Learning how life insurance companies view Lyme disease can make your search easier. No matter the severity of your diagnosis, there are always life insurance choices in Canada that can provide the protection you need.

Because Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in Canada, insurers will ask questions to assess your risk. This often causes anxiety for clients who worry they may not qualify. One of the most frequent questions we hear is, “Can I get life insurance if I’ve been diagnosed with Lyme disease?” The answer is yes.

Yes! You can get life insurance even if you’ve been diagnosed with Lyme disease. Regardless of the degree of your disease and how far you are in your treatment, at Protect Your Wealth we will help you find coverage to financially protect yourself and your family. 

In this article:

• Overview of Lyme Disease
  • Signs and Symptoms
• How Life Insurance Companies View and Underwrite Lyme Disease
• Application Checklist for Lyme Disease
• Tips for Finding Life Insurance With Lyme Disease
• Life Insurance With Lyme Disease
  • Permanent Life Insurance
  • Term Life Insurance
  • No Medical Life Insurance
  • Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance
• Frequently Asked Questions about Life Insurance With Lyme Disease
• Case Study

Overview of Lyme Disease in Canada

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in Canada, caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii. The disease is spread through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. While early cases may resolve with antibiotic treatment, untreated infections can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system, which can affect both quality of life and how insurers assess risk during the life insurance underwriting process.

Diagnosis is usually based on symptoms, physical findings such as the distinctive rash, and possible tick exposure. Lab testing can confirm infection when properly used. Most people recover fully with treatment, but insurers may view applicants differently depending on whether their Lyme disease is acute and resolved, or if chronic symptoms remain.

In Canada, two tick species can transmit Lyme disease: the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) found in Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) in British Columbia. Reported cases have risen steadily in these regions, making Lyme disease a growing public health concern. Applicants from these provinces may find insurers ask additional questions about exposure risk and treatment history.

Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Symptoms can appear in two stages: early symptoms (within 3–30 days) and later symptoms (days to months after infection). Recognizing these stages is important not only for medical treatment, but also because insurers will want details about when symptoms first appeared, whether they resolved, and whether ongoing issues remain.

Early Signs and Symptoms (3–30 days)

• Fever
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle or joint aches
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Erythema migrans (EM) rash occurs in 70–80% of infected individuals. The rash expands over several days, often forming a bull’ s-eye pattern. It is usually warm to the touch but rarely itchy or painful.

Later Signs and Symptoms (days to months)

• Severe headaches and neck stiffness
• Additional EM rashes on other parts of the body
• Facial palsy (droop on one or both sides of the face)
• Arthritis with intense joint pain and swelling, especially in knees
• Intermittent muscle, tendon, or bone pain
• Irregular heartbeat or chest pain
• Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath
• Neurological inflammation of the brain or spinal cord
• Nerve pain, tingling, or numbness in hands or feet

How Life Insurance Companies View and Underwrite Lyme Disease

When applying for life insurance in Canada, insurers review each application carefully to determine risk. For those with a history of Lyme disease, the assessment process depends on whether the condition is acute and resolved or if symptoms are ongoing and classified as chronic Lyme disease.

Application Checklist for Lyme Disease

Before you apply for life insurance with Lyme disease, preparing key details in advance can make the process smoother and increase your chances of approval.

• Diagnosis timeline: date of diagnosis, treatment start and completion, and any relapses
• Physician summary: a short letter confirming current stability
• Medication history: list with start/stop dates and any side effects
• Specialist or follow-up notes: showing treatment progress and adherence
• Recent test results: labs or imaging, if available
• Daily function: notes on work capacity and regular activities to show stability

Providing this information to your advisor helps insurers better understand your health history and may improve your eligibility for traditional coverage.

