product is named Living Benefit. It offers Enhanced Coverage (covering 25 life-threatening medical conditions).

Product Name Living Benefit
Critical Illness coverage Enhanced coverage (25 life threatening medical conditions covered)
Available Terms 10 years, 20 years, and to age 75 and age 100
Limited Pay option Yes. 15-pay option available on some plans
Maximum coverage Up to $2 million
Conditions covered Enhanced – 25 conditions
Loss of Independent Existence coverage Yes
Partial payout conditions 7 eligible conditions
Partial payment or early detection payment Yes, 15% up to $50,000
Childhood illnesses coverage Not available
Survival period 30 days
Return of Premium on death Yes
Return of Premium on expiry/cancellation Yes available, on certain term lengths
Second option None
Electronic application Yes
Online account access None

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Coverage and policy details

BMO’s maximum coverage for critical illness insurance is $2 million. 

BMO’s living benefit critical illness product offers coverage for loss of independent existence.  It also offers partial payouts for 7 different conditions with payment of up to 15% of the policy coverage up to a maximum of $50,000. 

The survival period (how long you must survive with the illness before you can collect your benefit) is 30 days.

BMO offers critical illness insurance for 10- and 20-year terms or coverage up to 75 or 100 years of age.

There is a 15-pay option available on some BMO critical illness insurance plans.

Does BMO critical illness insurance offer a return of premiums?

BMO offers return of premiums on death and on early cancellation or expiry for some of their term lengths.

How do I apply for BMO’s critical illness insurance?

BMO lets you apply for critical illness insurance electronically through the best online life insurance broker. You can enter your information and look up quotes with the Apply Now button below or schedule a call with one of our licensed brokers to apply for BMO’s critical illness insurance.

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BMO Life Insurance Review – Updated 2024

Term life insurance is the most affordable type of policy, and we’ve rated BMO Insurance as the most affordable company in Canada.

Read our full review below to find out more about the company, which features they offer, and what we rate their life insurance products.

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PolicyAdvisor Rating

Best for Affordability

AM Best Rating A

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Our BMO life insurance rating and review

BMO Insurance’s term life insurance is a great option for individuals, couples, or business owners. It can cover mortgages and other debts, final expenses like funeral expenses, replace future income, and provide for dependents. The plan can also be used to protect businesses and their key employees. Lastly, the death benefit can be used to leave a financial gift to a favourite charity.

BMO Insurance term life insurance policies offer terms ranging from 10 to 30 years. Death benefits (tax free payments to a beneficiary) can go all the way up to $10,000,000. All term life plans can be converted to a permanent life insurance policy at any time before age 70. Term 10 plans can be exchanged for longer terms: Term 15, 20, 25 or 30. Term 10, 15 and 20-year plans are renewable and convertible. Term 25 and 30 plans are convertible, although not renewable.

There are riders for critical illness insuranceaccidental death insurance, waiver of premium in case of disability. One can also add a children’s life insurance rider.

Another great feature of BMO Insurance is its unique Compassionate Benefit Program. This is a non-contractual cash benefit offered by BMO Insurance to term life policyholders with a limited life expectancy who may require a source of funds to help them manage their medical bills and unexpected financial costs.

For term life policyholders, an initial advance of up to 50% of the base coverage (maximum of $250,000) may be paid out if the policyholder is diagnosed with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 12 months or less. This is available on individually-owned single and joint life policies as well (max of 2 insure with joint ownership policies).

Pros and cons

BMO life insurance pros

  • Value for money pricing
  • Multiple term life insurance lengths, flexible coverage options
  • Ability to exchange 10-year policy into a longer term policy (15, 20, 25, and 30 year coverage options)
  • Comprehensive benefits like the compassionate benefit program allow advance of term life insurance coverage amount for policy holders needing financial support while dealing with a terminal illness
  • Options to convert into multiple types of permanent insurance policies

BMO life insurance cons

  • No online account
  • Only issues paper policies, no digital option
  • Longer-term products (Term 25 and Term 30) are not renewable

Who is BMO Life Insurance?

BMO Insurance is a member of the BMO Financial Group, which was founded in 1817, and is another of Canada’s largest financial institutions. Operating as a separate business unit, BMO Insurance offers term and permanent life insurance, accident, travel, and critical illness insurance. BMO Insurance also offers income annuities and guaranteed investment funds. The BMO Life Assurance Company portfolio was bolstered by the acquisition of AIG’s life insurance business in 2009.

Key facts about BMO Life Assurance Company

  • When was BMO Insurance founded? 1817
  • Where is BMO Insurance’s headquarters? Toronto, Ontario
  • AM Best Rating: A (Excellent)
  • Better Business Bureau Accreditation and Rating: N/A
  • Assets: $11.2-billion
  • Annual Premiums: $2.0-billion
  • Website: bmo.com/insurance

How much does life insurance from BMO Insurance cost?

Representative values. Insurance premium based on non-smokers in good health. $500,000 life insurance benefit coverage, 20-year term.

Age Male Female
20 $31.95 $21.60
25 $32.40 $22.05
30 $32.85 $22.95
35 $33.30 $26.10
40 $49.05 $36.90
45 $76.95 $55.80
50 $131.40 $91.80
55 $242.10 $166.95
60 $427.50 $305.10
65 $681.75 $479.25

What types of term life insurance policies does BMO Insurance offer?

BMO Insurance offers their simply named Term Life insurance product with many options to personalize coverage for those applying.

There are riders for critical illness, accidental death, waiver of premium in case of disability. One can also add a children’s life insurance rider.

Coverage and policy details

  • Available Term Lengths: BMO Insurance offers term lengths of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years. BMO also offers a term 100 permanent product
  • Available Term Types: Guaranteed level premiums
  • Maximum Amount of Coverage: Up to $10,000,000 death benefits
  • Convertibility: All policies are convertible to a permanent life insurance policy before the policyholder reaches an age nearest of 70.
  • Renewability: Available on term 10, 15 and 20 year coverage products
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What other insurance policies does BMO Insurance offer?

In addition to Term plans, BMO Insurance also offers:

Permanent Life Insurance

Permanent life insurance provides you with coverage from the day the policy is settled until the day you die. As long as you pay premiums into the policy, BMO life insurance coverage never expires.

BMO Insurance offers several different permanent life insurance policies:

EasyOne Life

  • Available to Canadians between the ages of 50 and 80 who have no serious illnesses
  • No medical exam required and immediate permanent life insurance coverage from the day BMO Life Insurance receives your application
  • Life long coverage with a tax-free benefit between $5,000 and $50,000

Guaranteed-Life Plus

  • Available to Canadians between the ages of 45 and 75
  • Guaranteed life insurance coverage and no medical exams or health questionnaires required
  • Lifetime coverage as long as payments are paid up to age 95
  • $50,000 in basic coverage (after 2 years without claims) and $250,000 accidental death coverage

Term 100

  • Lifelong permanent life insurance coverage
  • Fixed level premiums which you pay until age 100
  • Coverage amounts available between $50,000 and $5,000,000
  • Much like BMO Insurance’s term life insurance policies, many optional riders are available for Term 100 to meet varied insurance needs

BMO Insurance Whole Life Insurance

  • Guaranteed cash value, and guaranteed premiums payable for 10 or 20 years or to age 100
  • Non-participating permanent life insurance
  • Unique features like premium switching, premium offset, additional payments and policy loans make it a very flexible BMO life insurance coverage option
  • Two plan options (Estate Protector and Wealth Accelerator) to service different end-of-life financial needs

Read our full review of BMO Insurance Whole Life Insurance.

bmo life insurance review

Universal Life Insurance

Universal life insurance is like whole life insurance, except there is a self-directed long-term investment component: your insurer gives you options for investing the cash value of your policy.

