{"id":33298,"date":"2026-01-15T13:40:34","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T18:40:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/?p=33298"},"modified":"2026-02-03T16:02:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T21:02:06","slug":"life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance","title":{"rendered":"Difference Between Life Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-template-selector templateSelector template__article articleSingle\" data-template=\"article\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group articleSingle__container tabListStickyWrapper is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group articleSingle__container__hero is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group articleSingle__container__hero__inner is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<span class=\"rbc-yoast-breadcrum-span\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/\">Home<\/a><\/span><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group articleSingle__featuredImage__group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group articleSingle__title__group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h1 class=\"wp-block-post-title\">Difference Between Life Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance<\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group articleSingle__date__group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-01-15T13:40:34-05:00\">January 15, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<span class=\"wp-block-rbc-html-element articleSingle__readTime\">9 Min Read<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group articleSingle__author__group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/Avatar.webp?quality=80&w=128&h=128&crop=1\" alt=\"Mark Gronowski\">\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group articleSingle__author__details is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<span class=\"wp-block-rbc-html-element articleSingle__author__name\">Mark Gronowski<\/span>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"wp-block-rbc-html-element articleSingle__author__designation\"><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"articleSingle__featuredImage wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?quality=80&amp;w=1024\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Critical illness vs life insurance\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?resize=420,280 420w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group articleSingle__container__main is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group articleSingle__container__page__nav is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\t\t<div class=\"socials-block\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"socials-block-title\">\n\t\t\tShare this article\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<div class=\"social-links mob-mar-b-hlf mob-mar-t-hlf\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"social-button-wrapper sharing-custom sharing-email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Difference Between Life Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance &#038;body=Hi, I thought you might be interested in this article from RBC Insurance: https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/plugins\/rbc-blocks\/assets\/img\/icons\/icon-email.svg\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"envelope icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\tEmail\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"social-button-wrapper sharing-copy-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<button class=\"sharing-custom sharing-copy\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\">\n\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/plugins\/rbc-blocks\/assets\/img\/icons\/icon-related.svg\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"copy icon\">\n\t\t\t<span id=\"sharing-copyUrl-Label\">\n\t\t\t\tCopy URL\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" class=\"sharing-copy-text\" aria-labelledby=\"sharing-copyUrl-Label\">\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n  \t\t<\/div>\t\n\t\t\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-tabs-list tabsList\" data-switch=\"lgBp\" data-target-heading=\"h2\"><p class=\"tabsList__heading\">On this page<\/p><div class=\"tabsList__wrapper\"><button class=\"selectDropdown__button\" aria-haspopup=\"listbox\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><span class=\"selectDropdown__title\">What is life insurance?<\/span><span class=\"selectDropdown__chevron\"><\/span><\/button><ul class=\"tabsList__items selectDropdown__list\"><li class=\"selectDropdown__list__item tabsList__item selected\"><a href=\"#h-what-is-life-insurance\">What is life insurance?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"selectDropdown__list__item tabsList__item \"><a href=\"#h-what-is-critical-illness-insurance\">What is critical illness insurance?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"selectDropdown__list__item tabsList__item \"><a href=\"#h-key-differences-between-life-and-critical-illness-insurance\">Key differences between life and critical illness insurance<\/a><\/li><li class=\"selectDropdown__list__item tabsList__item \"><a href=\"#h-why-both-life-and-critical-illness-insurance-are-important\">Why both life and critical illness insurance are important<\/a><\/li><li class=\"selectDropdown__list__item tabsList__item \"><a href=\"#h-can-you-have-both-life-and-critical-illness-insurance\">Can you have both life and critical illness insurance?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"selectDropdown__list__item tabsList__item \"><a href=\"#h-additional-peace-of-mind-for-you-and-your-loved-ones\">Additional peace of mind for you and your loved ones<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group articleSingle__content__main tabListHeadings is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<section class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-block  pos-rel\" style=\"border-radius:0px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block  section-inner \" style=\"border-radius:0x\">\n<p>Most Canadians understand the role insurance plays in financial planning \u2014 yet many still have gaps in their coverage. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/newsroom\/whats-the-plan-when-life-happens-most-canadians-dont-have-one-rbc-insurance-poll\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-LifeInsurance-33298-0416958b\" data-dig-category=\"LP-LifeInsurance\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"A recent RBC Insurance poll\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">A recent RBC Insurance poll<\/a> highlights that disconnect: while 58 per cent of Canadians say life insurance is important, only 39 per cent actually have a policy. The shortfall is even bigger with critical illness coverage \u2014 29 per cent say it matters, but just 9 per cent are covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That mismatch can have real consequences. Nearly one in three Canadians says their savings would run out within six months if they faced a major health setback. At the same time, not everyone is familiar with critical illness insurance, with 40 per cent of Canadians reporting little to no understanding of the product. