1-888-601-9980
- Desjardins offers three types of critical illness insurance for individuals, children, and business owners
- Also known as Health priorities, Desjardins’ critical illness plan provides comprehensive coverage for 26 conditions and partial coverage (or advance) for over 16 conditions with up to $3 million of coverage
- Desjardins’ children’s plan provides comprehensive coverage for 32 health conditions, including 6 childhood conditions
- Desjardins’ Executive Health Plan (for business owners) includes a death benefit that returns either 100% of paid premiums or 25% of the insurance amount, whichever is greater if the insured passes away
- What are the benefits of Desjardins’ critical illness insurance?
- What types of critical illness insurance are offered by Desjardins?
- What is covered under Desjardins’ critical illness insurance?
- What is not covered under Desjardins’ critical illness insurance?
- Does Desjardins’ critical illness insurance offer a return of premium options?
- What is the cost of a Desjardins critical illness policy?
- Pros and cons of Desjardins’ critical illness insurance
- Can I cancel or modify my Desjardins critical illness policy?
- How can I buy a Desjardins critical illness plan?
- Frequently asked questions
One of Canada’s largest financial institutions, Desjardins offers comprehensive critical illness coverage for individuals, children, and business owners. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at these offerings — their features, benefits, and downsides — to help you determine if they’re the right fit for your needs.
What are the benefits of Desjardins’ critical illness insurance?
Desjardins’ critical illness insurance, also known as Health Priorities, provides a tax-free lump-sum payment if you’re diagnosed with one of its 26 covered health conditions. This benefit is payable even if you’re diagnosed outside Canada.
Other benefits include:
- Long-Term Care (LTC): In case of loss of independence with a reasonable chance of recovery, Desjardins will pay 15% of your total insurance benefit (up to a maximum of $25,000)
- Coverage for all types of cancer: Desjardins Health Priorities covers all types of cancer and offers partial or full benefits, depending on the severity of the cancer (learn more about critical illness insurance for cancer)
- Partial benefit: In addition to the 26 covered conditions, Desjardins offers partial coverage (ranging from 1% to 30% of the insurance amount) for over 16 health conditions
- Second medical opinion: Following the diagnosis of a covered condition, you can access Desjardins Health Priorities’ second opinion service for a thorough review of your medical records to confirm your diagnosis
- Autonomy assistance: In the event of a temporary or permanent loss of independence, Desjardins Health Priorities provides home care services to help simplify daily life for you and your caregivers
- Phone assistance: Desjardins Health Priorities also offers telephonic access to nurses for advice on nutrition, vaccinations, prescription drug use, and other health concerns
Desjardins’ business plan also includes a death benefit that is paid to your company if you die prematurely. This amount is either 100% of all premiums paid by you and your company or 25% of your insurance amount, whichever is greater.
Call 1-888-601-9980 to speak to our licensed advisors right away, or book some time with them below.
What types of critical illness insurance are offered by Desjardins?
Desjardins offers three types of critical illness policies for individuals, business owners (and key employees), and children. Here’s a closer look at these plans:
- Health Priorities (individual): Offers comprehensive coverage for 26 health conditions and partial coverage for more than 16 conditions, with coverage limits of up to $3 million
- Health Priorities (child): Provides comprehensive coverage for 32 critical illnesses, including 6 childhood conditions, with coverage limits of up to $1 million (learn more about children’s critical illness insurance)
- Executive Health Plan (for businesses): Allows you to own a critical illness policy jointly with your company and pays a lump-sum benefit if you’re diagnosed with a covered health condition. If you remain healthy until the policy’s expiry, you can get back 100% of your paid premiums
Key features of Desjardins’ critical illness insurance
| Feature | Individual | Child | Executive Health Plan |
| Coverage amount range | $10,000 to $3 million | $10,000 to $1 million | $10,000 to $3 million |
| Issue ages | 18 to 65 years | 0 to 25 years or 0 to 17 years with additional disease options | 18 to 65 years |
| Premium and coverage options |
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| Conditions covered |
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| Survival period | 30 days for cardiovascular conditions and procedures | 30 days for cardiovascular conditions and procedures | 30 days for cardiovascular conditions and procedures |
| Waiting period |
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| Partial benefits | 1% to 30% of the insurance amount (depending on the condition) | 1% to 30% of the insurance amount (depending on the condition) | 15% of your total insurance amount (maximum $50,000) |
| Return of premiums | Optional | Included in the policy | Included in the policy |
| Optional benefits | Disability waiver of premiums, accidental benefit, accidental fracture, accidental death, dismemberment, or loss of use, children’s life protection, and children’s accidental fracture | Disability waiver of premiums, accidental benefit, accidental fracture, and accidental death, dismemberment, or loss of use | Disability Waiver of Premiums |
Source: Desjardins Insurance
What is covered under Desjardins’ critical illness insurance?
