Explore how to get life insurance if you’re over 50 in Canada. Plus, learn how much this type of life insurance can cost, and how to decide if getting over 50 life insurance makes sense for you at this stage of life.
Compare life insurance for the over 50 in Canada
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Do I need life insurance over 50?
It’s worth looking into over 50s life insurance in these situations:
You have people relying on your income. Above all, life insurance is an income protection policy. If you have loved ones relying on your income to cover their living expenses, a policy can ease their financial burden when you pass away — especially if you don’t have much in savings.
You want to protect your estate. Life insurance is a payable-upon-death asset, which means the proceeds of your policy typically won’t go through probate. If you’ve accumulated assets over your lifetime, a policy can help your heirs to hold onto those assets and pay any taxes owed.
You want to make sure you’re covered if you fall ill. You can add an accelerated death benefit or critical illness rider to most policies. These riders pay out a portion of your policy if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness, which can offset financial stress if you need to undergo treatment.
You’d like to take care of your funeral costs. Many people in their 50s purchase a policy to simply pay for their burial and end-of-life expenses. A funeral can cost $10,000 or more, so the payout from a life insurance policy can help your family through the grieving process.
How much does life insurance for over 50 in Canada cost?
Based on our research, a 55-year old male in excellent health could get a 10-year term life insurance policy worth $500,000 for around $110 per month, while a 55-year old female in similar health could get that same over 50 policy for around $80 per month.
Also consider that the price of life insurance in your 50s can change drastically depending on when exactly you signed up. For example, the price of that same policy for the same man will jump up to around $143 per month if he signs up at 57-years old, or decrease to $82 per month if he signs up at 52-years old instead.
So as you get into your 50s, consider purchasing a policy sooner rather than later to lock in a lower premium.
You can find affordable over 50s life insurance in Canada without sacrificing the quality of protection in your 50s. A simple way to get started is by comparing life insurance providers that offer policies in line with the coverage you need.
How do insurers calculate the cost of my premiums?
The cost of a life insurance premium is based on the level of risk the applicant presents to the insurer, depending on factors like:
Age
Gender
Occupation
Medical conditions
Tobacco use
Alcohol use
Hobbies
What’s the cheapest life insurance for over 50 in Canada?
To figure this out, we compared the costs of a $500,000, 10-year term life policy from 20 major carriers. For a no-smoking 55-year-old man, RBC offered the cheapest rate at $97.83 a month. That insurer is also the most cost-effective option for women, charging $74.21 a month. As always, the rates for a smoker will be higher.
Sample monthly costs of a 10-year, $500,000 term life policy for a 55-year-old in excellent health and with a perfect driving record:
Provider
Male
Female
RBC
$97.83
$74.21
BMO
$108.45
$78.30
Empire Life
$108.45
$78.30
Wawanesa Life
$116.10
$81.90
Desjardins
$117.00
$82.35
Canada Life
$117.27
$81.10
*Based on sample rates from PolicyAdvisor
What kind of life insurance for over 50 is available in Canada?
These policies are popular choices for life insurance over 50 in Canada:
Term life insurance.Term life insurance offers temporary coverage for a set period of time, like 10, 15 or 20 years, or until a set age, like 65 years old. You could purchase a policy that would expire when you no longer have financial obligations — for example, the year you retire or pay off your mortgage, or when your grandchildren go to college. If you die during the term, your beneficiaries receive a guaranteed death benefit.
Whole life insurance. If you want to treat your life insurance policy as a cash asset, look into whole life insurance. A portion of your premiums are invested to give your policy a cash value, which earns interest over time at a set rate. Once you’ve built up enough cash value, you can begin to borrow against your policy — which can be useful if you have large expenses to cover, like a home renovation.
Final expense insurance. Often marketed to those aged 55+, these policies are designed to cover end-of-life costs, such as a funeral and medical bills.
Simplified issue life insurance. If you have a preexisting health condition, you can forgo the medical exam with simplified issue life insurance. You may need to complete a health questionnaire, though.
