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What is differences between life insurance and health insurance in canada ?
Securing the right insurance coverage is fundamental to financial planning and protecting well-being. However, most Canadians need clarification on life and health insurance distinctions.
Which do you need? What’s the better value? This comprehensive guide examines the critical differences between life and health insurance available in Canada.
With expert insights and real-world examples, we’ll provide clarity so you can make intelligent insurance decisions for your needs. Let’s start uncovering the purpose and benefits of each with Life Insurance Newspaper Canada – Lifebuzz.ca.
A Closer Examination of Life Insurance
Life insurance is foundationally different from health insurance in that it solely provides financial protection for beneficiaries in the event of the policyholder’s untimely death. It does not cover any medical costs while you are still alive.
Life insurance pays out a tax-free lump sum cash benefit called the “death benefit” when you pass away. This ensures loved ones left behind can cover expenses like:
- Replacing lost income
- Paying off large debts
- Funding college education
- Covering funeral costs
- Settling estate taxes
Simply put, life insurance enables families to maintain their standard of living despite the loss of a breadwinner.
There are two primary forms of life insurance in Canada:
Term Life Insurance
- Offers pure death benefit protection for a set period – 10, 20 or 30 years typically.
- Your beneficiaries receive the payout if you die during the term life insurance in Canada.
- Premiums remain constant over the term length.
- No cash value accumulation.
- Appropriate for mortgages, income replacement, and final expense planning.
- Usually, it is the most affordable life insurance option.
Permanent Life Insurance
- Provides lifelong death benefit coverage.
- Builds cash value that grows tax-deferred.
- Premiums are substantially higher than term insurance.
- Types include whole life insurance, universal life insurance, and variable life insurance.
- Suitable for estate preservation, business succession planning, and supplemental retirement income.
Permanent life insurance is significantly more expensive than term insurance because of the cash value element. But term life is generally adequate for income replacement and debt coverage needs.
According to LIMRA’s 2022 Insurance Barometer Study, term life insurance accounts for 65% of all life insurance purchases in Canada. This demonstrates that term life delivers the death protection most households require at an accessible price point.
Examining the Purpose of Health Insurance
Now, let’s focus on defining health insurance and how it differs from life insurance.
Health insurance covers medical expenses incurred due to illness, injury, hospitalization and other healthcare costs. It pays for services ranging from prescription drugs to dental work, vision care, and paramedical therapies.
Health insurance helps shoulder the burden of healthcare bills so you aren’t paying entirely out-of-pocket. There are two central health insurance systems in Canada:
Public Health Insurance
- Provided by provincial and territorial governments.
- Covers primary hospital and medical services.
- Funded via income taxes.
- Includes OHIP, RAMQ, MSP and more.
- Acts as the baseline coverage for all residents.
Private Health Insurance
- Offered by private insurers to supplement public plans.
- It helps pay for medications, dental, vision, semi-private rooms, ambulance, etc.
- Group plans are commonly offered through employers.
- Individual plans can be purchased directly as well.
Unlike life insurance, which only pays out after death, health insurance protects you by covering costs for medical care during your lifetime.
Let’s examine some key areas where private health insurance can expand coverage beyond provincial plans:
- Prescription drugs – Help cover expensive medications for chronic conditions.
- Dental – Assists with essential, central services and some orthodontics.
- Vision – Aid with eye exams, prescription glasses, or contacts.
- Paramedical services – Physiotherapy, massage therapy, chiropractic and more.
- Medical devices – Can cover costs of crutches, orthotics, oxygen tanks or hearing aids.
- Semi-private hospital room – Upgrades from ward room to semi-private.
- Ambulance transportation – For emergency transport to hospitals.
- Out-of-country coverage – Protects you medically when travelling abroad.
This demonstrates the value of private health insurance – it fills coverage gaps and provides more choices.