Desjardin’s critical illness insurance covers 26 health conditions across 6 categories:
| Category | Conditions |
| Cancer |
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| Cardiovascular |
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| Neurological |
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| Accidents and functional loss |
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| Other |
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| Vital organs |
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The company also provides coverage for 6 childhood conditions:
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Cystic fibrosis
- Rett syndrome
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
- Muscular dystrophy
- Cerebral palsy
Additionally, Desjardins pays a partial benefit (or advance) for over 16 health conditions. You can receive up to 5 payments per category, with benefits ranging from 1% to 30% of your coverage amount. The categories are:
- Early-stage cancer:15% of the insurance amount (maximum $50,000)
- Other cancers (non-life threatening):1% of the insurance amount (maximum $5,000)
- Total mastectomy or prostatectomy: 30% of the insurance amount (maximum $100,000)
- Minor cardiovascular conditions and procedures: 15% of the insurance amount (maximum $50,000)
- Temporary loss of independent existence:15% of the insurance amount (maximum $25,000)
Does Desjardins have a qualifying period for critical illnesses?
Yes, Desjardins has a qualifying period for certain illnesses or conditions, during which you must exhibit specific symptoms, neurological deficits, or functional losses to qualify for coverage.
The start date of the qualifying period depends on how the covered condition is defined in your contract. It may begin on:
- The date of diagnosis,
- The date of functional loss, or
- The date of the triggering event
Here’s a list of illnesses that have a qualifying period:
Critical illnesses with a qualifying period
| Critical illness or condition | Qualifying period |
| Stroke | 30 days |
| Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease | 6 months |
| Bacterial meningitis | 90 days |
| Coma | 96 hours |
| Acquired brain Injury | 180 days |
| Paralysis | 90 days |
| Loss of speech | 180 days |
| Occupational HIV infection | 90 to 180 days |
| Permanent or temporary loss of independent existence | 90 days |
| Multiple sclerosis | 6 months |
Source: Desjardins Insurance
What is not covered under Desjardins’ critical illness insurance?
Procedures like angioplasty and conditions like viral meningitis are not covered under Desjardins’ critical illness insurance. For a complete list of exclusions, consult the Desjardins Critical Illness Guide.
Desjardins also has waiting periods for specific conditions. For example, cancer has a 90-day waiting period, while Parkinson’s disease has a one-year waiting period. If you’re diagnosed with these conditions or show initial symptoms during the waiting period, you won’t be eligible for benefits.
What is the cost of a Desjardins critical illness policy?
The cost of a Desjardins critical illness policy depends on several factors, including:
- Age: Younger individuals typically pay lower premiums
- Health status: Pre-existing conditions and habits like smoking may increase your premiums
- Coverage amount: Higher coverage limits mean higher premiums
- Term length: The duration of coverage can also affect costs
To give you an idea, here’s what a 20- to 55-year-old individual might pay for $50,000-$100,000 in critical illness coverage over a 10-year term:
Cost of Desjardins critical illness insurance
| Age | Coverage amount | Monthly premium ( Male Smokers) | Monthly premium (Male Non-smokers) |
| 20 | $50,000 | $16.56 | $15.07 |
| 30 | $100,000 | $37.35 | $28.98 |
| 35 | $50,000 | $30.37 | $20.97 |
| 40 | $100,000 | $77.58 | $43.83 |
| 45 | $50,000 | $73.80 | $37.75 |
| 55 | $100,000 | $373.95 | $159.75 |
For a personalized quote, try our online critical illness insurance calculator or book a free consultation with our licensed insurance advisors.
