DisabilityGuard™ Insurance Plansheet
Designed to help protect your lifestyle and income.
How DisabilityGuard Insurance Helps Protect Your Income
If you suffer a disabling illness or injury, DisabilityGuard Insurance provides you with a monthly income benefit of up to $25,000 to help replace your lost income. You can choose from four elimination periods (30-day, 60-day, 90-day and 120-day) or any combination of these elimination periods. Applicants between the ages of 55 to 64 can apply for up to $15,000 of monthly income benefit.
Coverage continues until you reach age 75.
If you become disabled before age 63, your benefits continue until you recover or reach age 65—whichever comes first. For disabilities occurring between age 63 and 75, you may receive up to a maximum of 24 consecutive monthly payments.
OWN OCCUPATION
If a continuing total or residual disability prevents you from engaging in your own occupation (all occupation(s) in which you were engaged immediately prior to becoming disabled) this definition allows you to receive disability benefits even if you are able to earn income from a new occupation.
AUTOMATIC COVERAGE FOR HIV/HEPATITIS B & C
A dentist who becomes infected with HIV/Hepatitis B & C (before age 65), and is required by the government or licensing authority to limit his or her practice, receives pro-rated benefits when a loss or income of 20% or more has been suffered.
PAY NO PREMIUMS WHEN TOTALLY DISABLED
In the case of a total disability lasting through your elimination period (before age 65), your premiums are waived if total disability continues and you are not working. In addition, you are reimbursed for all premiums paid during the elimination period.
COVERAGE FOR TRANSPLANT DONOR AND DISFIGUREMENT SURGERY
DisabilityGuard Insurance provides coverage if you have been totally disabled for at least 30 days because you have donated part of your body to another person for transplant or have had surgery to correct a disfigurement. (Coverage must be in effect for at least six months and the elimination period must be satisfied.)
PRO-RATED BENEFITS PAYABLE WHEN PARTIAL DISABILITY STRIKES
The Residual Disability Benefit provides pro-rated benefits when a partial disability limits your ability to work, resulting in a loss of income of at least 20%.
If your disability is partial and results in more than a 20% loss of income, you will receive at least 50% of your maximum monthly income benefit for your first six monthly disability payments. Even if your income loss is less than 50%, you will still receive 50% of your monthly income benefit.
Benefit payments are after the end of that six-month period will be calculated on the basis of your actual income loss.
SURVIVOR BENEFIT
Your surviving spouse (or your estate in the absence of a surviving spouse) will receive a payment equal to three times the last disability benefit paid if you die while receiving DisabilityGuard Insurance benefits.
Options†
FUTURE INSURANCE GUARANTEE (FIG) OPTION
The FIG Option allows you to increase your coverage by 25%, without evidence of good health at the time of increase (financial evidence will be required), annually on your birthday (subject to limits under the Income Ratio Calculator). You must contact CDSPI to request an application form and submit it within 60 days to exercise FIG and must be under age 55 while not on disability claim to exercise this option without medical underwriting.
COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT (COLA) OPTION
The COLA Option increases your benefit each year after you have been disabled for 12 months, by the increase in the Consumer Price Index, up to 8% (compounding), to help protect your purchasing power during a lengthy disability—with no maximum on the number of annual increases or resulting benefit.
RETIREMENT PROTECTION OPTION
If you suffer a total disability, you may not have the earned income necessary to contribute to an RRSP or pension plan. To allow you to continue saving for your retirement, the Retirement Protection Option can provide a $500 or $1,000 monthly contribution (depending on your annual income) to an account set up for your retirement. The monthly contributions start once you have been totally disabled for 90 days and continue for as long as you are totally disabled up until the age of 65. To be eligible for this coverage, you must be 54 years of age or younger when applying.
| DisabilityGuard Insurance Options | Apply Under Age |
| COLA | 65 |
| FIG | 55 |
| Retirement Protection | 55 |
†When applying for any of these options, medical evidence of good health must be provided.