BMO Life Insurance’s universal coverage offers three different universal life insurance policies: Life Dimensions, Life Dimensions (Low Fees) and Wealth Dimensions.

All these options boast:

  • Flexible premiums and terms
  • Extensive investment options
  • Early access to cash-value
  • Optional riders for more BMO life insurance coverage:
    • term life insurance rider
    • accidental death rider
    • waiver of premium
    • children’s term life insurance rider
    • critical illness insurance rider

Critical Illness Insurance

Critical illness insurance is a living benefit insurance policy that pays out a tax-free lump sum if you develop a specified illness, health event, or undergo treatment while under its coverage, after a minimum of 30 days from when you are first diagnosed (90 days for cancer). This coverage is available for a period of time also known as term length; and you determine it when purchasing the policy.

BMO Insurance offers 2 different critical illness insurance policies.

Life Recovery Plus

  • Basic and enhanced plans that offer $25,000 and $50,000 in coverage, respectively
  • Guaranteed acceptance when you provide a declaration of health
  • Cash benefits are a mix of one-time, monthly, and daily benefits to help you financially while you recover
  • The survival period is 30 days

Living Benefit

  • Offers enhanced coverage (25 life-threatening medical conditions)
  • Maximum coverage is $2 million
  • Offers coverage for loss of independent existence and partial payouts for 7 different conditions
  • The survival period is 30 days
  • Available in 10 and 20-year terms or coverage up to 75 or 100 years of age
  • There is a 15-pay option available on some policies

For more information and an in-depth look at their critical illness coverage, read our BMO Insurance Critical Illness Insurance Review.

BMO Travel Insurance

BMO Insurance offers travel insurance on a per-trip and annual basis, with different plans offering coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, flight delays, lost baggage, and more.

Investment Products and Other Financial Products

Besides insurance, BMO Financial Group offers countless investment solutions and personal financial products as well as business banking solutions.

Is BMO Insurance right for you?

BMO Insurance offers unique life insurance coverage products that are a great fit for many Canadians. As insurance advisors for BMO Insurance’s life insurance products, we can help you decide if BMO Insurance products are the best fit for you and find you instant quotes.

Canadians commonly use BMO Life Insurance policies to cover lines of credit, funeral costs, the outstanding balance on credit cards, provide peace of mind, secure future education for dependents, or augment their current life insurance plans. If you’re not sure how much coverage you need, check out our life insurance calculator or read more in our insurance learning centre.

As Canada’s best online insurance advisor, we can assist you in comparing and choosing products across all our partner companies. Speak to our licensed insurance advisors and we will be able to help you find the best coverage for your needs and answer any questions you have about BMO term life insurance, permanent life insurance, critical illness and disability protection, simplified coverage without medical exams and more.

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Assumption Life Critical Illness Insurance Review – Updated 2024

This Assumption Life Critical Illness Insurance review includes our ratings as well as details about their terms and coverage.

For more company reviews, head here to read about the best critical illness insurance companies in Canada.

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Our Assumption Life critical illness insurance review and rating

Assumption Life is usually known for its vast range of simplified or non-medical life insurance products. When it comes to critical illness insurance, they do not offer a non-medical option. However, a redeeming feature is that they do not automatically require a medical exam for all levels of coverage.

With Assumption Life’s CI, the maximum amount of coverage (aka sum insured) offered is lower than its rivals. However, their fully underwritten critical illness product does offer enhanced products, including a Return of Premium Upon Death rider as well as a Flexible Return of Premiums rider.

With 16 illnesses covered, this is a great, simple option for someone looking to cover the basics, with a few optional bells and whistles too.

PolicyAdvisor Rating

Best Critical Illness for Simple Coverage

AM Best Rating A-

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Pros and cons

Pros

  • Quick, easy electronic process
  • Medical exam not automatically required for all coverage amounts
  • Online access to account
  • Digital e-policy
  • Shorter-term coverage options available
  • Limited pay and return of premium options available

Cons

  • Limited number of covered conditions (16 conditions) and coverage amounts (max of $100,000)
  • No partial payment for non-life threatening illnesses
  • No children’s coverage
  • No whole life coverage

Product Name Critical Protection
Critical Illness coverage Enhanced coverage
Available Terms 15 years, 20 years, 25 years, and to age 75
Limited Pay option Yes. 20-pay option available
Maximum coverage $100,000
Conditions covered Enhanced – 16 conditions
Loss of Independent Existence coverage No
Partial payout conditions No
Partial payment or early detection payment No
Childhood illnesses coverage No
Survival period 30 days
Return of Premium on death Yes
Return of Premium on expiry/cancellation Yes, from age 65
Second option No
Electronic application Yes
Online account access Yes

Who is Assumption Life?

Now headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick, Assumption Life was originally founded in 1903 by Acadians in Massachusetts as a fraternal society. The company keeps that tradition of social well-being alive as they recently obtained B-Corp certification, which is awarded only to corporations that strive to “improve the economic and social well-being of their communities, and foster the promotion of shared and sustainable prosperity.”

They offer various life insurance, living benefit, and investment products to Canadians, as well as residential mortgage lending services.

Read our full Assumption Life Insurance Review

Critical illness insurance policies offered by Assumption Life

Assumption Life’s critical illness insurance product is named Critical Protection. It offers Enhanced Coverage (covering 16 illnesses) and is only offered as fully underwritten (with medical) coverage.

Coverage and terms

Assumption Life’s maximum coverage for critical illness insurance is $100,000.

There is no coverage for loss of independent existence. There are no options for partial payouts for certain illnesses, and no coverage for childhood illnesses.

The survival period (how long you must survive with the illness before you can claim) is 30 days.

Assumption Life offers critical illness insurance for 15-, 20-, and 25-year terms or coverage up to 75 years of age.

There is a limited-pay critical illness product option, which allows you to pay for premiums for 20 years while having your coverage continue up to the age of 75.

Return of premium

Assumption Life offers a return of premiums on death, and a flexible return of premiums on early cancellation or expiry of your policy once you turn 65. Under the flexible return of premiums, a pre-specified percentage of premiums are returned, depending on the age at which the policy is surrendered.

Can you apply for Assumption Life’s critical illness insurance online?

Assumption Life lets you apply for critical illness insurance electronically using the best online life insurance broker in Ontario. You can access and administer your policy online once it is approved.

How do I apply for Assumption Life’s critical illness insurance?

You can enter your information and look up quotes using the Apply Now button or schedule a call with one of our licensed brokers to apply for critical illness insurance with Assumption Life. The process will be simple, quick, and fully online with PolicyAdvisor’s licensed brokers.

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Wawanesa Insurance Life Insurance Review – Updated 2024

You can get some of the best-priced term life insurance policies from Wawanesa. It may not be a household name in the Canadian insurance industry just yet, but there are lots of reasons why we gave it high ratings.

Read our full review below to find out more about the company, which features they offer, and what we rate their life insurance products.

