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Canada Protection Plan Life Insurance Review – Updated 2024
Canada Protection Plan provides moderately priced term life insurance products for those with medical conditions that would otherwise be declined by their competitors. Term products come in 10, 20, 25, or 30-year terms for up to $1 million in coverage and do not require a medical exam for approval. Their term products are reasonably priced with a low-barrier application process.
Canada Protection Plan may be a good option for you if you need a life insurance policy that does not ask you to take a medical exam. These kinds of policies are called no-medical life insurance, and they can be a good option if you have health issues or if you do not want to answer too many health-related questions.
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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Our Canada Protection Plan insurance rating and review
Canada Protection Plan is unquestionably the leading provider of non-medical life insurance and simplified issue life insurance products in Canada.
If you’re having difficulty finding insurance, have been rejected for life insurance in the past, or simply want to apply and get approved for life insurance quickly, Canada Protection Plan is one of your best options for a simplified issue life insurance policy.
Though keep in mind: if you are in good health and don’t mind the few weeks of waiting period which often accompanies medical underwriting, there are lower-priced options than Canada Protection Plan products.
Pros and cons
Canada Protection Plan Pros
- Multiple products offering simplified, no-medical coverage for applicants across all health categories
- Most products are available through a quick, simple, online application without any medical tests
- Digital e-policy
- Several terms are available including 10, 20, 25, and 30-year coverages
- Affordable coverage pricing, especially when compared to pricing multipliers (aka ratings) imposed by traditional insurance companies on applicants with prior health issues
- Available to temporary residents such as those on a student or work visa– you don’t have to be a Canadian citizen or work permit holder
- Most plans offer life protection from the time the policy is put in place
- Customers can pay annual premiums by credit card
- All plans convertible to permanent coverage until age 70
- Decreasing term option available (ideal for covering mortgage debt)
Canada Protection Plan Cons
- Canada Protection Plan products can be more expensive than plans from other insurers for those in good health. You pay a higher premium in exchange for the convenience of coverage with no-medical underwriting
- Coverage amounts are limited to a maximum of $1-million with Canada Protection Plan products. If you require higher coverage, you will need to look for another insurance provider
- Coverage ends at age 80 versus age 85 for most other Canadian providers
Who is Canada Protection Plan?
Canada Protection Plan – founded in 1992 – is a privately-owned Canadian insurance intermediary that develops, designs, and distributes life insurance and related products for the Canadian consumer. Canada Protection Plan life insurance offerings are unique in the Canadian life insurance marketplace as these products offer quick, simplified, non-medical coverage options to applicants with varying health or lifestyle considerations.
Canada Protection Plan’s term and whole life insurance products are underwritten by Foresters Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Foresters Financial, one of North America’s oldest insurance companies, with a history that dates back to over 140 years.
Thus, Canada Protection Plan life insurance customers are part of the Foresters benefit program. (This also grants Canada Protection Plan policyholders access to unique member benefits offered by Foresters Financial, such as grants and scholarships for children, emergency assistance program, money management consultations, etc.)
Canada Protection Plan expanded their operations into Quebec in 2019, with the brand name “Plan de Protection du Canada.”
Canada Protection Plan primarily operates in a particular niche: Providing life insurance to hard-to-insure applicants. Canada Protection Plan’s insurance offerings can be a great option for those that were previously refused insurance or have pre-existing health conditions.
Canada Protection Plan’s simplified issue life insurance policies are also great alternatives for applicants that are healthy and wish to obtain coverage quickly, have an aversion to medical tests, or engage in extreme sports and therefore may find traditional life insurance alternatives unsuitable for their needs from a timing and/or pricing perspective.
They also offer guaranteed issue and non-medical small whole life insurance policies with coverage amounts starting from $10,000. These are a good option to choose when planning for funeral expenses and are designed for those with challenging health conditions and looking for no medical life insurance.
Canada Protection Plan paid out 98% of non-contestable claims in 2018.
Canada Protection Plan: Quick Facts
- Founded: 1992
- Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario
- AM Best Rating: N/A – Foresters*: A (Excellent)
- Better Business Bureau Accreditation and Rating: Yes / A+
- Assets: N/A – Foresters Financial*: $2.6 Billion
- Annual Premiums: N/A – Foresters Financial*: $1.2 Billion
*Values are shown for Foresters Financial, underwriting company for Canada Protection Plan life insurance products
How much does life insurance from Canada Protection Plan cost?
Representative values, based on non-smokers in good health. $500,000 coverage, 20-year term, Simplified Elite
| Age | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | $76.95 | $48.15 |
| 25 | $77.40 | $49.05 |
| 30 | $80.10 | $51.30 |
| 35 | $85.95 | $56.70 |
| 40 | $89.55 | $74.70 |
| 45 | $132.75 | $101.25 |
| 50 | $233.10 | $164.70 |
| 55 | $380.70 | $261.45 |
| 60 | $634.50 | $418.50 |
| 65 | N/A | N/A |
What types of term life insurance policies does Canada Protection Plan offer?
