Life Insurance vs. Creditor Insurance

Life Insurance vs. The Bank: Why You Could Be Paying 58% Too Much

Whether it’s a new home or vehicle, working up to your first big purchase takes careful thought, planning, and lots of patience. Signing your name on the dotted line and calling that property yours, the thrill of being handed the keys; it’s an exciting time! But what about protecting that investment and your loved ones?

Here are some helpful tips for understanding the benefits of life insurance and staying away from potential dangers.

58%

Average savings when choosing term life insurance over bank mortgage insurance (Source: Empire Life, 2023)

The Pitfalls of Creditor Insurance

Creditors insurance refers to a type of coverage that can help a person pay off a loan or mortgage. When you set up a mortgage, line of credit or get a loan, the bank typically offers it to you. It is a separate product from the loan or mortgage, but they often get sold or provided together at the bank or a lending institution.

If you get sick, are injured, or pass away, this coverage will cover the debt owed. However, this type of insurance can often leave people in a lurch when using it. Here are some things to look out for:

Too Easy?

The process is typically quick and easy to purchase creditor’s insurance. Care to guess why? You’re missing a medical questionnaire! A medical questionnaire helps determine if you are eligible for coverage BEFORE you start paying any premiums.

It is Expensive!

You get typecast in a general age group because the bank or lender institution doesn’t typically complete a medical history review. In other words, you can pay a higher premium for generalizing others as moderately healthy.

Not Licenced

The financial institution’s staff are often not licensed life insurance advisors, which often leads to a lack of understanding of your insurance. Not knowing can be scary when you are at a point where you need to use it, and you’re not sure how it works.

It’s Tied to the Lender

Creditor insurance policies are designed to protect the lender, so they are the primary beneficiary. If you decide to re-mortgage and change your lender, you can’t take your insurance with you. You’ll have to cancel and start a new policy.

The Real Cost Difference: Mortgage Insurance vs. Term Life Insurance

Cost Comparison: Mortgage Insurance vs. Term Life Insurance

Type of Insurance Monthly Cost Features
Bank Mortgage Insurance
(Average of top 5 banks)
$81.32
  • Coverage decreases with mortgage balance
  • Bank is the beneficiary
  • Not portable if you change lenders
  • Post-claim underwriting
Term Life Insurance
(Empire Life Solution 25®)
$34.02
  • Coverage amount stays constant
  • You choose your beneficiaries
  • Portable – keeps coverage if you change lenders
  • Underwritten at application time
Your Potential Savings $47.30 monthly
$567.60 yearly
Based on a $400,000 mortgage for a healthy, 36-year-old female non-smoker

Source: Empire Life survey conducted on October 6, 2023, comparing Solution 25 term life insurance with mortgage insurance from Scotiabank, BMO, TD Canada Trust, RBC, and CIBC.

Jay & Anita’s Journey

Family of Four

Jay and Anita are married and have two children. Ten years ago, the couple purchased their home with an outstanding mortgage of $262,000. They have a $28,600 loan on their vehicle and recently took out a line of credit for $50,000 to finish their basement to make more room for their expanding family.

Jay and Anita took creditor insurance on all their debts to avoid the financial burden should one of them become sick, injured, or worse. After renewing their home insurance at Harvard Western, Jay and Anita decided to review the insurance on their loans.

They discovered there was a chance that their $340,600 debt may not be covered due to post-claim underwriting, one of the critical differences between creditor and individual insurance. Knowing this was a risk they couldn’t afford to take, they got quotes to replace their creditor insurance.

Their Results

To their surprise, they learned that they would save significant money on their insurance premiums by going through medical underwriting and separating their life insurance from their mortgage lender.

As a result, the savings will help them pay off their renovation debt years sooner. More importantly, they gained peace of mind knowing they are truly covered for when the time comes that they need the help the most.

$172/month
Total Savings
Compared to their previous creditor insurance
2.5 years
Earlier Debt Freedom
By applying insurance savings to renovation debt
100%
Peace of Mind
With proper coverage that follows them

Benefits of Choosing HWI

Personalized Assessment

Our insurance application includes a medical questionnaire to find the best insurance carrier to fit you.

You Control the Benefits

Our policies pay the beneficiary that you have assigned, giving you control over how the money is used.

Lower Premiums

We don’t use the one-size-fits-all style; our premiums are, on average, 30-50% lower than traditional creditor insurance.

No Surprise Denials

Policies are underwritten at the time of application and not at claim time, avoiding unexpected coverage issues.

Complete Portability

You can move your loan to any financial institution you choose without losing coverage, leaving you vulnerable to coverage gaps.

Expert Guidance

Our employees are licensed insurance experts and spend countless hours continuing to educate themselves.

You own the policy, not your lender. You choose your beneficiaries and they decide how the money is used. Your coverage is portable. No need to re-qualify if you change lenders. — Empire Life Insurance Company


online calculator for term life insurance
https://hwi.link.wawanesalife.com/

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is post-claim underwriting, and why is it risky?

Post-claim underwriting means the insurance company reviews your medical history and eligibility after you make a claim, not when you apply for coverage. This creates a risk that your claim could be denied based on information you weren’t asked about when you purchased the policy, leaving your loved ones without the expected financial protection.

If I already have mortgage insurance through my bank, can I switch to term life insurance?

Yes, you can switch from a mortgage to term life insurance anytime. It’s best to apply for the new term life policy first and get approved before cancelling your existing mortgage insurance to avoid any gap in coverage. Our licensed advisors can help guide you through this transition smoothly.

How do I know how much life insurance coverage I need?

The amount of life insurance you need depends on various factors, including your outstanding debts, income replacement needs for your family, future education costs for children, and final expenses. A common rule of thumb is 10-15 times your annual income, but our licensed advisors can help you calculate a more precise amount based on your specific situation. Visit our life insurance page to learn more.

Stay Connected With Harvard Western

Thanks for reading our article; I hope you enjoyed this month’s topic on how life insurance works and why it’s often a better choice than creditor insurance. Here are some more ways to access more insurance information and tips:

1.

Visit our Blog/article page each month, where we publish various insurance articles and share information on specific industry products.

2.

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