No Medical Exam Life Insurance in Canada: Options for Canadians With Health Conditions

Yes. Simplified-issue life insurance accepts most Canadians with managed conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or anxiety — no medical exam required. Guaranteed-issue policies accept almost everyone but have lower coverage and a 2-year graded death benefit. Simplified-issue is the right starting point for most health conditions.

📋 In this guide:

• > Types of no-medical-exam policies
• > Who these policies are designed for
• > How much more do they cost
• > Top Canadian providers
• > How to apply
• > When to consider term vs whole life

No medical exam life insurance in Canada includes simplified-issue and guaranteed-issue policies designed for applicants with health conditions. Coverage is typically $5,000 to $500,000, premiums are higher than traditional policies, and approval is faster — usually within days rather than weeks.

For most Canadians, applying for life insurance means a medical exam, blood work, and a waiting period of several weeks. For Canadians with pre-existing health conditions, that process can be a barrier — sometimes a permanent one.

Life insurance without a medical exam exists for exactly this situation. These policies use simplified underwriting — a few health questions on the application rather than a full medical workup — and are available from several major Canadian providers. For the broader context on why Canadians add life insurance to the CPP death benefit, see our guide to final expense insurance.

Types of No-Medical-Exam Policies

There are three main categories of life insurance in Canada that don’t require a medical exam:

Policy TypeHealth QuestionsCoverage RangeBest For Simplified-issueYes (5–10 questions)$5,000 – $500,000Most applicants with manageable health conditions Guaranteed-issueNone$2,000 – $25,000Applicants with serious conditions who can’t qualify otherwise Group life (employer)None for basic coverage1–2× annual salaryActive employees

Simplified-issue policies are the most common. They ask a short list of health questions on the application — usually about major conditions, recent hospitalizations, and lifestyle factors — but skip the blood work and physical exam.

Guaranteed-issue policies ask no health questions at all, but offer lower coverage amounts and have a “graded” death benefit — meaning if the insured dies within the first 2 years, the beneficiaries may receive only a partial payout.

Who These Policies Are Designed For

No-medical-exam life insurance is designed for Canadians who:

If you have a serious health condition and have been declined for traditional life insurance in the past, simplified-issue or guaranteed-issue policies may be your best (or only) option.

How Much More Do They Cost

No-medical-exam policies are more expensive than traditional medically-underwritten policies, but the difference is often smaller than people expect. As a rough guide for a $100,000 policy for a non-smoker in 2026:

AgeTraditional (with exam)Simplified-IssueDifference 40$15 – $25 / mo$25 – $40 / moAbout 50% more 50$25 – $40 / mo$45 – $70 / moAbout 70% more 60$50 – $80 / mo$90 – $140 / moAbout 80% more 70$110 – $170 / mo$200 – $320 / moAbout 85% more ⚠️ For larger coverage amounts, the cost difference between traditional and simplified-issue policies narrows. For $500,000 policies, the difference is often 20% to 40%, not 70%+.

Top Canadian Providers

Several major Canadian insurers offer no-medical-exam life insurance products:

Canada Protection Plan is the most widely-cited provider in this space — they specialize in serving Canadians who have been declined elsewhere.

How to Apply

Applying for no-medical-exam life insurance in Canada is straightforward:

When to Consider Term vs Whole Life

Once you have a no-medical-exam policy, the next decision is whether to choose term or permanent (whole life) coverage. Term life is cheaper and covers a specific period (10, 20, or 30 years). Whole life is more expensive but covers you for life and builds cash value.

Full comparison: Term vs Whole Life Insurance in Canada: Which Option Fits Your Family? →

Frequently Asked Questions

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Will I be declined if I have a serious health condition? ▼

Not necessarily. Simplified-issue policies accept many applicants with managed health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or anxiety. Guaranteed-issue policies accept almost everyone, but with lower coverage and a graded death benefit in the first 2 years.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Benefit amounts, eligibility criteria and policy terms change frequently. Always verify current conditions with Service Canada (for CPP benefits) or directly with the licensed insurance provider before making any decision. If you have recently lost a loved one, support is available through the Bereavement Support Line at 1-866-999-7610 or visit canada.ca.