Yes, Canada Protection Plan offers 5 different term life insurance products that vary in the amount of term coverage offered based upon health ratings of individual applicants
Canada Protection Plan Deferred Elite Term
- Designed for hard-to-insure applicants with somewhat serious health conditions or those who have been denied life insurance coverage in the past
- No medical exams in application process
- Coverage up to $350,000
- Coverage periods of 10, 20, or 25 years
- Guaranteed acceptance life insurance with premiums renewable to age 80 and convertible to age 70
- The deferred product has a limitation such that the life insurance coverage amount is only payable if death occurs after 2 years or death is due to an accidental cause.
Canada Protection Plan Simplified Elite Term
- Designed for those in relatively good health or engaged in extreme sports, or those who do not want to take a medical exam
- No medical exams in application process and immediate coverage
- Coverage up to $500,000
- Coverage periods of 10, 20, or 25 years
- No waiting period
- Guaranteed premiums that are renewable to age 80 and convertible to age 70
Canada Protection Plan Preferred Term
- Designed for applicants in good health who want coverage faster than through traditional underwriting
- No medical exams in application process and immediate coverage
- Some additional underwriting questions vs simplified elite term product
- Coverage up to $1,000,000
- Coverage periods of 10, 20, or 25 years
- No waiting period, coverage starts immediately
- Guaranteed premiums that are renewable to age 80 and convertible to age 70
Canada Protection Plan Express Elite Term
- Designed for those in excellent health
- No medical application process and immediate coverage
- Coverage up to $750,000 (for ages 18-50) and $500,000 (for ages 51-60)
- Coverage periods of 20 or 30 years
- No waiting period, coverage starts immediately
- Guaranteed premiums that are renewable to age 80 and convertible to age 70
Canada Protection Plan Preferred Elite Term
- Designed for applicants in very good health who want coverage faster than through traditional underwriting
- This plan is fully underwritten – thus it requires medical underwriting
- Coverage up to $1,000,000
- Coverage periods of 10 years, 20 years or 25 years
- No waiting period, coverage starts immediately
- Guaranteed premiums that are renewable to age 80 and convertible to age 70
Coverage and policy details
- Available Term Lengths: Canada Protection Plan offers term periods of 10 years, 20 years, 25 years, and 25 year decreasing coverage. The offered coverage terms depend on the chosen product and/or health condition of the applicant.
- Available Term Types: Canada Protection Plan life insurance is offered in both level and decreasing term plans. If you are clear about your financial obligations and their time periods, you can take advantage of decreasing premiums in a plan such as the 25-year decreasing term plan. For instance, decreasing term plans are great for mortgage protection.
- Maximum Amount of Coverage: $1-million
- Convertibility: All Canada Protection Plan level term policies are renewable and provide coverage to age 80 and convertible to a permanent plan until age 70.
What other insurance policies does Canada Protection Plan offer?
Critical Illness Insurance
Canada Protection Plan offers critical illness insurance for adults and children through four different policy options.
Cardiac Protect CI
- Critical illness insurance coverage for heart-related illnesses such as heart attack, stroke, aortic surgery, coronary artery bypass surgery, and heart valve replacement or repair
- Term-to-75
- Issue ages: 18-65 years
- Minimum benefit: $10,000
- Maximum benefit: $50,000
- Not renewable or convertible
- Optional benefits include: Accident Death Benefit, Return of Premiums upon Death
Cancer Protect CI
- Critical illness insurance coverage for many forms of cancer, aplastic anemia, and benign brain tumours
- Term-to-75
- Issue ages: 18-65 years
- Minimum benefit: $10,000
- Maximum benefit: $50,000
- Not renewable or convertible
- Optional benefits include: Accident Death Benefit, Return of Premiums upon Death
Cardiac AND Cancer Protect CI
- Protection for both cardiac and cancer-related illnesses
- Term-to-75
- Issue ages: 18-65 years
- Minimum benefit: $10,000 per event
- Maximum benefit: $50,000 per event
- Not renewable or convertible
- Optional benefits include: Accident Death Benefit, Return of Premiums upon Death
Cardiac OR Cancer Protect CI
- Protection for one of either a cardiac or cancer-related illness
- The insured receives a tax-free lump sum in the event of their first illness
- Term-to-75 or Term 20
- Issue ages: 18-65 years (T75) and 18-55 (Term 20)
- Minimum benefit: $10,000 (T75), $25,000 (T20)
- Maximum benefit: $100,000
- Not convertible
- T75: Non-renewable; T20: Renewable to age 75
- Optional benefits include: Accident Death Benefit, Return of Premiums upon Death
Travel Insurance
Canada Protection Plan offers two options for travel insurance. Travel Medical Insurance covers Canadian travels for unforeseen emergency medical costs while they are abroad. Visitors to Canada Insurance covers those who need to protect against unexpected medical expenses when visiting on vacation or those moving to Canada and waiting for coverage through other means (like through provincial health plans, or workplace or student coverage).
Health and Dental Insurance
Canada Protection Plan has two insurance policy options for Canadians looking to protect themselves against unexpected medical costs. Hospital Cash Benefit provides a benefit if you are hospitalized for more than 24 hours. Health and Dental Insurance provides coverage for medical and dental expenses not covered by provincial health plans. These plans are offered through a partnership with Manulife.
Is Canada Protection Plan right for you?
Canada Protection Plan offers unique life insurance coverage products that are a great fit for many Canadians consumers that value the convenience offered by non-medical products. As insurance advisors for Canada Protection Plan’s life insurance products, we can help you decide if Canada Protection Plan products 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 Canada Protection Plan quotes.