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PolicyAdvisor Rating

Best for Price

AM Best Rating A

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Wawanesa Life Insurance rating and review

Wawanesa Life is the life insurance arm of Wawanesa Insurance,  a Canadian insurance conglomerate with products across the individual, home, farm and commercial business sectors. They offer term life insurance plans with terms ranging from 10 to 30 years and include a special term-to-age-80 option. When one chooses Wawanesa Insurance, they can potentially layer term plans if they enact a base plan and add up to four term-riders of various initial term lengths within a single policy.

Preferred underwriting is available, with 3 nonsmoker and 2 smoker classes. Wawanesa insurance products are frequently the most affordable in Canada, depending on the applicant’s age and other individual factors.

Apart from pure term life insurance, Wawanesa Insurance has options for Permanent Life Insurance and Quick Issue Critical Illness Insurance products through Wawanesa Life.

While Wawanesa does business in the United States, this review focuses on Wawanesa Canada.

Pros and cons

Wawanesa Life Insurance Pros

  • Multiple term life options are available with Wawanesa insurance products
  • Premiums are frequently among the most affordable available in the industry
  • Ability to create layered or ‘laddered’ structures with Wawanesa insurance products, given the availability of multiple coverage options
  • Most products are lifelong renewable, albeit at higher prices
  • The company does not charge any policy or rider fees, which helps keep the premiums very affordable
  • Ability to get coverage without medicals for up to $500,000, if you are below the age of 45
  • Digital e-policy

Wawanesa Life Insurance Cons

  • Underwriting process can take relatively longer than other companies
  • Policies can only be converted into non-participating permanent products

Who is Wawanesa Insurance?

Wawanesa Mutual, founded in 1896 with executive offices in Winnipeg, is the parent company of Wawanesa Insurance, which distributes life insurance products and services throughout Canada and the United States. Wawanesa Insurance also offers automobile, farm, home and commercial business coverage. The parent company is a mutual insurance company, owned by its policyholders, allowing Wawanesa Insurance to align its business objective with the financial security and well being of its clients.

While Wawanesa Mutual is one of the largest property and casualty insurers in the country, Wawanesa Canada has a relatively smaller life insurance business. Wawanesa Insurance’s life insurance business has been in operation since 1960. In 2017, Wawanesa Insurance acquired the Western Life Insurance business from Desjardins and combined it with Wawanesa Life.

Key facts about Wawanesa Insurance

  • When was Wawanesa Insurance founded? 1896
  • Where is Wawanesa Insurance headquarters? Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • AM Best Rating: A
  • Better Business Bureau Accreditation and Rating: No / A+
  • Assets: $1.5-billion
  • Annual Premiums: $280-million

How much does life insurance from Wawanesa cost?

Representative values, based on non-smokers in good health. $500,000 coverage, 20-year term.

Age Male Female
20 $30.15 $20.70
25 $30.60 $22.05
30 $30.60 $22.95
35 $36.00 $28.80
40 $50.85 $38.25
45 $79.20 $58.50
50 $133.20 $94.50
55 $238.05 $166.05
60 $429.75 $299.25

What types of term life insurance policies does Wawanesa offer?

Wawanesa Insurance offers competitively priced term life insurance throughout Canada.

Coverage and policy details

  • Available Term Lengths: 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years terms, and term to age 80
  • Available Term Types: Level coverage. Single and joint life options are available
  • Maximum Amount of Coverage: $10,000,000
  • Renewability: Yes, lifetime renewable at the end of the initial term, with the last renewal at age 80
  • Convertibility: Yes, convertible until age 70
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wawanesa life insurance review

What other insurance policies does Wawanesa Insurance offer?

Wawanesa Insurance offers a wide range of products to customers, apart from term life and other living benefits mentioned above, such as:

Permanent Life Insurance

Permanent life insurance provides you with coverage from the day the policy is settled until the day you die. Premiums are level and guaranteed, and as long as you keep paying the premiums the coverage never expires.

Wawanesa Life offers 2 different permanent life insurance policies.

Wawanesa Whole Life Insurance

Wawanesa Life’s participating whole life insurance offers higher coverage amounts at a lower premium cost than many of their competitors and is therefore one of the most affordable whole life insurance choices in Canada.

Wawanesa Life’s whole life policy is offered with 2 pay options: Whole Life – Pay to Age 100, (you pay premiums until age 100) and 20 Pay Whole Life (you pay premiums for only 20 years).

You can also build additional coverage with dividends; Wawanesa Life lets policyholders purchase paid-up additional insurance with the value from their dividends.

Wawanesa Instant Issue Life Insurance

Wawanesa Life’s Instant Issue Life Insurance policy is non-medical whole life insurance with a maximum of $50,000 in coverage. It requires a simplified life insurance application, which means you’ll have to answer some questions about your health and medical history, but it does not require blood work or a medical exam. It is available between the ages of 45 and 75 and the death benefit is reduced if the insured passes away within the first 2 years of the policy. There are also many options for surrender values and return of premium.

Critical Illness Insurance

Critical illness insurance is a living benefit insurance policy that pays out a tax-free lump sum if you develop a specified illness, health event, or undergo treatment while under its coverage, after a minimum of 30 days from when you are first diagnosed (90 days for cancer). This coverage is available for a period of time also known as term length, and you determine it when purchasing the policy.

Wawanesa Life offers enhanced critical illness insurance with coverage for 14 different illnesses including:

  • Heart Attack
  • Stroke
  • Cancer (Life-Threatening)
  • Coronary Artery Blockage
  • Kidney Failure
  • Major Organ Transplant
  • Major Organ Failure on Waiting List
  • Paralysis
  • Occupational HIV Infection
  • Blindness
  • Deafness
  • Loss of Speech
  • Loss of Limbs
  • Severe Burns

The application for Wawanesa Life’s critical illness coverage is simplified; applicants only need to answer a health questionnaire and there is no requirement for blood work or medical tests.

The policy can be issued between the ages of 18-60 and maximum coverage is $100,000.

There are three plan types available which all offer a return of premiums on death:

  • 10 Year Term that is renewable to Age 75
  • Level Term to Age 75
  • Level Term to Age 75 with a flexible return of premium (after 10 years or age 65, the insured person can surrender the policy for 50% of the premiums paid to that point).

Wawanesa Car Insurance

Wawanesa Insurance offers auto coverage across all provinces and territories except for Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Newfoundland & Labrador.

Wawanesa Home Insurance

Wawanesa offers coverage for your home in all provinces and territories. Their policies include Basic, Broad, and Special categories with increasing levels of coverage, and options for coverage on sheds, garages, cottages, cabins, and more, as well as extended coverage for contents and if you are operating a business from your home. These options extend to their condo insurance offerings.

Wawanesa Insurance also offers tenant insurance for those looking to insure the contents of their home in the event of a fire, flood, or theft.

Wawanesa Business Insurance

Wawanesa Insurance offers coverage for several types of businesses, including commercial business coverage, and farm coverage.

Is Wawanesa Life Insurance right for you?

Wawanesa Insurance offers unique life insurance coverage products that are a great fit for many Canadian consumers – for those looking for a great price on insurance Wawanesa offers some of the country’s most competitively priced premiums. As insurance advisors for Wawanesa insurance products, we can help you decide if Wawanesa Insurance Canada is the best fit.

Speak to our licensed advisors and we can help you find the best coverage for your needs – whether that be with Wawanesa Canada or another great Canadian insurance provider.