Tips for Finding Life Insurance With Lyme Disease

Having Lyme disease does not mean you are excluded from affordable coverage. The key is knowing how to navigate the application process and position your health history in the best light. Below are proven strategies to help Canadians with Lyme disease secure life insurance:

• Compare prices and policies: While seeking insurance coverage, it is crucial to compare policies from multiple insurers. Each company may view the same side effects differently during the underwriting process. To find the most affordable and suitable policy, request and review several life insurance quotes in Canada before making a decision.
• Purchase sooner rather than later: Waiting to apply often means higher costs. Premiums rise as you age, and if your Lyme disease symptoms progress, insurers may rate you higher or decline coverage. By applying now, while your condition is stable, you can lock in lower premiums and secure coverage that protects your family for the long term.
• No Medical Life Insurance as a fallback: This option can be helpful if traditional coverage is declined, since it requires no exam and limited medical questions. However, no medical life insurance usually comes with higher premiums and lower coverage amounts. It should be considered a last resort after exploring traditional term and permanent life insurance options.

By comparing quotes, applying early, and exploring all policy types, you can still find affordable life insurance with Lyme disease in Canada. An advisor at Protect Your Wealth can guide you through the process and connect you with the insurers most likely to approve your application.

Life Insurance With Lyme Disease

One of the main reasons why people don’t apply for life insurance is fear that a pre-existing condition such as Lyme Disease will disqualify them from coverage. However, this is not true. You are eligible for life insurance even if you have Lyme disease. The following are some options to consider:

Permanent Life Insurance

Permanent life insurance is coverage that never expires and pays a death benefit to the policyholder. Numerous permanent life insurance policies include a cash value component, wherein a portion of your premium payment goes toward tax-deferred cash accumulation. You can withdraw the cash value or borrow against it. Typically, an increase in the cash value of a life insurance policy will also increase the potential death benefit. As with all insurance types, permanent life insurance features both advantages and disadvantages.

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance provides coverage for a specific number of years. If you die within the term, your beneficiary will receive the death benefit. Those who survive this period will receive nothing. Term life insurance is much more affordable than permanent life insurance. If your Lyme disease is not severe, you may qualify for term life. If accepted, it is likely that you will receive rated premiums.

No Medical Life Insurance

No medical or simplified issue life insurance requires you to answer a few questions about your medical history instead of completing a full physical medical exam and interview. Coverage amounts are limited based on the applicant’s age, and premiums are often higher than with traditionally underwritten life insurance policies.

This sort of policy is appealing to persons who have been rejected standard coverage because of physical or health issues, mental diseases, criminal records, hazardous employment, or a variety of other circumstances. These features classify these individuals as high-risk, resulting in less-than-ideal ratings from life insurance providers. No medical exam life insurance products enable persons in these challenging circumstances to acquire coverage. However, this plan is typically more expensive and provides less coverage. These policies are not the most cost-effective, but they provide peace of mind to individuals who would not otherwise qualify for life insurance.

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance

Guaranteed Issue Insurance is a type of no medical insurance, but contains no questions and does not mandate medical exams. Guaranteed issue insurance is designed for those with more severe health conditions or who are older than the age requirements for traditional or simplified insurance. Many insurers also offer a 24-month deferral period for guaranteed life acceptance insurance. Guaranteed issue insurance coverage typically has a maximum of $50,000, although some insurers cover less, and has the highest premium of the three because it is a form of permanent life insurance. This type of insurance is ideal if you’re having difficulty getting approved due to your health condition.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Finding the right life insurance policy for you

Understanding Lyme disease and how a life insurance provider views Lyme disease is crucial for making a smart decision when purchasing life insurance. A life insurance specialist can help you create the best plan and package for your needs.

At Protect Your Wealth, we work with and compare policies and quotes from the best life insurance companies in Canada to ensure the best solution for you and your needs. We provide expert life insurance solutions, including no medical life insurance, critical illness insurance, term life insurance, and permanent life insurance to build the best package to give you the protection you need. 

Contact Protect Your Wealth or call us at 1-877-654-6119 to talk to an advisor today! We’re proudly based out of Hamilton, and service clients anywhere in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba including areas such as Toronto, Victoria, Airdrie, and Winkler.