Canada Life disability insurance 2024 review, free quotes

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Alexandre Desoutter updated on 8 February 2024

Disability insurance provides a portion of your monthly income when illness or injury stops you from working, helping you manage your expenses.

The reputed Canada Life offers Canada Life disability insurance ensuring you're supported during difficult periods. But is it the right choice for you? Let's find out!

In this review, we tell you everything you need to know about Canada Life disability insurance from its coverage and eligibility to pros, cons, and more. You can use our free tool to get quotes from Canada Life and also compare it with other big providers right here.

Canada Life disability insurance: Key takeaways

  1. Tailored for lower-income, part-time workers, and entrepreneurs.
  2. Flexible waiting periods, benefit lengths, and amounts.
  3. Includes total and partial disability benefits.
  4. Conditionally renewable with broad eligibility criteria.
  5. Special provisions enhance value but check exclusions.

Our Canada Life disability review of 2024

The Independence Plan by Canada Life is a standout disability insurance product, offering comprehensive coverage tailored for lower-income workers, part-time employees, and entrepreneurs.

Its flexibility in terms of waiting periods, benefit lengths, and the range of monthly benefits makes it accessible and adaptable to various needs. Special provisions like presumptive disability benefits and the waiver of premiums enhance its value.

However, potential policyholders should carefully consider the specific exclusions and eligibility criteria. Overall, it's an excellent safety net for those in non-traditional employment who often lack access to such protection.

If you think Canada Life disability insurance could be the right choice for you, you can get a personalized quote right here. Click the button below and get free quotes in no time.

Pros of Canada Life disability insurance (Independence Plan)

  • Reputation: One of Canada's top insurance companies
  • Wide Eligibility: Caters to a broad range of workers, including those in lower-income occupations, part-time and seasonal workers, home-based business owners, and new entrepreneurs, making it accessible to many who might not qualify for traditional disability insurance.
  • Flexible Coverage Options: Offers various waiting periods, benefit periods, and benefit amounts, allowing policyholders to customize their coverage based on their specific needs and financial situations.
  • Comprehensive Benefits: Includes provisions for total and partial disabilities, along with special features like hospitalization waiver, presumptive disability benefits, and waiver-of-premium benefits, providing a robust safety net.
  • Conditionally Renewable: The plan is conditionally renewable on an annual basis, offering continued protection as long as the policyholder meets the eligibility criteria.
  • Positive customer experience: Canada life disability insurance reviews from customers show a good client service experience and easy claims processing.

Cons of Canada Life disability insurance (Independence Plan)

  • Specific Exclusions: There are certain exclusions and limitations, which may affect coverage for pre-existing conditions or specific activities, potentially limiting the applicability for some individuals.
  • Maximum Benefit Limits: With a cap on the maximum monthly benefit, higher-income individuals might find the coverage insufficient to fully replace their income during periods of disability.
  • Occupational Restrictions: The plan's focus on specific employment situations means it might not be the best fit for individuals in more traditional employment settings looking for more comprehensive or customizable disability insurance options.

Compare Canada Life disability insurance with other providers in Canada so you can buy a plan that truly fits all your needs. You can use our free comparator below to compare multiple and get free personalized quotes right here.

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What does Canada Life disability insurance offer?

Canada Life offers two types of disability insurance plans: The Lifestyle Protection Plan and the Independence Plan.

Lifestyle Protection Plan: The generous plan provides up to $25,000 monthly disability benefit (Lifestyle Protection Plan - Class 4A worker up to 55 years old). To qualify policyholders must work a minimum of 30 hours worked per week for 39 weeks per year.

Let's take a deeper look at the Independence Plan.

What does Canada Life Independence Plan cover?

Key Features and Benefits

  • Conditionally Renewable Contract: The plan is conditionally renewable, allowing clients to renew their coverage annually as long as they remain within the specified occupational categories.
  • Coverage Options: The plan offers a variety of waiting periods (14, 30, 90, and 120 days), benefit periods (1, 2, 5 years, and up to age 65), and is available for individuals aged 18 to 60, extending to 55 for the 5-year benefit period option.
  • Benefit Amounts: Minimum monthly disability benefits start at $500, with a maximum of $3,000 available, providing a range of coverage levels to suit different needs and incomes.
  • Total and Partial Disability Benefits: Includes provisions for both total and partial disabilities, ensuring recipients are supported whether they are completely unable to work or in a reduced capacity.
  • Special Provisions: Features like hospitalization waiver, presumptive disability benefits, recurrent disability support, and waiver-of-premium benefits add extra layers of protection.