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Co-Operators Life Insurance Review – Updated 2024

Our Co-Operators life insurance plan rating and review

Co-Operators is a full-service insurance co-operative, owned by 44 members including co-ops, credit unions, and representative farm organizations. They offer home, auto, travel, life insurance, investment products, as well as group health and dental benefits.

This insurance company has a strong AM Best rating and is financially stable with over $20.6 billion in assets. While they are a major player in the insurance industry, their term life insurance products are not competitively priced compared to offerings from our insurance partners at PolicyAdvisor. 

We would recommend choosing one of the many other insurers in the market at this point in time, given the potential to obtain lower prices and access a wider spectrum of features and optional benefits. Use PolicyAdvisor’s quoting tool to find the right coverage through several competitive quotes from Canada’s best life insurance companies.

PolicyAdvisor Rating

AM Best Rating A

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Co-Operators life insurance pros and cons

Pros

  • Option for one-year term life policy for short term coverage
  • Offers a full suite of insurance products 
  • Financially stable organization

Cons

  • One-year term life insurance only offers low coverage amounts 
  • High premiums for other term insurance products 
  • No online application process through the website 
  • Lack of transparency: can’t get an online quote or coverage amount details for permanent policies
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Who is Co-Operators Insurance?

The Co-Operative Life Insurance Company was founded in 1945 by a group of farmers in Saskatchewan who lost most of their belongings, savings, and life insurance during the Great Depression. They found that traditional insurers did not meet their unique needs as farmers, so in 1945 with the financial support of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, they founded their own insurance co-operative. 

A similar story was unfolding for farmers in Ontario, and by 1959, the Co-Operators Life Insurance Association was incorporated for business. In 1978 the Saskatchewan and Ontario branches amalgamated to form under The Co-Operator’s name.  

Since then, the Co-Operators have expanded their operations Canada-wide. Co-operator’s product offerings now include home, auto, and travel insurance, but they still offer life insurance products as well.

Co-Operators: Quick Facts

  • Founded: 1945
  • Headquarters: Guelph, ON
  • AM Best Rating: A (excellent)
  • Better Business Bureau Accreditation and Rating: A+
  • Assets: $20.6 billion
  • Annual Premiums: $5.05 billion

What type of life insurance does Co-Operators offer?

Co-Operators offers a full suite of term, whole, universal, and no-medical life insurance products. 

Co-Operators Term Life Insurance
The Co-Operators provide a one-year, renewable policy as well as longer term life insurance options with terms of 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years. Their one-year term coverage has a max coverage amount of $475,000 whereas their other terms more competitively offer up to $5 million.

Co-Operators Whole Life Insurance
The Co-Operators have two participating whole life insurance products—Protector™ and Ascend™. The two products both offer guaranteed cash value after three years, dividends, and coverage for children. However, Ascend offers more choices for limited payment plans and the option to purchase paid-up additions with your dividends. Available coverage amounts for their whole life policies are not listed online. 

Co-Operators Universal Life
Co-Operator’s universal life insurance policies have similar benefits to their participating whole life series, with the added bonus of flexibility in choosing your coverage options and investment accounts.

Co-Operators Infinity Term Insurance
This policy is the Co-Operators’ answer to a term to 100 life insurance policy. It is a permanent policy without the cash value savings component. It’s for those who like the stability of coverage for a lifetime, but want to pay less in monthly premium than they would for a regular whole or universal life policy.

Co-Operators Responsibility Series
The Co-Operators Responsibility series are no-medical life insurance policies that do not require a medical exam during the application process. However, skipping the medical means lower coverage amounts (only up to $25,000) and sometimes higher premium costs than traditionally underwritten policies.

What term life insurance amounts and coverage do The Co-Operators offer?

The Co-Operators have both a yearly renewable term insurance product as well as a separate product for longer terms. 

Term Life 1

  • Available Term Lengths: 1 year
  • Maximum Amount of Coverage: $475,000
  • Renewability: Yes
  • Convertibility: Yes, before your 70th birthday. 

Versatile Term™

  • Available Term Lengths: 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years
  • Maximum Amount of Coverage: $5 million
  • Renewability: Yes
  • Convertibility: Yes, before your 70th birthday.

Cost of term life insurance with Co-Operators

As mentioned, the Co-Operators is a singular insurance provider who do not have the most competitive prices for their term insurance products. PolicyAdvisor allows you to instantly shop for insurance with over 30 insurance providers to ensure you get the best coverage for the best price. 

Here’s how Co-Operators stacks up to one of our insurance partners, Desjardins, for a 30-year-old, non-smoking female looking for $1 million in coverage for a 20-year term.

The cost of Co-Operators insurance as compared to Desjardins.

What other insurance products do the Co-Operators offer?

While Co-Operators got their start in life insurance back in 1945, they have since expanded to offer a full line of insurance products. 

Critical Illness

Critical Illness insurance offers a lump-sum payment in the event you are diagnosed with a critical illness or injury such as heart attack, cancer, or stroke. Co-Operators offers four critical illness products—term 10, term 20, up to age 75, and up to age 75 with a 20 pay plan—that cover up to 25 conditions.  

Mortgage Insurance

If you’ve recently purchased a home, mortgage insurance will pay off your mortgage in the event you pass away. Usually, this coverage is offered by the mortgage lender itself and will only cover the mortgage, and no other outstanding debts.  However, Co-Operators offers a separate, portable mortgage protection plan that mirrors the benefits of term life insurance. 

Home Insurance

As a property and casualty company, Co-Operator’s home insurance products are a big part of their business. Home insurance covers your property in the event your property is damaged or destroyed in an event such as a fire, flood, or windstorm. 

Farm Insurance

Going back to their roots, Co-Operators offers farm-specific property insurance that is tailored to the unique needs of farmers, from hobby farms to large production. Their insurance products include coverage for livestock, machinery, poultry, farm structures, and pollution. 

Business Life 

Similar to their farm insurance product, Co-Operators has standard business property insurance that covers business stock, liability, equipment breakdown, and loss of income coverage. 

Auto Insurance

Co-Operators offers competitive auto insurance for your car, motorcycle, and other recreational vehicles in provinces that do not already have public auto insurance programs. 

Travel Insurance

Co-Operators offers different options for traveling Canadians, visitors to Canada, international students, and expatriates administered by Allianz Global Assistance. You can choose from single and multi-trip coverage, trip cancellation and interruption, and also emergency medical top-up.

How can I find the best term life insurance?

As Canada’s best online life insurance advisor, we will assist you in comparing and choosing products across all our partner companies. Speak to our licensed advisors and we will be able to assist you in finding you the best coverage for your needs.

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Humania Critical Illness Insurance Review – Updated 2024

Humania Critical Illness Insurance rating and review

If you’re looking for a policy that offers the most comprehensive coverage that also includes children, Humania is the company to beat. Humania’s Children360 critical illness covers 37 conditions, including several that are specific to children. Humania also offers a compassionate allowance for grieving parents if that unfortunate situation does occur.

PolicyAdvisor Rating

Best Critical Illness Insurance for Children

AM Best Rating N/A

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Pros and cons

Pros

  • Comprehensive conditions covered (25 full payout illnesses)
  • Multiple coverage terms available
  • Child product (Children360) with 37 covered conditions
  • Parental compassionate allowance
  • Return of premium options
  • Digital e-policy

Cons

  • Limited partial payment benefit (only 3 covered conditions)
  • No online access
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Who is Humania?

