UV Life Insurance Review Canada: What You Need To Know (Updated!)
PolicyMe content follows strict guidelines for editorial accuracy and integrity. Learn more about our editorial guidelines.
- UV’s standout policy is its whole life insurance, which provides both a death benefit and a cash value accumulation feature.
- UV also offers riders that you can add to your life insurance policy, such as disability or critical illness coverage.
- Premiums for UV life insurance are generally on par with those of other Canadian insurance providers.
UV life insurance review (2025 update)
UV life insurance has customizable policy options in Canada including cash value, death benefit, and a combination of both. No-medical-exam options are also available with UV.
UV has been around since 1889, when it was founded in Quebec. It is now one of the best insurance companies in Canada with 260 employees and over 330,000 mutualists.
UV life insurance: Our verdict (3.0/5 stars)
Product |
Rating |
Average premiums* |
Cost comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Term Superior+
|
★★★☆☆ (3.0)
|
$34.49/month for $500,000 of coverage
|
1% above industry average
|
* This figure reflects the typical costs for a non-smoking woman between the ages of 30-44 across a term length of 10-30 years
UV life insurance is known for its flexible policies and its rider options, including a complimentary severe loss of autonomy rider on certain plans. The company offers a mobile app and average premiums compared to other Canadian providers. It also has a long history of financial stability, according to its annual report.
UV offers a couple of advantages you may not see from other life insurance companies. All of its policies are available with simplified underwriting, which speeds up the application process by waiving all medical exams. However, you’ll need to undergo regular underwriting with a medical exam to get UV’s other unique benefit: life insurance with no upper limit on coverage.
PolicyMe’s rankings are based on an independent, data-driven review of Canada’s best life insurance products and providers.
Our analysis combines 450,000+ quotes for 50+ life insurance products with in-depth research on 20+ providers. We assigned each product a star rating out of five based on a mix of average pricing, Google Review scores, and shopping convenience, then ranked the results in 12 categories.
Rankings are determined first by star rating and then by price, with preference given to expert recommendations by PolicyMe’s team of life insurance advisors. Our findings are entirely data-driven and do not include paid placements, but should not be considered a substitute for personalized financial advice.
Apply in minutes with PolicyMe, top-rated term life insurance in Canada.
UV life insurance pros and cons
UV is a trusted company for life insurance, but there are a few reasons it stands out from its competitors.
Pros
- Wide variety of options, including term life insurance and three whole life insurance plans
- Cash value accumulation with high surrender value on whole life policies
- Community-minded company that invested 10% of its profits in 2024 into community initiatives
- Simplified underwriting with no medical exam available on some policies
Cons
- Not the cheapest insurer on the market (premiums depend on the coverage amount and type, and riders come at an additional cost)
- Unfavorable customer reviews, mostly about how difficult it is to reach a representative
- Medical exam is required for some types of coverage
- Risks are inherent to investments in your cash value portion, but this is true across the board
- Premiums may increase over time, especially with a renewable term
UV life insurance cost and value
The cost of life insurance in Canada depends on your lifestyle risk factors and the coverage you want. For UV Term Superior+ life insurance, average monthly premiums for non-smokers with $500,000 in coverage range from 1% to 11% above the industry average.
Age group |
Sex at birth |
Average monthly premiums* |
Cost comparison** |
|---|---|---|---|
Youths (18–29) |
Female |
$21.28 |
4% above industry average |
Youths (18–29) |
Male |
$29.91 |
3% above industry average |
Adults (30–44) |
Female |
$34.49 |
1% above industry average |
Adults (30–44) |
Male |
$46.73 |
1% above industry average |
Adults (45–59) |
Female |
$128.60 |
4% above industry average |
Adults (45–59) |
Male |
$186.67 |
7% above industry average |
Seniors (60+) |
Female |
$259.48 |
9% above industry average |
Seniors (60+) |
Male |
$363.85 |
11% above industry average |
* These figures reflect the average monthly cost for $500,000 of coverage for healthy, non-smoking individuals across a term length of 10-30 years.
** Compared to the average monthly costs for $500,000 of coverage for healthy, non-smoking individuals across a term length of 10-30 years and 26 term life insurance products.
About pricing comparisons
To ensure fairness and accuracy, all pricing comparisons were made within identical product types and demographic segments. For instance, a 10-year term policy for non-smoking women aged 18-29 with $500,000 in coverage was compared to the average pricing for all other 10-year term policies meeting the same criteria.
See how affordable term life insurance can be with PolicyMe.
UV life insurance reviews and customer service
UV has a fairly unimpressive 2.8/5 star rating among Canadians on Google. One of the most common complaints is around difficulty contacting the company, with many policyholders saying that they spend hours on hold to no avail. Claims handling also seems to be a sticking point, with reviews noting frequent claim denials and questions going unanswered.
This company is not registered with the BBB, and we couldn’t find any UV customer service reviews on Trustpilot or Insureye.
UV life insurance products at a glance
UV Insurance offers whole life insurance and term life insurance policies.
Here’s a quick overview of UV’s life insurance products in Canada, from term length options to premiums and additional perks.