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reality is that life and critical illness insurance are designed to provide different solutions. No single policy is designed to handle every situation \u2014 and the whole \u201clife vs. critical illness\u201d confusion can start when those distinctions aren\u2019t clearly understood. This article breaks down the key differences between life and critical illness insurance, explains what life and critical illness cover, and shows how they can work together to support a more complete protection plan for you and your family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-takeaways\">Key takeaways<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Life and critical illness insurance are different types of insurance that can help protect your finances. Life insurance helps financially support your loved ones if you die, while critical illness insurance helps protect you if you\u2019re diagnosed with a covered condition.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Life insurance pays a one-time, tax-free death benefit to your chosen beneficiaries, helping replace income, cover debts, and keep long-term financial plans intact.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Critical illness insurance pays a one-time, tax-free lump sum directly to you while you\u2019re alive, giving you flexibility to manage everyday expenses, lost income, or medical costs.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Both types of insurance come in a range of options and prices, and in some cases can be purchased without a medical exam.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Depending on your insurance company, critical illness insurance can be purchased on its own or added to a life insurance policy as a rider.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Holding both forms of coverage can be especially valuable for people whose finances are tightly linked to their ability to work \u2014 like primary earners, business owners, and caregivers.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-life-insurance\">What is life insurance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/life-insurance\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-LifeInsurance-33298-9ef84187\" data-dig-category=\"LP-LifeInsurance\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"Life insurance\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">Life insurance<\/a> is a type of insurance that pays a tax-free lump sum (called a death benefit) to your chosen beneficiaries when you die, as long as your policy is in good standing. Its primary purpose is to help protect the people who depend on you financially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-life-insurance-works\">How life insurance works<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In a nutshell, you make regular payments (called premiums) to an insurer in exchange for coverage up to a certain amount. If you die while the policy is active, your beneficiaries will receive a one-time, tax-free payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learn more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/what-does-life-insurance-cover-complete-guide\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-LifeInsurance-33298-493865c8\" data-dig-label=\"What Does Life Insurance Cover? A Complete Guide\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-category=\"LP-LifeInsurance\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">What Does Life Insurance Cover?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-types-of-life-insurance\">Types of life insurance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several types of life insurance, including term, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/life-insurance\/guaranteed-life-insurance\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-LifeInsurance-33298-f9696b2c\" data-dig-category=\"LP-LifeInsurance\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"guaranteed acceptance\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">guaranteed acceptance<\/a>, and permanent (such as whole life and universal life). Policies vary in duration and structure, but the core idea stays the same: providing financial protection for the people you leave behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learn more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/term-life-vs-permanent-life-insurance\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-LifeInsurance-33298-ca381d54\" data-dig-category=\"LP-LifeInsurance\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"Term vs Permanent Life Insurance\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">Term vs Permanent Life Insurance<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-can-the-death-benefit-be-used\">How can the death benefit be used?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A life insurance payout, called the death benefit, can help your family regain their financial footing after you\u2019ve passed away. Common uses include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Replacing lost income<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Paying off debts, such as a mortgage or loans<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Covering funeral and final expenses<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Providing financial stability for a spouse and\/or dependents (e.g., paying for a child\u2019s education)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Leaving a charitable donation<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-critical-illness-insurance\">What is critical illness insurance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/health-insurance\/critical-illness-insurance\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-LifeInsurance-33298-ffddf599\" data-dig-category=\"LP-LifeInsurance\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"Critical illness insurance\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">Critical illness insurance<\/a> pays you a one-time, tax-free lump sum if you\u2019re diagnosed with a serious illness, helping you protect your lifestyle while you focus on recovering. Unlike life insurance, the benefit is paid directly to <em>you<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-does-critical-illness-insurance-work\">How does critical illness insurance work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You make regular payments (premiums) to an insurer in exchange for coverage. If you\u2019re diagnosed with a covered illness and meet the policy requirements, you receive a one-time, tax-free benefit payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-does-critical-illness-insurance-cover\">What does critical illness insurance cover?