With a history dating back to 1874, when it was founded by a Catholic bishop, this Quebec-based company spun off its insurance business in 2012 and rebranded as Humania Assurance. The company is an active member of SOCODEVI (société de coopération pour le développement international) which brings cooperative, sustainable job creation to global developing communities.

Types of critical illness insurance policies Humania offers

Humania offers critical illness insurance. It is aptly named Term Critical Illness and is available with basic (4 conditions) or enhanced (25 conditions) coverage.

Coverage and policy details

Humania’s maximum coverage for critical illness insurance is $1-million. 

They offer coverage for loss of independent existence. They offer partial payouts for 3 different conditions. The payout is typically 10% of the policy up to $10,000, and partial payments can be claimed four times during the coverage period.

Humania survival period (how long you must survive with the illness before you can collect your benefit) is 30 days.

Humania offers critical illness insurance for a 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, and 30-year terms or coverage up to 75 years of age.

There are limited-pay options available only for permanent coverage.

Product Name Term Critical Illness
Critical Illness coverage Basic and Enhanced Coverage
Available Terms 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years and to age 75
Limited Pay option None
Maximum coverage Up to $1-million
Conditions covered Enhanced – 25 conditions, Basic – 4 conditions
Loss of Independent Existence coverage Yes
Partial payout conditions 3 Eligible Conditions
Partial payment or early detection payment Yes, 10% up to $10,000. Payable up to 4 times.
Childhood illnesses coverage 7 childhood illness covered
Survival period 30 days
Return of Premium on death Yes
Return of Premium on expiry/cancellation Yes. Available after the 15th year of coverage or age 65
Second option No
Electronic application Yes
Online account access No
Electronic policy delivery Yes

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Does Humania critical illness insurance offer a return of premiums?

Yes, Humania offers a return of premiums on death and a return of premium on expiry or cancellation of the policy after its 15th year or when the policyholder turns 65.

How do I apply for Humania’s critical illness insurance?

You can apply for Humania’s critical illness insurance using the best online life insurance broker in Canada. You can enter your information and look up quotes using the button below or schedule a call with one of our licensed brokers to apply for Humania’s critical illness insurance.

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Humania Life Insurance Review – Updated 2024

We recommend Humania Assurance if you’re looking for life insurance coverage that can get approved quickly. Their plans are designed that way.

Read our full review below to find out more about the company, which features they offer, and what we rate their life insurance products.

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Best for Quick Issue

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Our Humania life insurance rating and review

Humania Assurance offers multiple term life insurance products, including both medical and non-medical coverage options.

Humania’s flagship HuGo Life Insurance product aims to accept your application quickly with the least requirements possible. The product is web-based and paper-free. 

The majority of policies are insured on the spot (more than 65%) in less than 45 minutes, with many completed in 15 minutes or less. HuGo is available for multiple terms, up to a maximum of 30 years. The company also offers a fixed premium term policy of up to age 80 and a conversion term of up to age 100. The product is convertible and renewable, with two renewal options: Gold and Platinum. Gold renewal is the standard renewal option although you could choose the more expensive platinum option, whereby your renewal prices upon initial maturity will be lower. 

The policy is also exchangeable between the first and fifth policy anniversaries for a term policy of longer duration. Riders for accidental death and dismemberment and waiver of premium on account of disability are available with this product.

Currently, Humania Assurance is also offering HuGo Critical Illness Insurance (critical illness cover up tp $25,000 for 25 different conditions) and HuGo Debt Insurance (which covers monthly payments for all types of debt up to $1,500 per month, if the person insured becomes disabled) without any additional requirements, if a customer is approved for HuGo Life with $100k or more coverage.

Humania Assurance offers two other term life insurance products:

  • Insurance without Medical Exam(IWME), a simplified non-medical product, for those who – for medical or other reasons – have had difficulty in obtaining life insurance. There is no medical exam involved. You need to answer 6 eligibility questions and are protected immediately upon receipt of your online application and the first premium payment. In addition to life coverage, the IWME product can also be used to add critical illness and disability insurance coverage.]
  • Term Life Insurance, a fully underwritten term life product. It is a flexible product, with possible terms of  10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years and term-to-age-80. It is renewable and convertible and comes with eight additional customizable benefits. It also has a multi-policy and family discount.

Pros and cons

Humania life insurance pros

  • Competitively priced term insurance options
  • Multiple coverage terms available 
  • Ability to exchange policy into a longer term for evolving insurance needs
  • Simplified and quick fulfilment options are available
  • Digital e-policy
  • Non-medical product options available for those with moderate to serious health concerns
  • Automatic approval for critical illness and debt disability coverage for those with standard health

Humania life insurance cons

  • No preferred pricing available for better health clients, although standalone pricing is usually competitive for the HuGo product
  • Conversion option only available up to age 65
  • No online access to policy details
  • Term coverage only available until age 80

Who is Humania Assurance?

Humania Assurance (Humania) is a mutual insurance company that has been developing insurance solutions focused on the needs of Canadians at competitive prices. It is also one of the oldest insurance companies based in Quebec and offers coverage to over 200,000 clients.

The company has a history dating back to 1874 when its predecessor business was founded by a Catholic bishop in Quebec. Following a business reorganization, the company was rebranded as Humania Assurance in 2012. 

Humania Assurance is a relatively smaller mutual life insurance company compared to some of its global counterparts. They lead the way in insurance innovation by offering simplified and digital access to term life insurance products for their clients. They offer competitively-priced term insurance products that are quick to issue with accelerated underwriting.

Humania Assurance: Quick Facts

    • Founded: 1874
    • Headquarters: Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec 
    • AM Best Rating: —
    • Better Business Bureau Accreditation and Rating: Yes/A+
    • Assets: $600-million
    • Annual Premiums: $158-million

How much does life insurance from Humania cost?

Representative values for HuGo, based on non-smokers in good health. $500,000 coverage, 20-year term.

Age Male Female
20 $32.40 $23.40
25 $32.40 $23.40
30 $32.40 $23.40
35 $34.65 $26.10
40 $51.30 $36.00
45 $81.00 $56.70
50 $135.50 $91.80
55 $242.55 $171.00

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What types of term life insurance policies does Humania offer?

Humania Assurance offers 3  different term life insurance products.

HuGo Life Insurance

  • Quick issue; majority of policies insured on the spot within 45 minutes. 
  • Web-based, paper-free, no application signature
  • Various terms starting from 10 to 30 years
  • Renewable, Convertible, Exchangeable.
  • Up to $5million in coverage

Insurance Without Medical Exam – Life Insurance

  • Non-medical coverage for those with moderate to severe health conditions, that may have had difficulty obtaining insurance elsewhere
  • Online application with immediate coverage, if approved.
  • Up to $300,000 in coverage
  • Renewal; guaranteed until 80 years of age
  • Available to between ages 18 to 70
  • Disability insurance (up to $2,500 per month) and Critical Illness insurance (up to $100,000) options also available with one’s policy

Term Life Insurance

  • Available to people aged 0 to 70 years of age
  • Offers renewable terms of 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years as well as coverage up to age 80
  • Each of the terms are renewable up to the age of 80
  • Convertible insurance up to age 65.
  • Up to eight additional benefits available, including waiver of premiums, insurance for accidental death, insurance for children and a guarantee of future insurability (subject to approval)
  • Offers up to $2,000,000 in maximum coverage

55-75 product

  • Specifically designed for people aged between 55 and 75
  • Offers cancer insurance, hospitalization insurance and medical expenses coverage
humania life insurance review

Coverage and policy details

  • Available Term Lengths: 10,15, 20, 25, and 30-year,  and up to age 80
  • Available Term Types: Guaranteed, level premiums
  • Maximum Amount of Coverage: Product limits vary. HuGo: $5,000,000
  • Renewability: Yes (see above)
  • Convertibility: Yes
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What other insurance policies does Humania Assurance offer?