Eligibility and Exclusions

Eligibility for the Independence Plan encompasses a wide range of workers, including those in lower-income brackets, part-time and seasonal roles, as well as home-based businesses and new entrepreneurs.

The plan, however, has specific exclusions and limitations, particularly regarding certain medical conditions and activities that could affect the claim or benefit amounts.

Good to know

If you're self-employed and looking for a plan tailor-made for your needs, read our complete guide on disability insurance for self-employed.

Ideal Candidates

The Independence Plan is best suited for individuals in non-traditional employment situations or those with limited access to employer-sponsored disability coverage.

Its design caters to the unique needs of lower-income workers, part-time and seasonal employees, home-based business owners, and newly established entrepreneurs.

If you think this plan is right for you, you can get free personalized quotes from Canada Life right here.

Good to know

Disability insurance is offered in two formats: Short-term and long-term. Read our extensive guides to know everything about short-term disability insurance and long-term disability insurance coverage in Canada. Get personal quotes in no time using our free comparator.

How do I apply for Canada Life disability insurance?

You can reach Canada Life by clicking the button below. Just enter some basic information on what you're looking for and voila get personalized quotes in no time and then get in touch with an advisor. You can also get an advisor to reach out to you using the Canada Life website.

You can also compare Canada Life quotes with other providers like Manulife, iA, and more right here using our free tool below.

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How much does Canada Life disability insurance cost?

Unfortunately, it is difficult to provide a price range for Canada Life disability insurance. Disability insurance pricing varies widely based on the following factors:

  • Age
  • Health
  • Occupation
  • The amount of disability coverage desired
  • The waiting period you choose

The table below summarizes the average price of disability insurance with a 90-day waiting period. This is meant solely to provide a rough indication before speaking with an advisor and your pricing will vary.

Age of policyholderMonthly benefit desiredApproximate monthly price
20
$2000$19
20
$4000$39
30
$2000$24
30
$4000$48
40
$2000$50
40
$4000$102
50
$2000$62
50
$4000$126
Estimate of Canada Life disability insurance prices

Ready to get real quotes on a disability insurance plan that works for you? Just click on the button below and get free quotes from Canada Life and other big providers right here.

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How do I contact Canada Life Insurance?

Need to reach Canada Life because of a policy question, claims request, or to inquire about a policy? Here's how: You may call the Canada life disability insurance phone number at 1-888-252-1847.

How do I file a Canada Life disability insurance claim?

You must fill out a claim form that you can find on the Canada Life website under the "Find a form" section. Disability benefits claim forms have two parts: customer information and a physician report.

To ensure a timely claim process, it's crucial to submit your claim promptly. You have the option to reach out to Canada Life via your advisor for assistance.

Alternatively, if you're in Canada or the United States, call the Canada life disability insurance contact number (toll-free): 1-888-252-1847. For TTY to Voice services, dial 711; and for Voice to TTY, please call 1-800-855-0511.

After your claim submission, Canada Life will allocate a claims examiner to evaluate your claim meticulously. Should there be any need for further details to facilitate the review, the examiner will reach out to you directly.

  • In scenarios where no additional information is required from you, anticipate a decision from the claims examiner within one week.
  • Should there be a necessity for more information, the decision-making process could extend to a month or longer. This is particularly true for claims that are more complex and necessitate a thorough review.

Heard of long-term disability lawyers?

In Canada, approximately 60% of long-term disability claims face rejection, frequently even those that are valid, commonly due to the perceived insufficient severity of the disability. Insurers may also count on the likelihood that many claimants won't challenge these decisions. This is where disability insurance lawyers become indispensable, providing essential assistance in contesting and reversing these denials. Taking a look at our comprehensive guide on long-term disability lawyers, covering their functions, selection, and fees, can provide valuable insights.

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Alexandre Desoutter
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Alexandre Desoutter has been working as editor-in-chief and head of press relations at HelloSafe since June 2020. A graduate of Sciences Po Grenoble, he worked as a journalist for several years in French media, and continues to collaborate as a as a contributor to several publications.

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