Applying for Life Insurance with a Criminal Record

Learn more about applying for life insurance if you have a criminal record. Get a quote or talk to an advisor.

5 Minute read
Originally published: July 12, 2021
Updated: May 24, 2022

Applying for Life Insurance With a Criminal Record in Canada

Applying for Life Insurance with a Criminal Record

Learn more about applying for life insurance if you have a criminal record. Get a quote or talk to an advisor.

5 Minute read
Originally published: July 12, 2022
Updated: May 24, 2022

Applying for Life Insurance With a Criminal Record in Canada

One of the questions life insurance companies will ask about during the application process is whether you’ve had a criminal offence or charges before. Each company is different with how and what they ask, and can affect whether you will be approved or not. Acquiring life insurance with a criminal record or a history of criminal offences is possible and a much easier process than many expect. There are really great possibilities to attain fully underwritten policies, simplified issue policies, and if necessary, guaranteed issue policies. Don’t let you past deter you from securing your financial future for yourself or your loved ones.

In this article:

Can I get life insurance with a criminal record?

A few years ago, I met with a client in what was at the time my office located in Burlington, Ontario to discuss his life insurance needs. We completed a full needs analysis, reviewed various life insurance terms and products including term, whole life and universal life insurance. We concluded that based on his needs and budget he would apply for a 10 year term product to protect himself and his young family. He was a smoker, hoping to quit smoking soon and wanted to do a shorter term for time being and re-apply at non-smoker rates in the future.

He was otherwise healthy, under 40 and with no other medical concerns. Based on my preliminary assessment I did not believe he would have any issue being qualified for life insurance or critical illness insurance something we had also discussed as a compliment to the life coverage.

We began the standard life insurance application with one of the carriers we had decided on, only to realize that several years ago when he was much younger he was involved in the wrong crowd and ended up being charged with a criminal offence. Due to this criminal record, this automatically disqualified him from the life insurance provider at the time.

This brings up the question: Can I get life insurance with a criminal record?

The answer is: Yes!

You can get life insurance with a criminal record in Canada

Generally speaking, life insurance companies will automatically decline anyone on probation, in jail or awaiting trial. Unfortunately they deem the risk too high and automatically decline coverage under these circumstances. Life insurance providers insure based on risk assessment and actuarial data gathered, which regrettably concludes that those with criminal records tend not to live as long as those without.

That being said, a life insurance applicant who, like my client, was several years removed from the time he was charged and no longer on probation would have several options available. While many insurance companies may charge a flat fee per every $1000 of coverage (life insurance rating), depending on how long ago the offence occurred it is possible that there would be no impact at all as it relates to being qualified.

How long will life insurance companies consider criminal records/offences?

Life insurance applications vary in the wording as it relates to criminal offences. They can ask for history from as little as 12 months ago to 5 or 10 years or an indefinite period. Furthermore, providers may have “simplified issue” policies which may not require any answers related to criminal history. Simplified issue life insurance is a faster issue product with less questions than a regular fully underwritten application. There can be added costs for simplified issue policies, although this is not always the case.

Below is wording taken from various life insurance companies in Canada within their applications as it relates to criminal offences:

Insurance companies sorted by the years they hold criminal offenses/records in mind. Most companies will ask if you have ever been convicted, or in the past 10 years.

Companies that ask have you ever been convicted or charged of any criminal offenses:

BMO Insurance

  • Have you ever been charged or convicted of any criminal offense? (If yes, provide details.)

Empire Life Insurance

  • Have you ever had, or been told that you had: been charged with a criminal offense?
  • Other than previously mentioned, have you ever been charged with any criminal offense, or are there any charges pending?

Foresters Financial

  • Have you ever been charged with or convicted of a criminal offence, or is a criminal charge pending?

Manulife Insurance

  • Have you ever been charged with any criminal offence? (If yes, provide details, including the nature of each offence, the date charged, the sentence and the date the sentence and any probation was completed.)

SSQ Insurance

  • Have you ever been charged with or convicted of a criminal offence? If yes, provide the date, the circumstances, the charge(s) and the sentence (beginning date and date of probation, as the case may be).

Companies that ask for any convictions or criminal charges within the last 10 years:

Canada Life Insurance

  • Within the past 10 years, have you been convicted of, or charged with, any criminal offences in Canada or elsewhere?
  • Do you have any criminal charges pending? If yes (to either) provide details, dates, and nature of offence(s), prohibition end-date(s) and jail sentence (include exact dates)

iA Financial Group (Industrial Alliance)

  • In the last ten (10) years, have you been incarcerated, charged or convicted for any criminal offence? For criminal record: Nature of the criminal act, date, type of conviction, probation (start and end date), etc.