Eligibility
If you are a licensed dentist, resident in Canada, under age 65 working full-time, and a member of the CDA or a participating or territorial dental association (in Quebec, only CDA members are eligible), you are eligible to apply for:
- Guaranteed premiums until age 65
- Competitive maximum coverage limits of up to $25,000/month until age 54, and up to $15,000/month from age 55 to 64
- Flexible premium options to suit your budget, with choice of a lower premium option that increases in 5-year age bands to age 75 or a consistent premium for the life of your policy, to age 64
In order to qualify for coverage, medical evidence of good health and financial evidence must be provided. Coverage is subject to approval by the insurer.
Conditions and Limitations
Details, terms, conditions and exclusions are set out in the certificate booklet for the DisabilityGuard Insurance plan. Please note:
- DisabilityGuard Insurance benefits are not payable for disabilities resulting from: intentionally self-inflicted injuries, war, whether declared or not, any act of war or act of terrorism, participation in a riot, civil commotion or insurrection; committing, attempting or provoking an assault or criminal offence other than an offence involving the operation of a motor vehicle or vessel.
Insurance Limits
To determine the maximum benefit for which you may qualify, simply use the Income Ratio Calculator. You may apply for any amount of coverage up to your maximum, less any amount of disability coverage you have in force with another plan.
Annual Premium Rates
Provincial taxes are extra where applicable under provincial laws. The elimination period—or periods—you choose should be tailored to suit your income and spending patterns. Remember, the longer you wait for your benefits to begin (in other words, the longer the elimination period you choose), the lower the premium you pay. You have the choice of step or level premium payments.
If you choose Step Premiums: Step Premiums are based on 5-year age bands and have a lower premium rate at the beginning that increases every five years when you move into the next age band. (For example, at age 40, you pay the same annual premium to age 44, and then you pay a different annual premium between the age of 45-49, and so on.) Premiums are guaranteed until the January 1st following your 65th birthday. At that time, premiums for the next 5-year age band will be determined by the insurer and guaranteed for a 5-year period. At age 70, the premiums for the next 5-year age band will be determined and guaranteed for a 5-year period.
If you choose Level Premiums: Level Premiums remain level and are guaranteed until the January 1st following your 65th birthday, at which time premiums are the next 5-year age band will be determined by the insurer and guaranteed for a 5-year period. At age 70, the premiums for the next 5-year age band will be determined and guaranteed for a 5-year period.
Use our calculator to determine your premium rate.
Pay Lower Premiums with HealthEdge Rates
Dentists who are in excellent health and who maintain healthy lifestyles may receive special savings on DisabilityGuard Insurance with HealthEdge premiums. When you first apply for coverage, you will be considered for HealthEdge rates if you:
- Have not used any form of tobacco or tobacco cessation products or e-cigarettes in the past 12 months
- Have not used any form of illicit drug, or been treated for or advices to reduce alcohol or drug usage in the past seven years
- Have not been declined for life or health insurance or offered coverage on a modified basis in the past five years
- Do not plan to, and have not been advised to consult a physician or specialist or have a diagnostic test or surgery performed (excluding routine physicals)
- Have not been disabled for a total of six months or more in the past five years
- Are not currently receiving (or intending to submit a claim for disability benefits
- Have not received treatment for cancer (except basal cell carcinoma), coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, lung, liver or kidney disorder, HIV infection, AIDS, psychiatric disorder, any chronic pain disorder, recurrent back or neck pain, or any other significant medical disorder in the past five years
FACILITATING THE APPLICATION PROCESS
All applications submitted will be reviewed promptly by the insurer. However, the process may be delayed if you do not submit all the information asked for and if all questions are not answered completely. After you submit your insurance application(s), routine blood and urinalysis tests may be required. These tests can be done at your home or office—wherever is convenient for you. A medical services company working on behalf of the insurer conducts testing, which could include a medical exam by a physician depending on your age, the amount of coverage requested and your medical history. Arranging your tests promptly after you are contacted will help speed up the application process.
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DisabilityGuard Insurance is underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Manulife), PO Box 670, Stn Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2J 4B8.
This information is intended for informational purposes only. A full description of coverage and eligibility, including exclusions, restrictions and limitations can be found in the DisabilityGuard™ Insurance Certificate Booklet containing the terms and conditions governing the policy. For specific situations you should consult the appropriate financial, legal, accounting or tax advisor.
Manulife, Manulife & Stylized M Design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under license.
DisabilityGuard™ is a registered trademark of CDSPI.
