Compare life insurance for over 50 in Canada

Before you decide if you need life insurance over 50, there are some variables to consider to see if a such an over 50s life insurance policy makes sense. Read on to learn how to get the best over 50s life insurance in Canada, since when you reach your 50s, your life and financial commitments look a bit different than they did in your 20s.

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.

Get an over 50s life insurance quote

How much does life insurance for over 50 in Canada cost?

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. As you look at policies, you’ll notice that starting from age 50 on, your life insurance premiums begin to increase drastically.

Let’s look at the cost of a 20-year term life policy with $500,000 of coverage for a man in perfect health. According to our research, a 50-year-old man in good health could get a policy for around $128 a month. However, that same amount of coverage from those same providers would be more than double the cost if you bought the policy at age 57, with the monthly premiums increasing to around $298.

So as you get into your 50s, consider purchasing a policy sooner rather than later to lock in a lower premium.

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

Over 50? Compare life insurance providers in Canada

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Name	Product	Types of Insurance	Coverage Range	Issue Ages	Medical Exam Required	Province Availability
Promoted PolicyMe Life Insurance		Term Life, Critical Illness	$100,000 - $5,000,000	18 - 75	No	AB, BC, MB, NS, ON, PEI, SK, NL, YT, NT, NU	Get fast and affordable term life insurance. Personalize your policy details and get an estimate price within seconds. No phone call, meeting or paperwork required. Get an instant decision.	Get a quote More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
TermLite Term Life Insurance		Term Life	$10,000 - $1,000,000	18 - 80	No	All of Canada	Get fast and easy-to-understand term life insurance with no medical exam and no paperwork required.	Get a quote More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
RBC Life Insurance		Term Life	$50,000 - $1,000,000	18 - 70	No	AB, NS, ON, PEI	Select from two unique RBC term life insurance plans to get flexible and affordable coverage that suits your lifestyle and budget. Get a free quote through Walnut.	Get a quote More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
PolicyAdvisor		Whole Life, Term Life, Universal, No Medical	$25,000 - $25,000,000	18 - 75	No	AB, MB, ON	PolicyAdvisor is a digital life insurance brokerage that has partnerships with 20 insurers in Canada.	Get a quote More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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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 16 major carriers. For a no-smoking 55-year-old man, Wawanesa Insurance offered the cheapest rates at $115.20 a month. The insurer is also the most cost-effective option for women, charging $80.10 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:

*Based on sample rates from PolicyAdvisor

What kind of life insurance for over 50 is available in Canada?

These policies are the best 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 our life expectancy data, if you’re a typical healthy 53-year-old woman, you’re likely going to live another 32.8 years, while a man will live a further 29.6 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, a 65-year old man is likely to live until he is 84.4 years old, while a woman can expect to live until she is 87.1 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.