Pros and cons of Desjardins’ critical illness insurance
Desjardins’ critical illness insurance has several benefits, including no survival period for most conditions, phone assistance from nurses, and home care assistance in case of loss of independent existence. However, it also has some drawbacks:
|
Pros |
Cons |
| No survival period on most conditions (except cardiovascular) | Partial benefit is an advance and is deducted from the total insurance amount |
| Coverage for all types of cancer (with full or partial benefit based on the type of cancer) | No second event coverage: Policy terminates after first claim payout |
| Children’s plan with 32 covered conditions, including 6 childhood conditions | |
| Home care services in case of temporary or permanent loss of independent existence | |
| Telephonic access to nurses for guidance on nutrition, vaccinations, prescriptions, and other health concerns | |
| Long-Term Care (LTC) benefit (typically 15% of the insurance amount) for loss of independent existence with a chance of recovery |
Can I cancel or modify my Desjardins critical illness policy?
Yes, you can cancel your Desjardins critical illness policy anytime by calling 1-866-647-5013.
You can also modify your policy in the following ways:
- Changing beneficiaries: You can contact Desjardins at 1-888-558-5525 to update your beneficiary information
- Switching coverage options: You can switch from a term critical illness insurance plan to a permanent policy (depending on your policy’s terms)
How can I buy a Desjardins critical illness plan?
Choosing the right critical illness insurance can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Schedule a free consultation with our licensed advisors for personalized guidance. Our experts can help you compare different providers and their offerings, and find a plan that’s tailored to your needs.
With PolicyAdvisor, you’ll also enjoy lifetime after-sales support for any questions or adjustments down the road. Book your free consultation today and get the best critical illness insurance quotes!
Frequently asked questions
Is Desjardins’ critical illness insurance worth it?
Yes, Desjardins’ critical illness insurance can ease the financial distress of a health emergency by providing a tax-free lump-sum payment for an insured condition. With coverage limits of up to $3 million and tailored plans for individuals, children, and business owners, it can also give you significant flexibility and control over your healthcare coverage.
However, as with any insurance, we recommend you speak to our licensed insurance advisors for a personalized assessment of your needs and to determine if Desjardins’ critical illness insurance is right for you.
Does Desjardins’ critical illness insurance offer any optional benefits/ add-ons?
Yes, Desjardins’ critical illness insurance offers several optional benefits or riders that allow you to enhance your coverage. These include:
- Return of premiums: Refunds a percentage of your premiums if you terminate the policy, provided you haven’t claimed the full benefit for a critical illness
- Return of premiums on death: Refunds either 100% of your premiums paid or 25% of your coverage amount, whichever is greater, in the event of death
- Disability Waiver of Premiums: Waives premiums if you experience total disability lasting more than six months before age 60.
- Accident: Pays a predetermined amount to your beneficiary if you die in an accident
- Accidental fracture: Pays a lump-sum benefit for fractures caused by accidents. The exact amount depends on the fractured bone
- Accidental death, dismemberment, or loss of use: Pays you or your beneficiary a percentage of the insurance amount if you die or suffer dismemberment due to an accident
- Children’s life protection: Adds term life insurance for children aged 15 days to 25 years, with the option to convert it to a permanent policy for up to 5 times the basic amount
- Children’s accidental fracture: Pays a benefit if a child (aged 15 days to 25 years) sustains a fracture due to an accident
What happens if I die while my policy is active?
If your policy included a Return of Premiums on Death rider, your beneficiaries would get 100% of all premiums paid or 25% of the insurance amount, whichever is greater.
Does Desjardins’ critical illness insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
No, Desjardins’ critical illness insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions. To be eligible for coverage, you must not have experienced any symptoms or received a critical illness diagnosis within 90 days of your policy’s start date.
Desjardins offers three critical illness insurance plans for individuals, business owners, and children. Their individual and business plans cover 26 health conditions, with a coverage limit of up to $3 million. Desjardin’s children’s plan covers 32 health conditions, including 6 childhood conditions, with a coverage limit of up to $1 million.
