Insurance · Life insurance review
Canada Protection Plan review
The no-medical specialist — if health makes standard underwriting hard, CPP issues without an exam on every plan, to age 80.
Best for: Applicants who can’t easily qualify for standard underwritten coverage.
Pros
- No medical exam on every plan — its entire reason to exist
- Simplified-issue coverage up to $1M for healthier applicants
- Guaranteed Acceptance Life (ages 18–75) that can’t be declined for health
- Permanent coverage issued to age 80
- Underwritten by Foresters (AM Best A, DBRS A)
Cons
- Advisor-assisted — no instant online purchase (an advisor calls you)
- Guaranteed-acceptance capped at $50K with a 2-year limited benefit
- No universal life
When health is the barrier
Canada Protection Plan exists for people who get declined or rated by standard insurers. Every plan is no-medical — no exams or blood tests — ranging from simplified-issue (up to $1M for healthier applicants) to Guaranteed Acceptance that can’t be turned down for health (ages 18–75, to $50K). Policies are underwritten by Foresters.
Read the limited-benefit clause
Guaranteed-acceptance coverage typically carries a two-year limited benefit: die of natural causes in the first two years and the policy returns premiums rather than the full face amount (accidental death is covered immediately). That’s standard for no-questions coverage — just know it before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
What does Canada Protection Plan offer, and can I buy it online?
Canada Protection Plan offers term, whole life, no-medical, guaranteed issue. How to buy: Advisor-assisted (apply online or by phone). Compare it against the field on our best life insurance page, and size your coverage with the life insurance needs calculator.
Does Canada Protection Plan offer no-medical or guaranteed-issue life insurance?
Every plan is no-medical; Guaranteed Acceptance Life cannot be declined for health (18–75, to $50K, 2-year limited benefit for non-accidental death)
Is Canada Protection Plan financially strong and Assuris-protected?
Financial strength: AM Best A · DBRS A (Foresters). Canada Protection Plan's underwriter (The Independent Order of Foresters / Foresters Life Insurance Company) is a member of Assuris, which protects your policy if the insurer fails — see what's covered in our life insurance guide.
The bottom line
If standard underwriting is a struggle, CPP is the most established no-medical route in Canada. Healthy applicants will usually find better value (and more coverage) with a fully-underwritten policy.
- Term-life maximum issue ages by term length were not on a cpp.ca primary page.
- AM Best has separate actions for Foresters Life Insurance Company vs The Independent Order of Foresters — confirm the specific entity’s current rating.
Compare Canada Protection Plan against the field
See all the major providers side by side, with sources.
This review is for educational purposes only and is not insurance advice. The facts shown were taken from Canada Protection Plan's own materials and the rating agencies and verified on June 13, 2026; they vary by product and change without notice. Our editorial rating is never paid for. Premiums are individually quoted. Read the actual policy wording and speak with a licensed advisor before buying. See our methodology.