Humania Assurance offers a wide range of insurance products to customers, apart from term life, such as:

Critical Illness Insurance

Critical illness insurance is a living benefit insurance policy that pays out a tax-free lump sum if you develop a specified illness, health event, or undergo treatment while under its coverage, after a minimum of 30 days from when you are first diagnosed (90 days for cancer). This coverage is available for a period of time also known as term length, and you determine it when purchasing the policy.

Humania offers several options for those looking for critical illness coverage.e

Term Critical Illness Insurance

  • Basic (4 illnesses) and enhanced (25 illnesses) coverage available
  • Terms are available 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 75 years
  • Return of premium available after 15 years or at age 65
  • Coverage amounts from $25,000 to $1,000,000

Critical Illness Insurance Without Medical Exam

  • Simplified application with only 6 health questions asked; immediate coverage
  • Terms available are 10 or 20 years
  • Return of premium on death
  • Coverage amounts from $5,000 to $100,000

Prohealth Cancer Insurance

  • Critical illness insurance that covers minor and major cancers only
  • Instant online fulfillment
  • Guaranteed premiums for 10 years
  • Coverage amounts from $5,000 to $75,000

Prodige

  • Basic (4 illnesses), comprehensive (24 illnesses). and enhanced (25 illnesses) coverage available
  • Return of premium available after 10 years of coverage
  • Life-pay, 20-pay, and pay to age 65 options for premium payment
  • Options for life insurance riders and return of premium on death for comprehensive coverage
  • Coverage amounts from $25,000 to $1,000,000

For more information and an in-depth look at their critical illness coverage, read our Humania Assurance Critical Illness Insurance Review.

Family Insurance

Humania offers unique insurance policies to protect your growing family through illness or accidents.

Children360 Insurance

  • Critical illness insurance for children which covers 37 illnesses (including many specific to children)
  • Coverage amounts from $10,000 to $50,000
  • Instantly issued

Fracture Accident Insurance

  • $10,000 in coverage in the case of accidental fractures
  • Available from 14 days to 75 years
  • Optional coverage for accidental death and dismemberment ($25,000)

Street-Wise Accident Insurance

  • Coverage for both natural and accidental death, dismemberment and loss of use, and fractures and hospitalization
  • Up to $200,000 in coverage
  • Available from 15 days to 70 years old

Travel Insurance

Humania’s Tour+Med travel insurance can cover up to $5,000,000 in travel related expenses/ It covers medical expenses, doctor’s fees, private care, drugs, accidental death, transportation, and much more.

Health Insurance

Humania offers unique insurance plans to cover medical and health expenses.

Prohealth-Hospitalization Insurance provides up to $150 per day if an insured person is hospitalized, as well as further benefits for recovery. Prohealth-Medical Expense Insurance provides up to $10,000 in coverage to handle everyday medical expenses like physiotherapists, chiropractors, diagnostic services, laboratory fees, plaster casts, slings, hernia belts, hearing aids, dental accidents, and more.

How can I get Humania Assurance life insurance quotes?

Humani Assurance offers unique life insurance coverage products that are a great fit for many Canadian consumers. As insurance advisors for Humania Assurance’s life insurance products, we can help you decide if Humania life insurance policies are the best fit for you.

As Canada’s best online life insurance advisor, we will assist you in comparing and choosing products across all our partner companies. Speak to our licensed advisors and we will be able to assist you in finding you the best coverage for your needs.

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Desjardins Critical Illness Insurance Review – Updated 2024

Desjardins critical illness insurance rating and review

Desjardins’ Health Priorities product offers prospective clients a lot of choice in coverage and term. It covers more illnesses for partial payment than most other companies in Canada. However, partial payments count as an advance against your overall payout.

PolicyAdvisor Rating

Best For Extensive Coverage

AM Best Rating N/A

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Pros and cons

Pros

  • The highest number of conditions covered (26 full payout illnesses)
  • Generous partial benefit payouts (most number of covered partial conditions)
  • Multiple coverage amounts and multiple terms possible
  • No survival period on most conditions (except cardiovascular)
  • Permanent coverage and limited pay options available
  • Children’s coverage available
  • Digital e-policy

Cons

  • No online access
  • Partial payment is an advance and reduces overall coverage
  • No second event coverage: Policy terminates after first claim payout
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Who is Desjardins?

Headquartered in Quebec, Desjardins Group is North America’s largest federation of credit unions and has served Canadians since 1901. Desjardins is a household name in Canada in everyday banking,  lending, and other financial services.

Desjardins was one of the first financial institutions in Canada to offer responsible investing and sustainable growth products and have made these options available to their customers for over 30 years.

Desjarsins is committing over $2 billion to renewable technologies, as well as installing over 200 electric vehicle charging stations in Quebec and Ontario and offering 25 new responsible investment products to their customers.

Types of critical illness insurance policies Desjardins Insurance offers

Yes. Desjardins’ critical illness insurance product is named Health Priorities. It offers Enhanced Coverage (covering 26 illnesses).

Benefits of term life insurance
Product Name Health Priorities
Critical Illness coverage Enhanced Coverage
Available Terms 10 years, 20 years, and to age 65, 75
Limited Pay option 10 and 20 Pay, and Pay to 100 options are available on permanent policies
Maximum coverage Up to $3 million
Conditions covered Enhanced – 26 conditions
Loss of Independent Existence coverage Yes
Partial payout conditions 16 eligible conditions plus 1 extra condition. Pays an advance for partial payout conditions, which reduces the coverage amount correspondingly
Partial payment or early detection payment Yes, 15% up to a maximum of $50,000, or 30% up to a maximum of $100,000 depending on illness
Childhood illnesses coverage Yes
Survival period 0 days for most conditions, except 30 days for a a cardiovascular issue
Return of Premium on death Yes
Return of Premium on expiry/cancellation Yes, amount increases from the 4th year of coverage onwards
Second option None
Electronic application No
Online account access None
Electronic policy delivery Yes

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Coverage and policy details

Desjardins’ maximum coverage for critical illness insurance is $3-million. It covers 26 critical illnesses, which is one of the highest in the industry

There offer coverage for loss of independent existence. They offer partial payouts for 16 different conditions. The payout is typically 15% of the policy up to $50,000, though they also offer a 1% payout for certain cancers up to a max of $5,000.

The survival period (how long you must survive with the illness before you can collect your benefit) is 0 days for most conditions, though they do have a 30-day wait for those who suffer from cardiovascular conditions.

Desjardins offers critical illness insurance for 10- and 20-year terms or coverage up to 65 or 75 years of age and permanent critical illness coverage.

10 and 20 pay options are available for permanent products.

Does Desjardins critical illness insurance offer a return of premiums?

Desjardins offers a return of premiums on death and a return of premium on expiry or cancellation from the 4th year of your coverage period onwards.

How do I apply for critical illness insurance?

You can speak to advisors from the best online life insurance broker in Canada to find the best critical illness insurance product for your needs. If you prefer, you can enter your information and look up quotes here or schedule a call with one of our licensed brokers to apply for Desjardin’s critical illness insurance.