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most policies cover serious conditions that can significantly disrupt your health and finances. That typically includes the big three \u2014 cancer, heart attack, and stroke \u2014 but some go further, covering conditions such as multiple sclerosis, dementia (including Alzheimer\u2019s disease), major organ failure or transplant, blindness, deafness, and severe burns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, what\u2019s covered always depends on the type of critical illness insurance you choose. Most plans typically don\u2019t pay out for illnesses diagnosed before coverage started, and other limits or exclusions could apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/health-insurance\/what-is-critical-illness-insurance\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-LifeInsurance-33298-54cde44d\" data-dig-category=\"LP-LifeInsurance\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"What is critical illness?\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">What is critical illness?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-can-the-benefit-be-used\">How can the benefit be used?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In general, critical illness insurance is designed to help cover expenses if your life is put on pause. Because the payout is made directly to you, you have the flexibility to decide how to use it. Common uses may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Covering daily living expenses<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Paying for out-of-pocket medical costs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Replacing lost income while you aren\u2019t working<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Covering costs to keep your small business afloat<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Updating your home to meet medical needs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Taking time off to rest and recover.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-differences-between-life-and-critical-illness-insurance\">Key differences between life and critical illness insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Life insurance and critical illness insurance are often talked about together \u2014 and for good reason. Each is designed to protect you financially but do so in very different ways and stages of life. Here\u2019s a snapshot of the differences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-tables basicTables\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table basicTable\"><div class=\"basicTable__sliderNav\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Table navigation\"><div class=\"basicTable__navArrow basicTable__prevArrow\" aria-label=\"Previous\"><\/div><div class=\"basicTable__sliderDots\" role=\"tablist\" aria-label=\"Table pagination\"><\/div><div class=\"basicTable__navArrow basicTable__nextArrow\" aria-label=\"Next\"><\/div><\/div><table class=\"basicTable__table\" role=\"table\" aria-label=\"Comparison table\">\n<thead class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-head basicTableHead\" role=\"rowgroup\" aria-label=\"Table head\">\n<tr class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-row basicTableRow\" role=\"row\">\n<th class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-header basicTableHeader\" role=\"columnheader\" scope=\"col\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-feature\"><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/th>\n\n\n\n<th class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-header basicTableHeader\" role=\"columnheader\" scope=\"col\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-life-insurance\"><strong>Life insurance<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/th>\n\n\n\n<th class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-header basicTableHeader\" role=\"columnheader\" scope=\"col\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-critical-illness-insurance\"><strong>Critical illness insurance<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n\n<tbody class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-body basicTableBody\" role=\"rowgroup\" aria-label=\"Table body\">\n<tr class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-row basicTableRow\" role=\"row\">\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Purpose<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Helps support your loved ones financially if you die.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Helps support you financially if you\u2019re diagnosed with a serious illness covered under the policy.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n\n<tr class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-row basicTableRow\" role=\"row\">\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>What triggers a payout<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>The policyholder\u2019s death.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Diagnosis of a covered critical illness and survival of the waiting period (e.g., 30 days+).<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n\n<tr class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-row basicTableRow\" role=\"row\">\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Scope of coverage (i.e. what sorts of things are covered)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Death (subject to policy terms).<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Critical illnesses listed in the policy (e.g., heart attack, stroke, cancer, etc.).<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n\n<tr class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-row basicTableRow\" role=\"row\">\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Beneficiary<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Your chosen beneficiaries (e.g., spouse, children, charitable organizations, etc.).<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>You (the policyholder).<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n\n<tr class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-row basicTableRow\" role=\"row\">\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Coverage period<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>For a set term (e.g., 10 to 40 years) or for a lifetime, depending on the policy.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Usually for a set term (e.g., 10 years) or until a certain age (e.g., age 65), depending on the policy.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n\n<tr class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-row basicTableRow\" role=\"row\">\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Flexibility<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Benefit can be used for any purpose chosen by your beneficiaries.