Short-term · Long-term · Business overhead · 25+ insurers

Income protection that pays when you can't.

If an illness or injury kept you out of work for months — or years — could your bills still get paid? Compare short-term, long-term, and business overhead disability coverage from 25+ Canadian insurers, then talk it through with a licensed advisor.

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Employee

Self-employedSelf-emp.

Business ownerBusiness

My annual income is

Under $75K<$75K

$75K–$150K

$150K+

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We compare rates from:

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Types of coverage

Three ways to protect your income — pick what fits.

Disability insurance isn't one product. Here's the plain-language version of what's actually available, so you know what to ask for before you talk to an advisor.

01 Weeks to ~2 years

Short-term disability insurance

Bridges the gap while you recover from a surgery, injury, or illness that keeps you off work temporarily. Benefits typically start within 1–2 weeks of the elimination period and pay out for up to about two years.

Best for: bridging a short recovery

02 Years, or to age 65

Long-term disability insurance

Replaces a portion of your income — usually 60–85% — for years, sometimes until retirement age, if a disability keeps you from working long-term. The core protection most working Canadians don't have enough of.

Best for: your household's main income

03 Covers fixed costs

Business overhead expense

Built for business owners and the self-employed. Reimburses fixed overhead — rent, utilities, payroll, loan payments — while you're disabled and the business can't run without you.

Best for: business owners & the self-employed

Rule of thumb

Most advisors suggest replacing 60–85% of your income.

That's usually enough to cover the mortgage, groceries, and bills without touching savings — while staying under what you'd earn working, which insurers require to discourage over-insuring. The right number depends on your group coverage at work, your debts, and your take-home pay.

Talk to an advisor about my number →

60–85%

of your income is a typical target replacement rate for an individual disability policy.

Compare your options

Group plan. Government support. Your own policy.

Employer group plan

CPP disability

Your own policy

Stays with you if you change jobs

✕No

N/A

✓Yes

You choose the coverage amount

✕No

✓Yes

Own-occupation definition available

Rarely

✕No

✓Yes

Qualifying test

Set by insurer

Severe & prolonged only

Set by insurer

Monthly benefit

Employer sets it, ~60–70%

Flat, modest amount

You choose, up to 85%

Best for

Baseline coverage while employed

Severe, long-term disabilities only

Anyone who wants control & portability

Our promise

Every policy funds a donation to SickKids.

We match the first month's premium of every client and give it directly to SickKids Foundation. It doesn't change your price — it changes what your coverage means.

See our latest donation →

Of every donation comes from PolicyFind's earnings — never added to your premium.

What clients say

Real coverage, placed for real Canadians who needed it.

★★★★★

"My employer's group plan barely covered rent. PolicyFind topped it up with an individual policy so I'd actually be covered if I got sick."

James T.

Long-term disability, Mississauga

★★★★★

"As a self-employed contractor I had zero income protection. My advisor explained business overhead coverage in ten minutes and I finally sleep at night."

Sarah L.

Business overhead, Kitchener

★★★★★

"I didn't think I'd qualify because of my medical history. PolicyFind found an insurer who'd actually cover me, own-occupation and all."

Robert N.

Own-occupation LTD, Barrie

Disability insurance FAQ

Common questions about disability insurance

What's the difference between short-term and long-term disability insurance?−

Short-term disability insurance bridges the gap for a temporary illness, injury, or recovery — typically paying out for weeks up to about two years. Long-term disability insurance is built for disabilities that keep you off work for years, sometimes until retirement age, and usually replaces 60–85% of your income.

I already have disability coverage through my employer — do I need my own policy?+

Often, yes. Group coverage through work is usually a flat percentage of salary, isn't portable if you change jobs or get laid off, and can be reduced or clawed back if you're also receiving other benefits. An individual policy fills those gaps and stays with you regardless of your employer.

What does "own occupation" versus "any occupation" mean?+

An own-occupation definition pays out if you can't do the specific job you were trained for, even if you could work in some other field. An any-occupation definition only pays if you can't perform any job reasonably suited to your education and experience. Own-occupation coverage costs more but is significantly more protective, especially for specialized professions.

Is disability insurance income taxable in Canada?+

It depends who pays the premiums. If you pay your own premiums with after-tax dollars on an individual policy, your benefit is generally received tax-free. If your employer pays the premiums on a group plan, the benefit is usually taxable as income when you receive it.

What is an elimination period?+

The elimination period is the waiting period between when your disability begins and when benefit payments start — commonly 30, 60, or 90 days. A longer elimination period lowers your premium, so it's usually matched to how much emergency savings or sick pay you already have to cover the gap.

Can self-employed people or business owners get disability insurance?+

Yes. Self-employed Canadians can buy individual short- or long-term disability policies based on their personal income, and business owners can add business overhead expense coverage on top to keep fixed costs like rent and payroll paid while they recover.

From the blog

Let's talk about protecting your income.

Book a free call with a licensed advisor and get a plan that actually fits your situation.

Book my free call →

Income protection that pays when you can't.

Book a call with a licensed advisor

Three ways to protect your income — pick what fits.

Short-term disability insurance

Long-term disability insurance

Business overhead expense

Most advisors suggest replacing 60–85% of your income.

Group plan. Government support. Your own policy.

Every policy funds a donation to SickKids.

Real coverage, placed for real Canadians who needed it.

Common questions about disability insurance

More on disability insurance in Ontario

How Much Disability Insurance Do You Actually Need?

Own-Occupation vs. Any-Occupation: Why the Wording Matters

Disability Insurance for the Self-Employed in Canada

Let's talk about protecting your income.