Critical illness · Canada-wide

Protect your income from serious illness.

A tax-free lump sum, typically $25K to $1M, paid 30 days after diagnosis of one of 25+ covered conditions. Cash on hand to pay the mortgage, hire help, take time off, or travel for treatment.

From $28/month for younger non-smokers
Tax-free lump sum
Coverage to $1M+
Quick critical-illness quote
What CI covers

25+ conditions, depending on carrier

The four "big" conditions (cancer, heart attack, stroke, coronary bypass) trigger most claims. Comprehensive policies extend to a longer list including:

Cancer (life-threatening)

Most common claim category by far. Excludes early-stage skin cancer and most carcinoma in situ, your advisor walks through exclusions.

Heart attack & stroke

Both must meet specific medical-evidence criteria. Coronary artery bypass is typically a separate covered condition.

Major organ failure / transplant

Kidney failure, liver failure, lung failure, heart transplant, listed as separate conditions in most policies.

Multiple sclerosis · Parkinson's · ALS

Progressive neurological conditions covered by most comprehensive policies.

Aortic surgery · paralysis · coma

Major surgical and acute conditions covered in comprehensive plans.

Blindness · deafness · loss of speech

Permanent sensory loss typically covered after 90-day persistence.

Why CI complements life insurance

Life insurance pays when you die. CI pays when you live.

The income gap during recovery

Cancer survivors in Canada average 18 months of reduced or zero income. Even with provincial healthcare, the costs are real: drug coverage gaps, travel for specialists, lost spousal income for caregiving, childcare during recovery. CI covers that gap.

Tax-free, no restrictions

Unlike disability insurance (income replacement, payable while disabled) CI pays a one-time lump sum, tax-free, with no restrictions on how you spend it. Pay down the mortgage, fund private treatment, take 6 months off, your choice.

Sample premium ranges

What you might pay for $100,000 of CI

Profile10-year term20-year termTo age 75
30-year-old, non-smoker$28–$42/mo$38–$58/mo$72–$108/mo
40-year-old, non-smoker$52–$78/mo$78–$118/mo$148–$215/mo
50-year-old, non-smoker$98–$148/mo$165–$245/mo$285–$425/mo
30-year-old, smoker$48–$72/mo$68–$98/mo$128–$185/mo

Premiums shown are sample ranges. Actual rates vary materially with health history, family history of covered conditions, occupation, and carrier underwriting. Final pricing requires application and underwriting.

Carriers we work with

Comprehensive CI options

Manulife Sun Life Canada Life RBC Insurance iA Financial
Carrier availability varies by product and province. Your advisor confirms which carriers can quote your situation. Each carrier defines covered conditions slightly differently, these definitions matter at claim time.
Common questions

Critical illness FAQ

CI pays a one-time lump sum when you're diagnosed with a covered condition, regardless of whether you can still work. Disability pays a monthly income only while you're medically unable to work. Most clients carry both because they cover different risks.
Yes. Most policies require you to survive 30 days after diagnosis before the claim is paid. Some specific conditions (e.g., loss of independent existence, multiple sclerosis) require a longer survival/persistence period, typically 90 days.
An optional rider that returns all premiums paid if you never claim. Adds 50–100% to the base premium but means the coverage is effectively "free" if you stay healthy. Whether it's worth it depends on your investment alternatives.
Yes. Underwriting reviews your full medical and family history. Pre-existing conditions may lead to exclusions for that condition, rated premiums, or decline. Apply when you're healthy, that's when carriers give the best terms.

Find the right critical illness cover.

We compare CI products across carriers, coverage list, definitions, waiting periods, ROP options. An LLQP-licensed advisor walks through the trade-offs.

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