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The information above is intended for informational purposes only and is based on PolicyAdvisor’s own views, which are subject to change without notice. This content is not intended and should not be construed to constitute financial or legal advice. PolicyAdvisor accepts no responsibility for the outcome of people choosing to act on the information contained on this website. PolicyAdvisor makes every effort to include updated, accurate information. The above content may not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, termination, and other provisions of the policies described, some of which may be material to the policy selection. Please refer to the actual policy documents for complete details. In case of any discrepancy, the language in the actual policy documents will prevail. A.M. Best financial strength ratings displayed above are not a warranty of a company’s financial strength and ability to meet its obligations to policyholders. All rights reserved.

If something in this article needs to be corrected, updated, or removed, let us know. Email editorial@policyadvisor.com.

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Desjardins Life Insurance Review – Updated 2024

One of the top 5 biggest life insurance companies in Canada, Desjardins is a solid choice for coverage. It’s a well-established and widely-recognized name in finance, so you can be sure it’s a safe bet.

Read our full review below to find out more about the company, which features they offer, and what we rate their life insurance products.

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Best For Stability

AM Best Rating N/A

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Our Desjardins life insurance rating and review

Desjardins is one of Canada’s largest financial institutions and is frequently ranked among the world’s 50 safest banks and financiers.

Desjardins offers a few term life insurance options to cover fixed-term needs such as lifestyle protection, mortgage coverage, or providing for your children’s education. The product offers a number of benefits and features that are expected based on industry standards. For pure term life insurance, the company offers six options – 10-year, 15-year, 20-year, 25-year, 30-year, and to-age-65 coverage.

The 10-year through 30-year term products offer automatic renewability up to age 85, and they can be converted to permanent protection to cover long-term needs. The longer-term age 65 product is convertible to Desjardins’ suite of permanent life products but does not offer renewability.

Pros and cons

Desjardins life insurance pros

  • Offers multiple add-on riders and benefits, giving flexibility to augment basic life coverage
  • Robust suite of critical illness, disability insurance, and whole life products; you can obtain comprehensive protection through one provider
  • Allows multiple applicants on the same policy; 1 policy can cover the basic life insurance needs of an entire family
  • Ability to convert shorter-term products into longer-term products and other types of insurance
  • Offers multi-policy discounts; can add up to significant savings during the course of coverage
  • Accepts applications from non-residents of Canada
  • Online services and account access
  • Digital e-policy

Desjardins life insurance cons

  • Limited term options; there are only 6 predetermined options to choose from
  • Cheaper straight term options (a more affordable premium) are available from the competition

Who is Desjardins Insurance?

Desjardins Group is a Canadian cooperative and represents the largest federation of credit unions in Canada and the fifth largest cooperative financial group in the world. Through its cooperatives and subsidiaries, the company is a major player in banking, life and general insurance (through Desjardins Insurance), securities brokerage, venture capital, and asset management.

The Desjardins Life Insurance Company’s products are sold through Desjardins Financial Security. The financial institution also offers business services including point-of-sale payments and cash management. In 2015, Desjardins Insurance acquired the Canadian business of insurance company State Farm. Desjardins Insurance operates through a network of more than 6,000 financial advisors concentrated in Quebec and Ontario, but with a presence across Canada.

Key facts about Desjardins Insurance

    • When was Desjardins founded?1900 
    • Where is Dejardins Insurance headquarters? Levis, Quebec
    • AM Best Rating: Not rated
    • Better Business Bureau Accreditation and Rating: Not rated
    • Assets: $39.8 billion
    • Annual Premiums: $9.2 billion

How much does life insurance from Desjardins Insurance cost?

Representative values. Life insurance premiums based on non-smokers in good health. $500,000 coverage, 20-year term.

Age Male Female
20 $29.70 $20.70
25 $29.70 $20.70
30 $30.60 $21.60
35 $31.50 $22.95
40 $45.45 $33.75
45 $72.90 $52.20
50 $126.00 $84.60
55 $228.15 $152.55
60 $403.20 $281.25
65 $679.95 $473.85

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What types of term life policies does Desjardins Insurance offer?

Desjardins Insurance offers term life insurance with 6 different terms and a host of benefits and riders. The payout from a life insurance policy can alleviate the financial impact your death has on your dependents and cover expenses like outstanding mortgage and personal loans or funeral costs and other final arrangements.

Term 10

  • Can be renewed every 10 years up to age 85
  • Can be exchanged for a higher term (term 20 or term 30)
  • Is convertible to permanent insurance for a period of time until the age of 70

Term 15

  • Can be renewed every 10 years up to age 85
  • Can be exchanged for a higher term
  • Is convertible to permanent insurance until the age of 70

Term 20

  • Can be renewed every 20 years, up to age 85
  • Can be exchanged for a higher term
  • Is convertible to permanent insurance until the age of 70

Term 25

  • Can be renewed every 10 years up to age 85
  • Can be exchanged for a higher term
  • Is convertible to permanent insurance until the age of 70

Term 30

  • Can be renewed every 10 years, up to age 85
  • Cannot be exchanged for a higher term
  • Is convertible to permanent insurance until the age of 70

Term-to-age-65

  • Cannot be renewed
  • Cannot be exchanged for a higher term
  • Is convertible to permanent insurance till the age of 60

Optional Riders

Desjardins Insurance offers multiple additional riders including:

  • Children’s protection
  • Accidental death & dismemberment
  • Disability waiver of premiums
  • Guaranteed insurability benefit

There are two more interesting term life insurance benefits offered by Desjardins Insurance:

Insurability Option

  • Couples and business partners can split their joint coverage into two individual permanent policies when their needs change
  • This is available for Term 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 policies

 Association Option

  • A policyholder can convert their term insurance into joint last-to-die permanent life insurance, by adding a new insured. This option can be used to cover estate taxes or leave a legacy
  • This is available for all 6 term lengths

Coverage and policy details

  • Available Term Lengths: 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years and to age 65
  • Available Term Types: Single, Joint First-to-Die
  • Maximum Amount of Coverage: Insurance amounts up to $20 million
  • Renewability: Yes for the 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-year terms
  • Convertibility: Yes, can be converted up to age 70
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What other insurance policies does Desjardins Insurance offer in Canada?

Desjardins Insurance offers other types of life insurance products to their customers, apart from term policy options.

Permanent Life Insurance

Permanent life insurance provides you with coverage from the day the policy is settled until the day you die. As long as you pay premiums into the policy, the coverage never expires.

Desjardins Insurance offers several types of permanent coverage:

Permanent Life Insurance – Basic coverage

  • Simplified lifetime coverage available to those between the ages of 50 and 75
  • No medical exam and guaranteed benefit even if death occurs during the first two years of the policy
  • 5x accidental death benefit until age 85
  • Advance payment available up to 50% of the death benefit
  • Benefit amounts available: $5,000, $7,500, $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000

Permanent Life Insurance – Personalized coverage

  • Set, guaranteed premiums, and ability to pay over 10, 15, or 20 years, or until ages 65 or 100
  • Benefit amounts from $1,000 to $10,000,000
  • Preferred rates available when taking out multiple coverages
  • Additional tax savings when coupled with a charitable contribution plan
  • Generous surrender values and continued prorated coverage if you stop paying premiums

Participating life insurance

  • Lifelong coverage which also accumulates tax-advantaged cash value and provides possible annual dividends
  • Ability to adapt coverage as your needs change and evolve
  • Pay over 20 years or to age 100
  • Guaranteed benefit
  • Dividends can be used to purchase additional life insurance or reduce the annual premium
  • Maintain some coverage even if one stops paying premiums

Universal life insurance

Universal life insurance is permanent life insurance with a self-directed long-term investment component: your insurer gives you options for investing the cash value of your policy.

