Share your work context and general objective to prepare a confidential discussion with an authorized representative.
Your income is your main asset
Many people insure their house and their car, but not what pays for both. A prolonged interruption of income puts the mortgage, savings, and plans at stake. That is the risk this coverage addresses.
The definition of disability: the heart of the contract
“Unable to perform your own occupation” and “unable to perform any occupation” do not lead to the same outcome. A contract can also shift from the first definition to the second after a set period. That clause determines whether you are paid, more than the amount does.
The waiting period
The benefit begins after a period with no payment, chosen at subscription. A longer wait lowers the premium and raises what you must absorb yourself. That choice is made by looking at your actual cushion, not a general rule.
How long benefits last
Two years, five years, to a given age: the maximum duration changes the nature of the coverage. A long disability is precisely the scenario you insure against, and it is the one short durations cover least.
What the public plan and your employer already cover
Quebec parental insurance, QPP disability benefits, CNESST compensation for a workplace accident, an employer group plan: each has its own conditions and ceilings. Individual coverage tops up what exists, once that inventory is done.
Self-employed and business owners
Without a group plan, coverage is taken out individually, and the income to insure is demonstrated some way other than a pay stub. Coverage also exists for a business’s overhead expenses, distinct from replacing personal income.
Non-cancellable or renewable
A non-cancellable contract guarantees the premium and the conditions; a renewable one guarantees only the renewal. The difference is paid at subscription and observed years later. It is written out in the contract.
Why no price is shown here
A premium depends on age, occupation, income, health, and the options chosen. A figure without those would be misleading, and CompareTaux produces no automated recommendation.
What happens after you submit
A life and health insurance representative calls you back to inventory what already covers you — group plan, QPP, CNESST — before discussing individual coverage. Enter no medical information or income detail here.
Frequently asked questions
I already have coverage through my employer. Is this useful?
Often yes. A group plan has its own ceilings, definitions, and duration, and it generally ends with the job. The representative reviews what exists before proposing anything additional.
What does the definition of disability change?
Everything. “Unable to perform your own occupation” and “unable to perform any occupation” do not lead to the same outcome. Some contracts shift from the first to the second after a set period.
What is the waiting period?
The period, chosen at subscription, between the onset of disability and the first payment. The right choice comes from how many months your actual cushion can carry, not from chasing the lowest premium.
How long are benefits paid?
Depending on the contract: two years, five years, or to a given age. The maximum duration changes the nature of the coverage, since a long disability is the scenario you insure against.
Are benefits taxable?
It depends who pays the premium. When you pay for individual coverage yourself with after-tax dollars, benefits are generally not taxable. In an employer-paid group plan, treatment differs.
Doesn’t the QPP already cover disability?
The Quebec Pension Plan provides disability benefits subject to strict conditions and a capped amount. They count in the calculation, but rarely cover full income.
Am I covered for a workplace accident?
An accident at work falls under CNESST, not your private insurer. Individual coverage addresses notably what happens outside work, where CNESST does not apply.
What does “non-cancellable” mean?
The contract guarantees the premium and the conditions for its full duration. A merely renewable contract guarantees renewal, but not necessarily the premium. The difference is in the contract.
Can I subscribe as a self-employed worker?
Yes. The income to insure is demonstrated through tax returns and financial statements rather than a pay stub, and insurers differ in how flexible they are about it.