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No medical life insurance is a type of life insurance policy that doesn't require a medical examination to get approved. It offers a simplified application process, making it a decent option for those who want coverage without the hassle of medical tests or paperwork.
With no medical life insurance, you can get coverage based on your answers to a few health-related questions. This means that even if you have pre-existing medical conditions or are concerned about the results of a medical exam affecting your eligibility, you can still secure life insurance protection for yourself and your loved ones. But because no medical life insurance typically costs so much more than traditional life insurance policies, it's not the best option for everyone.
Generally, you don't need no medical insurance if you are healthy without pre-existing conditions or a family history of health conditions. But you can if you're willing to pay premiums that are almost double to avoid the nurse visit. But in most cases, shoot for the best with regular life insurance and, if it doesn't work out, you always have other options.
While this is ultimately a personal decision, it's important to know exactly what no medical insurance means for your premiums and coverage.
The industry average rate for an applicant with pre-existing conditions, for $500,000 in coverage for someone aged 40 starts at:
Policies that don't require a medical exam often cost much more because the insurance companies won't know much about your health and the “risk” they're taking on.
Conversely, traditional underwritten policies (i.e. term or whole) can offer better coverage and lower costs. And you may not even need to do a medical exam. Let's compare no medical life insurance and term life insurance quotes:
See how much you could save by going with term life insurance. Get a quote in just a few clicks – your rate might surprise you!
Let's review the best life insurance companies with no medical options in Canada, along with tips for choosing the right company and policy for you. Short on time? Watch this video summary of the best no medical life insurance in Canada.
Canada Protection Plan (CPP) is the leading insurer for no medical life insurance in Canada.
They have a big variety of guaranteed acceptance and simplified issue products. But no medical life insurance is much more expensive compared to standard term policies. If you're looking for cheap life insurance without a medical exam, you may be disappointed. Here's a look at some no medical life insurance quotes:
Canada Protection Plan's two main categories of no medical life insurance plans are as follows:
Term life insurance:
Permanent life insurance:
PolicyMe term life insurance is a good option for minimal health questions, with a 26-question application. You'll know instantly if you're approved, declined or if we need more information. This may be a note from your doctor or a quick health exam.
Our term policies are also more affordable because they're risk-assessed and backed by insurance giant Canadian Premier. And our premiums are around 5-10 per cent cheaper than similar policies on the market.
Humania, an insurance company from Quebec, offers Insurance Without Medical Exam. This product asks just six eligibility questions online and is issued immediately. It may be a good option if you're looking for urgent life insurance without medical questions.
Sun Life Guaranteed No Medical Life Insurance is a guaranteed acceptance life insurance product with coverage for your entire life (can also be called guaranteed issue life insurance). While Sun Life is one of the biggest life insurance companies in Canada, this product is not their specialty.
Cover Direct Life Insurance is a life plan that renews every year. They ask about 12 health and lifestyle questions over the phone but there are no medical exams or blood tests.
Because Cover Direct's policies renew yearly, you can't lock in your premiums. The premiums start off cheap and get more expensive every year.
This is because Cover Direct is not fully underwritten (not risk-assessed); they take on more risk not knowing your full health profile, so they charge you more. If you're looking for life insurance without a medical, there may be better options out there.
UV Insurance is a small insurance company based in Quebec that specializes in group coverage (life insurance you get through work). Their simplified issue policies are one of their relatively new life insurance products.
Empire Life is a century-old insurance company based in Quebec with a variety of life insurance products. As the name suggests, this policy is guaranteed acceptance life insurance (or guaranteed issue life insurance). Generally, their prices are not that competitive, so they may not be a good selection if you're looking for cheap life insurance without a medical exam.
The maximum life insurance coverage you can get without a medical exam ranges from $1M-$2M, depending on your age. Most life insurance companies in Canada will put an age cap on the available coverage without a medical exam.
For example, PolicyMe's maximum possible death benefit without a medical exam is:
Here's a further breakdown of the insurance companies with the maximum coverage amount by age group:
That's not to say that you're necessarily guaranteed to get that coverage amount. These are just the maximum possible death benefit amounts available without required medical exams.
Not every life insurance applicant needs to get a medical to get their policy approved.
If you apply for term life insurance through PolicyMe, you might have to undergo a medical exam. In your application, you’ll be asked a series of medical questions related to your history and lifestyle.
Most will be approved without having a medical exam if they're:
While it's not guaranteed, you may very well get term life insurance with no medical exam.
Guaranteed acceptance life insurance policies approve anyone regardless of their medical history. But there are other no medical life insurance policies that can deny applicants, like simplified issue life insurance.
Even if you're approved, sometimes no medical policies some with such heavily restricted coverage (lower death benefit amounts) and expensive premiums that they don't make financial sense for you to take on.
If you choose no medical, evaluate the coverage, premiums, and terms carefully to ensure it covers your family's life insurance needs.
What disqualifies you from no medical life insurance differs from company to company. It can be as simple as not being a permanent resident or Canadian citizen.
Before disqualification, they'll vet your application with some kind of medical review. A medical review is just a questionnaire instead of an exam or interview to get an idea of your medical history. Based on your responses, you can still get denied by no medical life insurance providers.
The approval process for no medical insurance in Canada is designed to be pretty quick. Often, you can expect to get a decision (approved/denied) within a few days or weeks after submitting your application.
But the speed of approval will vary depending on factors like the insurance provider you choose and the completeness of your application.
No medical life insurance works by letting applicants skip a medical exam, but they come at a much greater life insurance cost when comparing quotes to traditional life insurance providers.
While no medical life insurance might appeal to lots of people, it's best for those who don't qualify for a standard life insurance policy.
No medical life insurance is a good choice for Canadians who have:
No medical life insurance is used to:
The best time to get any type of life insurance is as soon as you can. As you age, your premiums will increase. The longer you wait to apply, the more expensive your policy will be. And if you have people in your life who rely on your income, it's worth it.
No medical is also a good option for those needing coverage quickly or those that want to skip a medical exam because of health concerns. But if you're in good health and can qualify for a traditional life insurance policy, it may be more cost-effective in the long run. Ultimately, the decision of when to buy a no medical life insurance policy depends on your individual needs.
Choosing between guaranteed issue and simplified issue life insurance really depends on your particular situation.
Guaranteed issue life insurance doesn't ask health questions or need a medical exam, so it's great for folks with serious health issues. But keep in mind: this comes with higher premiums and less coverage because the insurer is taking on more risk. Simplified issue life insurance skips the medical exam but does ask a few basic health questions.
With simplified issue, you might get more coverage than with a guaranteed policy but these policies are both comparatively more expensive than traditional term life insurance. Get a term life insurance quote first before going with a no medical option.
Life insurance policies that ask minimal or no medical questions will typically fall under the category of "guaranteed issue" or "simplified issue" policies. These policies are designed to provide coverage without your comprehensive health background.
In a guaranteed issue policy, you're usually not asked health-related questions and there's no medical exam. This type of policy is often chosen by individuals with serious health conditions. But it's worth noting that these policies usually have lower coverage limits and much higher rates due to the increased risk for the insurer.
On the other hand, simplified issue policies may ask a few basic health questions but don't require a medical exam. These policies often offer quicker approval times and might provide larger coverage amounts than guaranteed issue policies.
Want to learn more about other life insurance options? Here are more reviews of Canadian life insurance companies:
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