Which riders should I add to my policy?
Depending on your needs, you could add these riders to your coverage:
Accelerated death benefit. Allows you to access part of the death benefit while you’re still alive if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Long-term care rider. Pays out a portion of the death benefit to help you cover long-term care expenses, like a nursing home or private nurse.
Term conversion rider. Available on term life policies, this rider gives you the option to convert to permanent coverage later on — usually before your 65th or 70th birthday.
Can I apply for life insurance over 50 without a medical exam?
Yes. Some policies don’t require a medical exam — like funeral, simplified issue and guaranteed issue insurance. However, these policies are expensive and capped at small amounts, like $25,000 or $50,000. Unless you have a preexisting condition or need coverage quickly, you’ll likely be able to lower your premiums by taking a medical exam.
How to find the best over 50 life insurance policy in Canada
While getting life insurance when you’re 50 or older is fairly easy these days, weighing your options is critical when trying to get the most affordable policy that meets your needs. Here are a few simple steps for you to consider when purchasing a life insurance policy:
Read the terms and conditions. Be sure that you’re getting the correct protection without any unnecessary features to avoid overpaying for a policy. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about any details on the policy that are unclear to you.
Consider your health. If the insurance provider you apply with requires a medical test, know that any pre-existing medical conditions, lifestyle habits and driving records can significantly affect the cost of your premiums.
Look for discounts. When applying for coverage, consider insurance needs for your partner or spouse as well — you may get a discount on your premiums. Insurance providers will generally also offer discounts if you pay your premiums annually.
Talk to an insurance broker. If you’re unsure of which life insurance plan makes sense for you and is within your budget, an insurance consultant likely has the ability to provide recommendations on policies for you with competitive prices.
What if my application has been denied?
Ask the provider for a reassessment of your life insurance application. They may ask for additional medical information to determine if they’re able to provide you with coverage and take on any risk you might pose.
If you’re still unable to get coverage and your application has been denied, consider alternatives like funeral insurance or guaranteed issue life insurance.
Other types of over 50 insurance to consider
If a life insurance policy isn’t the right fit for you, consider these types of policies:
Critical illness insurance. This coverage pays out a lump sum benefit if you’re diagnosed with a life-threatening condition as specified in the policy. The medical conditions covered vary between providers but often include cancer, heart disease, strokes and major organ transplants. The payout can be put toward medical treatment and rehabilitation facilities.
Disability insurance. The truest type of income protection, disability policies pay monthly benefits if you become disabled and can no longer work. Depending on your coverage, your policy usually can replace between 60% and 85% of your paycheck.
What are my odds of passing away in my 50s?
According to life expectancy data, if you’re a typical 55-year-old woman, you’re likely going to live another 30.73 years, while a man will live a further 27.45 years.
To put all of this into context, let’s look at the average life expectancy in Canada. The statistics look even better when you consider that in Canada, the average man is likely to live until he is 81.55 years old, while a woman can expect to live until she is 83.84 years old.
Bottom line on life insurance for over 50 in Canada
To get the ideal life insurance for over 50, take the time to shop around and compare policies and premiums from different companies. Remember, there is no single best policy for over 50s life insurance in Canada on the market — the best policy is the one that offers the coverage you need with flexible terms at an affordable price.
Richard Laycock is Finder’s NYC-based lead editor & insights editor, spending the last decade data diving, writing and editing articles about all things personal finance. His musings can be found across the web including on NASDAQ, MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University, including a semester abroad at The Missouri School of Journalism (MIZZOU). See full bio
Chelsey Hurst is a publisher at Finder, specializing in banking and investments. She loves empowering people to avoid financial pitfalls and make better decisions with their money. Chelsey has a Bachelor of Science from Redeemer University, a Master of Science from McMaster University, and has won multiple awards for research communication. In her spare time, Chelsey enjoys cooking and taking long walks in nature. See full bio
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