Desjardins Insurance universal life insurance positions itself as an ideal solution for those looking to leave behind a substantial, tax-free inheritance, invest money tax-free when they have maxed out other options, or to reduce tax burdens on their estate.

Policyholders can amend their coverage whenever it needs changing without a penalty once they have held the coverage for 5 years. There is a choice of over 30 diversified investment options for the self-directed component of their universal life insurance.

desjardins life insurance review

Critical Illness Insurance

Critical illness insurance is a living benefit insurance policy that pays out a tax-free lump sum if you develop a specified illness, health event, or undergo treatment while under its coverage, after a minimum of 30 days from when you are first diagnosed (90 days for cancer). This coverage is available for a period of time also known as term length, and you determine it when purchasing the policy.

Desjardins Insurance’s maximum coverage for critical illness insurance is $2.5 million. It covers 26 critical illnesses, which is one of the highest in the industry

They offer coverage for loss of independent existence. They offer partial payouts for 15 different conditions. The payout is typically 15% of the policy up to $50,000, though they also offer a 1% payout for certain cancers up to a max of $5,000.

The survival period (how long you must survive with the illness before you can collect your benefit) is 0 days for most conditions, though Desjardins does have a 30-day wait for those who suffer from cardiovascular conditions.

Desjardins offers critical illness insurance for 10- and 20-year terms or coverage up to 65, 75, or 100 years of age.

10 and 20 pay options are available for some terms. Desjardins offers a return of premiums on death and a return of premium on expiry or cancellation from the 4th year of your coverage period onward.

For more information and an in-depth look at their critical illness coverage, read our Desjardins Critical Illness Insurance Review.

Disability Insurance

Disability insurance (or income protection insurance) is a policy that offers you protection against loss of income. It replaces a substantial portion of your paycheque if you become disabled until you return to good health and resume work (or the end of your coverage period).

Desjardins Insurance offers options for those seeking disability coverage.

  • Available for Canadians up to the age of 65
  • Offers income replacement from $200-$10,000 depending on one’s age and occupation.
  • Benefit periods can be 2 or 5 years, or until age 65 or 70 (depending on the coverage they choose)
  • Ability to increase the monthly benefit without additional medical underwriting
  • Partial refund of premiums if one cancels the policy on eligible surrender dates

Desjardins Healthcare insurance

Desjardins Insurance offers individual, independent health insurance for those looking to obtain their own coverage or augment the coverage they have from other sources. It provides coverage for medical costs not covered by provincial health plans, like, prescription drugs, healthcare services (physiotherapists, chiropractors, psychologists, etc.), dental care, vision care, nursing and ambulance services, therapeutic equipment, diagnostic services not provided in hospitals, travel insurance, and more.

Desjardins Auto insurance

Desjardins Insurance offers auto insurance in Canada, with discounts available for multiple products (home insurance), multiple vehicles, winter tires, loyalty, electric vehicles, and more. Besides automobiles, Desjardins also offers coverage for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, watercraft, snowmobiles, and RVs (recreational vehicles like motorhomes, campers, and camping trailers).

Desjardins Home insurance

Desjardins Insurance offers home insurance for freehold houses, condo units, seasonal homes, and tenant insurance.

Desjardins Pet insurance

Desjardins Insurance offers three tiers of coverage for your cat or dog: Bronze Paw, Silver Paw, and Gold Paw.

Is Desjardins Insurance right for you?

Desjardins Insurance offers unique term life insurance coverage products that are a great fit for many Canadian consumers. As insurance advisors for Desjardins Insurance products, we can help you decide if they are the best fit for you and find you Desjardins Insurance quotes.

As Canada’s best online life insurance advisor, we will assist you in comparing and choosing a life insurance policy across all our partner companies. Speak to our licensed advisors to complete your financial security plan. We can assist you in finding you the best, most affordable coverage for the insurance amounts you need. You can do this all from the comfort of your own home (no paper form or postal services necessary) and cut down on face-to-face interactions in this unprecedented time.

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Foresters Critical Illness Insurance Review – Updated 2024

Foresters Financial Critical Illness insurance rating and review

Foresters has refreshed their critical illness insurance offering and made a strong move up the charts. They now offer both basic (Live Well) and enhanced (Live Well Plus) critical illness insurance which covers 4 and 25 illnesses respectively. They include return-of-premium on death as standard; however, the time for return-of-premium on cancellation is very long (starts at Year 20). They also have a unique Term 80 option.

PolicyAdvisor Rating

Best For Built-In Features

AM Best Rating A

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Pros and cons

Pros

  • Partial payment for 8 conditions (15% up to $50,000)
  • Access to Foresters’ community benefits
  • Return of premium options available
  • Unique Term-to-80 option available
  • Child Cover available (with 5 additional conditions)
  • Digital e-policy

Cons

  • Partial payout reduces final coverage
  • No limited pay options available
  • No permanent coverage
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Who is Foresters?

Foresters Financial derives from the Independent Order of Foresters – a socially responsible, international financial services provider that has served North America for 140 years since splitting from a UK-based parent group. Foresters Financial has been an early champion of gender and racial equality and is known internationally for its charitable efforts in times of tragedy and need.

Types of critical illness insurance policies Foresters Financial offers

Foresters offers two critical illness insurance products. Live Well Plus is their enhanced coverage plan (covering 25 conditions), while Live Well provides basic coverage (4 conditions).

Coverage and policy details

Foresters’ maximum coverage for critical illness insurance is $2-million. 

They offer coverage for loss of independent existence. They offer partial payouts for 8 different conditions, and they can be claimed twice. The payout is typically 15% of the policy up to $50,000, and partial payments can be claimed once during the coverage period (which reduces the final benefit).

Foresters survival period (how long you must survive with the illness before you can collect your benefit) is 30 days.

Foresters offers critical illness insurance for a 10- or 20-year term or coverage up to 80 years of age.

There are no limited-pay options available.

Product Name Live Well Plus (Enhanced), Live Well (Basic)
Critical Illness coverage Basic and Enhanced Coverage
Available Terms 10, 20 years and to age 80
Limited Pay option None
Maximum coverage Up to $2-million
Conditions covered 4 (basic) and 25 (enhanced)
Loss of Independent Existence coverage Yes
Partial payment or early detection payment Yes
Childhood illnesses coverage Yes for enhanced coverage
Survival period 30 days
Return of Premium on death Yes
Return of Premium on expiry/cancellation Yes. Year 20 onwards
Second option No
Electronic application Yes
Online account access Yes
Electronic policy delivery Yes

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Does Foresters critical illness insurance offer a return of premiums?

Yes, Foresters offers return of premiums on death and return of premium on expiry or cancellation of the policy after its 20th year.

How do I apply for Foresters’ critical illness insurance?

You can apply for Foresters’ critical illness insurance using the best online life insurance broker in Canada. You can enter your information and look up quotes using the button below or schedule a call with one of our licensed brokers to apply for Foresters’ critical illness insurance.

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