Ivari

  • In the last 10 years, have you been convicted of any criminal offence or fraudulent financial charges, or do you have any charges pending? If “yes”, provide reasons(s), date(s) and type(s) of offence(s)

RBC Insurance

  • Has the proposed insured been found guilty of a criminal offence within the last 10 years or are there any criminal charges pending? If yes, please explain fully.

Sun Life Insurance

  • In the last 10 years, have you been charged with, convicted of or imprisoned for any criminal offence; or are you currently on probation, parole or statutory release?

Companies that ask for any convictions or criminal charges within the last 5 years:

Desjardin Insurance

  • Within the past 5 years, been convicted or accused of infractions or criminal offences, including driving with a blood alcohol content above the legal limit or is awaiting trial for such a criminal offence or infraction?

Companies that ask for any convictions or criminal charges within the last 2 years:

Humania Insurance

  • Have you been convicted of any criminal offence within the past two years?

Desjardin Insurance

  • Within the past 5 years, been convicted or accused of infractions or criminal offences, including driving with a blood alcohol content above the legal limit or is awaiting trial for such a criminal offence or infraction?

Companies that ask for any convictions or criminal charges within the last 12 months:

Canada Protection Plan (CPP)

  • Within the past 12 months, have you been convicted of, awaiting sentencing for, incarcerated for, or on probation for a criminal offence; or do you currently have any criminal charges pending?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about applying for life insurance with a criminal record

Yes, most life insurance companies will check if you have a criminal record. They can have varying time frames that they check in regards to your criminal record, some companies want to know if you were convicted in the past year, 2 years, or 5 years, while other companies want to know if you were convicted in the last 10 years or indefinitely. 

Yes, even if you have a felony you can get life insurance. Although those who have a felony might have some trouble obtaining a fully underwritten life insurance policy because they would be considered a higher risk to insure. Luckily, simplified life insurance policies are available for those who have a felony conviction, a simplified policy will be more accessible and might not require any information about your criminal history. 

Yes! It is definitely possible to obtain life insurance with a criminal record. Although you may be asked about your criminal record, you are still able to get a fully underwritten life insurance policy, a guaranteed issue policy or a simplified policy. Getting life insurance coverage with a criminal record can be difficult in a sense, and may take a longer time but nonetheless you can luckily get life insurance coverage. There are a lot of factors that you should note such as the timeframe of criminal history that the insurance company will look into and what kind of coverage you want. 

The cost of life insurance with a criminal record can be difficult to pinpoint as life insurance coverage is on a case by case basis. The cost of life insurance coverage is based on the rating that the life insurance company gives you if you get a fully underwritten policy. If you get a simplified life insurance policy which will be more costly than a traditional underwritten policy, but will most likely accept you regardless of your criminal history. Simplified policies do cost more and do provide less coverage, but a fully underwritten policy is still a possibility, most life insurance companies just want to make sure that it has been over 1 to 5 years past the end of your probationary period. 

No, unfortunately life insurance companies will not provide you with life insurance if you are currently on probation or are still awaiting trial. The best thing to do is to wait until your trial is over or alternatively if you are on probation, wait until you are done probation, some life insurance companies will need you to wait up to 1-5 years after your probation is over.

Contact Protect Your Wealth to get life insurance even with a criminal record

Getting life insurance with a criminal record in Canada should not be a tough process, make sure you get the right policy for you and don’t let life insurance companies deter you from securing your finances. By working with our life insurance brokers, we will make sure you get the policy that fits your needs, and wants. We will find the best possible rates for your situation and we offer our services for completely free, from the first consultation all the way to the moment you sign your new policy.

Working with a life insurance specialist can help you find the best solution to fit your particular situation. We would be more than happy to provide further analysis for your family’s specific circumstances. If you are interested in learning more about the options available to you, check out our intuitive guide on the best life insurance companies in Canada.

Contact Protect Your Wealth today at 1-877-654-6119 to learn more about your options! We’re proudly based out of Hamilton, and service clients anywhere in Ontario, such as Barrie, London, and Ottawa. We also provide our life insurance broker services in British Columbia (B.C.)

Talk to an advisor today.

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