Covid-19 FAQs
The Truth about COVID-19 Vaccination and Insurance Coverage
Recently there has been misinformation circulating on social media, raising concerns that getting vaccinated for COVID-19 could negatively impact a customer’s existing life and health insurance coverage or prevent Canadians from getting new life or health insurance coverage. This is untrue.
Most recently, a statement from CLHIA ( Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association) was issued on March 3, 2021, “Know the facts: Getting the vaccine will not affect your insurance coverage”
Does Covid-19 Affect My Existing Insurance Policy?
From CHLIA (Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association)
Release Date: 08/03/2021
Staff Reference: Kevin Dorse
(Toronto, March 8, 2021) – Contrary to misinformation being shared on-line, receiving a COVID-19 vaccine will have no effect on the ability to obtain coverage or benefits from life insurance or supplementary health insurance.
The CLHIA is aware of misinformation that is being spread through social media claiming that individuals who get the vaccine will not be able to get life insurance or may be denied their disability or life insurance benefits. These claims are incorrect and have no basis in fact whatsoever.
Canada’s life and health insurers stress that vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and others from serious illness and death from COVID-19. Receiving the vaccine will not affect your individual or workplace life or health insurance benefits, or ability to apply for future coverage.
As with any medication approved for use in Canada, the COVID-19 vaccines have been found safe and effective through Health Canada’s independent scientific and medical assessment process.
Individuals who have questions about their coverage are encouraged to consult their policy and contact their insurer directly.
Quote:
“Getting the vaccine will not affect your insurance coverage. No one should be afraid and choose to not protect themselves from COVID-19 because they are worried about it affecting their benefits. All of Canada’s life and health insurers are supportive of Canadians receiving government-approved vaccinations to protect themselves from serious illness and death.”
From Manulife
The COVID-19 vaccination in no way negatively impacts your current insurance policies or valid Group Benefits coverage, nor does it factor into new insurance applications you may apply for with us.
We continue to follow guidance and recommendations from the WHO and the Canadian government, including supporting government-approved vaccines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
From Canada Life
Life insurance claims
Claims where cause of death is related to COVID-19 are fully covered as long as all questions within the application have been answered accurately, including questions related to recent travel history and current health, there is no exclusion on the policy and no change in insurability before policy delivery.
Critical illness insurance claims
You’re provided a lump-sum payment for specific medical conditions as defined in your policy, such as cancer, heart attack and stroke. COVID-19 is not currently a covered condition and wouldn’t be eligible for a benefit payout.
Disability insurance claims
You may be eligible for some benefits if you test positive for COVID-19 and your symptoms prevent you from working beyond your disability or overhead expense insurance policy’s waiting period. Any days spent in quarantine prior to the positive test (up to a maximum of 14 days) will be included in your waiting period. There are some disability benefits that aren’t eligible due to COVID-19.
From RBC
Yes, for Individual Life insurance policies, coverage includes death as a result of COVID-19.
Yes, if you become ill due to COVID-19, test positive and as a result cannot work, you have coverage through your Disability Insurance policy. Benefits will be paid after the end of any applicable Elimination Period. (Elimination Period is the period of time between when you first become sick and when you start receiving benefits. Please see your policy for details.)
From Sunlife
You can rest assured that the coverage you bought through your advisor remains the same. We haven’t made any changes to your policies because of COVID-19. We’ll continue to pay claims for policies in good standing (in force), and as long as the information you provided was accurate when you applied.
Life insurance: We’ll pay claims when death is due to COVID-19.
Critical illness insurance covers critical illnesses such as heart attack or stroke. COVID-19 is not a covered illness. We’ll continue to cover Clients who suffer a covered critical illness after contracting COVID-19.
Please note that if you have a CI policy with Desjardins, Best Doctors is a benefit in you plan that you can contact for Covid-19 questions and assistance.
Personal Health, Insurance Personal Health Direct, My Health Choice and Health Coverage Choice: Usually, policies cover emergency travel medical coverage for 60 days. You can submit your claims as usual or give us a call at 1-800-361-6212. We’ll continue to visit this time frame as the situation progresses.
Long Term Care Insurance: We’ll continue to pay claims for Clients who meet the requirements in their policy.
From Desjardins
Life insurance claims
Yes, your life insurance will cover a death caused by COVID-19.
Critical illness insurance claims
Your critical illness insurance covers only the conditions listed in your contract. Because COVID-19 is not one of these conditions, it is not covered.
However, if you become ill with one of the conditions in your contract as a result of a complication of COVID-19, that condition will be covered, subject to the terms of your contract.
Please note that if you have a CI policy with Desjardins, Best Doctors is a benefit in you plan that you can contact for Covid-19 questions and assistance.
Disability insurance claims
Your disability insurance covers you if you contract COVID-19, just like any other illness, subject to the terms of your contract.
You’ll be entitled to receive benefits if you remain disabled at the end of your coverage’s waiting period. Note that we do not pay benefits retroactively to cover the waiting period.
From Canada Protection Plan
Yes, once your life insurance policy is in place and based on your honest and accurate answers on the application, it will pay out for all types of death – including anything related to complications from COVID-19 or any other disease.
With Canada Protection Plan we offer No Medical required insurance coverage which means that no doctors’ visits or needles are necessary. You may be asked a few screening questions in relation to COVID-19 exposure, however all of our Life and Critical Illness Insurance plans are available.
Other Questions
Can I get coverage if I recently travelled or plan to travel outside of Canada?
If you have recently travelled abroad, it is recommended that you follow governmental guidelines and self-isolate for 14 days. After you have returned to Canada for 21 days, if you remain symptom-free, you may qualify for coverage.
Can I buy life insurance online?
Most Insurance carriers had already implemented online applications before the pandemic; but since the pandemic, online applications have been available by all insurers.
You may be asked a few screening questions in relation to COVID-19 exposure, depending on the Insurer.
Some Insurance carriers have also made no medical exam-issued policies available for qualifying applicants.
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Can I get life insurance if I have Covid?
If you are currently diagnosed with Covid, it is best to finish your quarantine. Once you have recovered, you may apply for life insurance, but the underwriting process will be more in-depth than a regular application.
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Can I get life insurance if I am a health care worker
Yes, you can apply for life insurance.
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Are life insurance premiums higher now due to the Coronavirus?
At the moment, premiums remain relatively the same.
NOW is always the best time to get life insurance coverage, especially if life insurance premiums do increase due to the number of Covid claims.
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