Critical Differences Between Life Insurance and Health Insurance
Now that you understand the purpose of life insurance and health insurance independently, let’s do a side-by-side comparison of their differences:
| Life Insurance | Health Insurance |
|---|---|
| Provides income replacement if insured dies | Helps pay medical expenses while living |
| One-time lump sum payout to beneficiaries | Covers cost of drugs, dental, hospital stays, paramedical care etc. |
| Long-term policy – 10 years, 20 years etc. | Annual contract you renew each year |
| Premiums remain fixed (term) or flexible (permanent) | Premiums fluctuate annually based on age and healthcare costs |
| Permanent policies build cash value | No cash value component |
| Proceeds are income tax-free | Cannot claim premiums or benefits as tax deductions |
| Coverage ends completely at expiry | Simply renew policy annually to maintain coverage |
| Beneficiaries receive payout | You receive reimbursement for medical costs |
| Customized to your age and health | Standard coverage not based on personal factors |
This breakdown demonstrates how life and health insurance diverge in who and what they protect. Life insurance safeguards your family’s financial interests after you die, while health insurance shields you from medical costs while alive.
Now, let’s solidify our understanding by looking at some statistics.
Statistics on Life Insurance and Health Insurance in Canada
The following vital stats illustrate the prevalence of life and health insurance across the Canadian insurance landscape:
- Over 24 million Canadians have life insurance protection.
- The average individual life insurance policy provides a $252,000 death benefit.
- Life insurance accounts for over 70% of total mortality protection in Canada.
- Canada’s life and health insurance industry contributed $65 billion to GDP in 2021.
- Approximately 27.6 million Canadians have supplementary health insurance coverage.
- Private health plans cover over 60% of prescription drug costs nationwide.
- The average annual health insurance premium is $766 for singles and $1,808 for families.
This data demonstrates how entrenched both forms of insurance are in Canada. Most households rely on a combination of life insurance and private health insurance for financial safety.
Top Providers of Life and Health Insurance in Canada
Several leading insurance companies offer both life and health insurance products nationally:
Life Insurance
- Sun Life Financial
- Manulife
- iA Financial Group
- Canada Life
- RBC Insurance
Health Insurance
- Sun Life Financial
- Manulife
- Great-West Life
- Blue Cross
- Canada Life
- Pacific Blue Cross
- Green Shield Canada
When purchasing life or health insurance, comparing options from major national carriers and local providers is prudent. This ensures you find the optimal plans for your budget and needs.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
We hope this guide has already clarified some critical questions about life insurance versus health insurance. Here are answers to several other common queries:
Do I need life insurance?
If anyone depends on your income, like a spouse, life insurance for children or parents, then life insurance is highly recommended to secure their future in your absence.
How much life insurance is needed?
Aim for a death benefit equal to 10 to 15 times your annual gross income—factor in specific expenses like mortgages, college savings and final costs.
What does health insurance cover that life insurance does not?
Life insurance solely pays out a death benefit. Health insurance covers medical costs while you’re alive, like prescriptions, dental, vision, hospital stays, paramedical therapies and more.
Should I get life or health insurance first?
Life insurance is generally more urgent to secure first. It ensures your family is protected financially if you pass away prematurely. Health insurance can come next.
Is life or health insurance more expensive?
Life insurance premiums are usually lower, especially when younger and healthier. Health premiums rise as you age. Whole life is the most expensive option.
Can I claim life or health insurance premiums on taxes?
You cannot deduct health insurance costs. Some permanent life insurance premiums qualify for tax deductions. Term life premiums do not.
What benefits do group plans offer?
Access to more affordable rates since risk is spread across members. This allows you to obtain cost-effective life and health insurance.
Which Type of Insurance Should You Prioritize?
- If protecting your family’s financial future is most important, focus first on purchasing term life insurance.
- Use a private health insurance plan to expand coverage for unpredictable medical costs.
- Secure an affordable term life policy and comprehensive health plan for complete protection.
At the end of the day, life and health insurance serve distinct but equally vital purposes. Both forms of coverage are ideal for Canadians wanting to maximize their financial safety net. Use this detailed guide to make informed decisions about the right insurance for your needs and priorities.
