Laura McKay is the co-founder and COO of PolicyMe, Canada's fastest-growing digital life insurance company. In 2021, she was named one of the Women of the Year by Bay Street Bull. Laura has a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo. Her degree focused on Actuarial Science, which included learning about mortality risk, the basis of life insurance pricing and valuation. After her degree, she was employed by Manulife and Munich Re in Actuarial Science. Laura then worked at famed management consulting company Oliver Wyman in New York from 2013-2018. In this position, she worked with many Fortune 500 life insurance companies and helped them develop growth strategies and solve operational problems and regulatory issues.
The best life insurance companies for no medical applicants are Canada Protection Plan, Humania and PolicyMe.
No medical can be referred to as guaranteed acceptance life insurance, accelerated issue life insurance or simplified issue life insurance.
These policies are suited for people that have been denied coverage before, have health issues or are senior in age.
No medical is much pricier than "traditional" underwritten policies, like term life insurance.
No medical vs. traditional life insurance policies: cost comparison
The industry average rate for an applicant with pre-existing conditions, for $500,000 in coverage for someone aged 40 starts at:
$42.75 per month for a woman
$56.70 per month for a man
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!
Best no medical life insurance companies in Canada
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.
Canada Protection Plan no medical life insurance
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:
Deferred Elite Term Life: Up to $350,000 in coverage. For people with serious health conditions.
Simplified Elite Term Life: Up to $500,000 in coverage. For people with good health but with a high risk hobby or occupation.
Express Elite Term Life: Up to $750,000 in coverage. For people in good health that need coverage within a day.
Preferred Term Life: Up to $1,000,000 in coverage. For people in relatively good health.
Preferred Elite Term Life: Up to $1,00,000 in coverage. For people in good health that don't need urgent coverage.
Permanent life insurance:
Guaranteed Acceptance Life: Up to $50,000 in coverage. Anyone who applies will be approved.
Deferred Life: Up to $75,000 in coverage. Accumulates cash value.
Deferred Elite Life: Up to $350,000 in coverage. For those with less-serious health conditions.
Simplified Elite Life: Up to $500,000 in coverage. For those in good health.
Pros and cons of Canada Protection Plan
PolicyMe Term 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.
Pros and cons of PolicyMe Term Life Insurance
Humania Insurance Without Medical Exam
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.
Pros and cons of Humania Insurance Without Medical Exam
Sun Life Guaranteed Life Insurance
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.
Pros and cons of Sun Life Guaranteed No Medical Life Insurance
Cover Direct Life Insurance
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.
Pros and cons of Cover Direct Life Insurance
UV Insurance Simplified Issue Life Insurance
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.
Pros and cons of UV Insurance Simplified Issue Life Insurance
Empire Life Guaranteed Life Protect
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.
Pros and cons of Empire Life Guaranteed Life Protect
What companies offer the most life insurance coverage 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:
Ages 18-50: $1,000,000
Ages 51-60: $500,000
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.
Do you have to do a medical exam to get life insurance?
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:
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Of average health for their age and gender.
Between 30 to 50 years old and looking for a policy under $1M.
Between 50 to 60 years old and looking for a policy under $500,000.
While it's not guaranteed, you may very well get term life insurance with no medical exam.
Can I be denied a no medical life insurance policy?
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 can disqualify me from no medical life insurance policies?
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.
Should I get no medical life insurance if I’m healthy with no pre-existing conditions?
Generally, you shouldn't get 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.
Video summary: no medical life insurance Canada
FAQ: Best life insurance without a medical exam Canada
How does no medical life insurance work?
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:
A chronic illness (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, or cancer)
A family history of severe health issues
Substance use problems
A dangerous job or hobbies
No medical life insurance is used to:
Cover final expenses like funeral costs, which can cost thousands of dollars
Leave some financial support for your children or grandchildren
Cover any end-of-life medical expenses
When should I buy a no medical life insurance policy?
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.
Should I get guaranteed issue life insurance or simplified issue life insurance coverage?
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.
What kind of life insurance no medical questions are in the application?
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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