This page compares the insurers that sell individual disability coverage in Canada and what differs between them. How disability insurance works (own vs any occupation, group LTD gaps, CPP-D, EI sickness and how benefits are taxed) is covered in disability insurance in Canada; the rest of the hub is in the income protection and life insurance guides.
Individual Disability Insurers in Canada
InsuranceINTEL’s October 2024 comparison of individual disability insurance products, reported by Insurance Portal, covered these seven insurers:
| Insurer | Note |
|---|---|
| Beneva | Formed from La Capitale and SSQ Insurance on January 1, 2023 |
| Canada Life | Absorbed Great-West Life and London Life on January 1, 2020 |
| Desjardins Insurance | |
| Humania Assurance | |
| iA Financial Group | |
| Manulife | Left the non-cancellable disability segment in 2022 |
| RBC Insurance | Sells a simplified policy online as well as advisor-sold plans |
Because products and underwriting change, confirm what each insurer currently offers when you get quotes.
Types of Disability Coverage
| Type | Duration | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term (STD) | Typically up to 6 months | Bridge to long-term coverage |
| Long-term (LTD) | Starts after short-term benefits, sick leave or EI sickness end | Long or career-ending disability |
| Critical illness | One lump sum after a survival period | Specific conditions |
| EI sickness | Up to 26 weeks, after a one-week waiting period | Workers with enough insurable hours and no other coverage |
What Drives the Price
Premiums depend on your occupation, age, health and income, the benefit amount, the waiting period, the benefit period, the definition of disability and any riders. Simplified products trade features for easier approval. RBC Simplified Disability Insurance, for example, can be bought online without a medical exam, pays a tax-free monthly benefit of $500, $1,000 or $1,500 (capped at 75% of gross monthly income) for up to 2 years per disability, and offers a 60 or 90-day elimination period (checked September 2026; confirm current terms).
Comparing Policies and Group Coverage
The features that decide a policy’s value (definition of disability, benefit period, waiting period, non-cancellable terms, cost-of-living and residual riders) are explained in what to look for in an individual policy. Two points drive most comparisons between insurers: how long own-occupation coverage lasts, and whether the benefit is taxable. Benefits are taxable when your employer pays all or part of the premium and tax-free when you pay the whole premium yourself, so a self-paid individual policy with the same percentage delivers more spendable income.
How to Buy Disability Insurance
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Work out the income you would need replaced (long-term plans commonly replace 60% to 70% of normal income) |
| 2 | Check existing coverage (employer, EI, CPP disability) |
| 3 | Identify the gap |
| 4 | Get quotes from several insurers or use a broker |
| 5 | Choose a waiting period and benefit period |
| 6 | Complete the application (health, occupation and income questions) |
| 7 | Underwriting and policy issue |
Government Programs
CPP Disability and EI sickness benefits pay far less than most households need and have strict eligibility; the amounts and limits are set out in sources of disability income in Canada. Private coverage is priced on top of them.
Many people buy disability insurance through a licensed advisor or broker rather than an online quote comparison, because the definitions, riders and exclusions are complex and change the value of the coverage. An online broker such as PolicyAdvisor compares several insurers’ disability policies.
Disability insurance for specific occupations
Doctors and dentists: Own-occupation coverage matters most for this group: a surgeon with a hand injury may be unable to operate yet still able to do a desk job, and an any-occupation definition could stop paying.
Lawyers, accountants, engineers: Own-occupation or “modified own-occupation” definitions are the ones to compare.
Trades and manual workers: Occupation drives the price. Simplified products such as RBC’s are aimed partly at tradespeople, contractors and part-time workers. Residual or partial disability riders pay when you can work only reduced hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is the elimination period for disability insurance? The elimination period is the waiting period between becoming disabled and the start of benefits; RBC’s simplified policy, for example, offers 60 or 90 days. Individual policies let you choose it, often based on your emergency fund size and any employer sick leave.
Related Resources
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026. How we check facts.
- beneva.ca: Client Challenge
- Canada Life: Amalgamation
- Financial Consumer Agency of Canada: Disability insurance
- Government of Canada: EI sickness benefits: What these benefits offer
- Government of Canada: EI: Reducing the two-week waiting period to one week
- insurance-portal.ca: Disability insurance: 17 products examined by InsuranceINTEL - Insurance Portal
- RBC: Disability Insurance in Canada - Get a Quote | RBC Insurance