Product |
Coverage Options |
Term Length |
Eligibility |
Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Term Superior+ |
$10,000+ |
10–30 years |
18 to 65 years (age caps on 25- and 30-year terms) |
Benefit for Severe Loss of Independent Existence included at no cost |
Adaptable |
$10,000+ |
Lifetime |
15 days to 75 years |
Highly customizable with multiple payment options |
Whole Life High Values |
$10,000+ |
Lifetime |
15 days to 75 years |
Fixed premiums payable for 20 years |
Whole Life Pay to 100 |
$10,000+ |
Lifetime |
18 to 80 years |
Payable to age 100 |
All UV’s life insurance policies are available with simplified underwriting that doesn’t require a medical exam. However, you’ll only be able to purchase a certain amount of coverage without a medical exam. Exact coverage caps vary, but most UV applicants will need a medical exam for more than $150,000 in coverage.
UV insurance riders
UV’s insurance options come with a ton of riders you can use to customize your policy. Key riders include:
- Child rider: Provides optional term life insurance coverage for your children
- Waiver-of-premium riders: Allows you to maintain coverage without paying premiums in the event of death, disability, or loss of employment
- Critical illness insurance rider: Adds critical illness insurance to your life insurance coverage (only available with full underwriting)
How UV compares to other insurance providers
PolicyMe |
UV Life Insurance |
RBC Life Insurance |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Top-rated product |
Term life insurance |
Term Superior+ |
RBC YourTerm |
Rating |
★★★★★ (5.0) |
★★★☆☆ (3.0) |
★★★★⯪ (4.5) |
Average premiums* |
$31.68/month |
$34.49/month |
$31.30/month |
Cost comparison |
7% below industry average |
1% above industry average |
8% below industry average |
Term options |
10–30 years |
10–30 years |
10–40 years |
Coverage options |
$100,000 – $5,000,000 |
$10,000+ |
$500,000 – $20,000,000 |
Renewable |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
Convertible |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
Great customer service |
✅ |
❌ |
❌ |
Quote online |
✅ |
❌ |
✅ |
Buy online |
✅ |
❌ |
❌ |
* These figures reflect the average monthly cost for $500,000 of coverage for healthy, non-smoking individuals across a term length of 10-30 years
UV life insurance vs. PolicyMe life insurance
Overall, PolicyMe comes out on top when compared to UV life insurance.
Cost
PolicyMe’s life insurance products are more affordably priced compared with UV’s, with premiums around 8% lower, on average. It’s also worth noting that PolicyMe offers much higher coverage amounts with simplified underwriting — up to $2 million for applications under age 50 in good health, compared with UV’s maximum of $250,000.
Customer satisfaction
UV’s customer reviews are a weak spot for the company, with Google users reporting difficulty getting in touch with representatives. Because UV doesn’t allow customers to request quotes or purchase policies online, poor access to customer service is a major issue.
By contrast, PolicyMe holds a “Great Customer Service” badge based on its 4.9-star Google Reviews average and A+ Better Business Bureau grade.
Convenience
UV doesn’t issue quotes online or let clients purchase coverage without scheduling a consultation with an advisor. PolicyMe, on the other hand, allows customers to quote and purchase life, health, and critical illness insurance in a seamless online process which typically takes 20 minutes or less.
The bottom line: Who should consider UV?
You should consider UV life insurance if you’re interested in a no-medical-exam coverage, a high cash surrender value, or the severe loss of autonomy rider that’s included with many UV policies.
Skip UV if you’re looking for a whole life policy that offers dividends, as UV does not currently offer this type of coverage. Look elsewhere if you’re looking for affordable term insurance, with PolicyMe or Wawanesa offering better options.
Some UV products are not available in all provinces.
FAQ: UV life insurance
UV life insurance is good because it’s flexible and has a selection of optional riders to choose from. One standout is the company’s complimentary severe loss of autonomy rider.
You won’t find the lowest rates or the best customer service with UV; however, UV life insurance is good in the sense that it’s an established company with a stable financial background and diverse policy options.
UV life insurance is not a subsidiary or a merger with any other insurance company, although it did change its name from UL Mutual (Union Life Mutual Assurance Company) to UV Insurance in 2019. The current CEO of UV life insurance is Christian Mercier, and nine people sit on its Board of Directors.
The UV insurance headquarters is in Drummondville, Quebec, with an office at 1990 Jean-Berchmans-Michaud Street. UV is now a nationally recognized insurer with an emphasis on serving customers in Quebec and Ontario.
Yes, UV life insurance policy exclusions and limitations include suicide and pre-existing medical conditions. Some childhood diseases are covered, like cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. Exclusions depend on the policy you purchase and the waiting period you’ve agreed to, but these are standard exclusions for most insurers.
A medical exam is required for UV life insurance only if you’re buying a fully underwritten policy that exceeds a simplified issue limit. UV has several policies that you can purchase with no medical exam, and several others with minimally invasive questionnaires.
.png)
Our mission is to empower Canadians to make informed financial decisions. To achieve this, we have an expert editorial team that includes licensed insurance advisors and financial planners. We prioritize the best interests of Canadian families and won't endorse any product, company or financial strategy that we believe isn't suitable. Our educational guides are crafted by in-house experts, like licensed life insurance advisors. Before publication, we subject our research and advice to scrutiny and comprehensive revisions for accuracy and completeness.
Our mission is to empower Canadians to make informed financial decisions. To achieve this, we have an expert editorial team that includes licensed insurance advisors and financial planners. We prioritize the best interests of Canadian families and won't endorse any product, company or financial strategy that we believe isn't suitable. Our educational guides are crafted by in-house experts, like licensed life insurance advisors. Before publication, we subject our research and advice to scrutiny and comprehensive revisions for accuracy and completeness.