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Benefit can be used for any purpose chosen by you.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n\n<tr class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-row basicTableRow\" role=\"row\">\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Benefit amount<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>$25,000 to $25 million, depending on the type of life insurance policy you choose.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>$10,000 to $2 million or more, depending on type of critical illness policy you choose.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n\n<tr class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-row basicTableRow\" role=\"row\">\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Cost of coverage<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Depends on factors including age, health, plan, and coverage amount selected.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Depends on factors including age, health, plan, and coverage amount selected.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n\n<tr class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-row basicTableRow\" role=\"row\">\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Who can be covered<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Typically, available for Canadians aged 18 to 85, depending on the policy.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n<td class=\"wp-block-rbc-basic-table-data basicTableData\" role=\"cell\" aria-label=\"Table cell\">\n<p>Typically, available for Canadians ages 18 to 65, depending on the policy.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-both-life-and-critical-illness-insurance-are-important\">Why both life and critical illness insurance are important<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While life and critical illness insurance address distinct risks tied to changes in health \u2014one policy can\u2019t fully replace the other. Life insurance helps provide long-term protection for your loved ones after you\u2019re gone. Critical illness insurance focuses on short-term financial support if illness affects your ability to work or manage everyday responsibilities while you\u2019re alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having both types of coverage can be especially helpful for Canadians whose financial security could be affected by injury, illness, or death. This may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p><strong>Primary income earners<\/strong> who rely on their pay to cover major household expenses, such as a mortgage, car payments, or credit card debt<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p><strong>Business owners and self-employed individuals<\/strong> who may still need to cover operating expenses or arrange temporary help during recovery<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p><strong>Caregivers<\/strong> supporting children, aging family members, or loved ones with disabilities<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p><strong>Canadians without group health benefits<\/strong>, who may face out-of-pocket medical or recovery-related costs not fully covered by provincial or territorial health care.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, life and critical illness insurance can help create a powerful financial safety net if your health takes an unexpected turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-you-have-both-life-and-critical-illness-insurance\">Can you have both life and critical illness insurance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, many Canadians choose to have both life and critical illness insurance. Because each type of coverage protects against different risks, they can work together as a team to fortify your financial interests and protect your loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can purchase a stand-alone critical illness insurance policy, or you can purchase life insurance with critical illness as a rider (optional coverage that can be added for an extra cost).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-additional-peace-of-mind-for-you-and-your-loved-ones\">Additional peace of mind for you and your loved ones<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing between life insurance and critical illness insurance isn\u2019t really about picking one over the other. It\u2019s about understanding the different roles each type of policy plays and how they can work together to support you and your family if your health changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Life insurance looks ahead, helping protect the people you care about financially after you\u2019re gone. Critical illness insurance focuses on the present, helping you manage expenses and income disruptions if a serious illness affects your ability to work. In either case, everyday responsibilities don\u2019t stop. The mortgage still needs to be paid, bills still arrive, and the people who rely on you still need support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thinking about life vs. critical illness insurance coverage this way can help you make more confident choices about protecting yourself and the loved ones who matter most. If you have questions about which type of insurance policy is right for you, an accredited insurance advisor can help provide guidance and answer questions for your unique situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block  section-inner block-wpr bg-light-blue rounded-corners pos-rel pad-l pad-r mob-pad-r centered-block mob-pad-l pad-t mob-pad-t pad-b mob-pad-b\" style=\"border-radius:0x\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center mar-t mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b-hlf mob-mar-t\" id=\"h-rbc-life-insurance\">RBC Life Insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b-hlf pad-r mob-pad-r pad-l mob-pad-l has-text-reg-font-size\">Protect Your Loved Ones With Dependable Life Insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter btn is-style-primary primary\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-lg-font-size has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-quote\/index.html\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-dig-id=\"LP-283-476a44f4\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"button click\" data-dig-label=\"Get a quote-https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-quote\/index.html \">Get a quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center mar-t-hlf mob-mar-t-hlf pad-b mob-pad-b has-text-reg-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/life-insurance\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-273-18de2c2e\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"Learn More\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:41px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block  section-inner block-wpr bg-light-blue rounded-corners pos-rel pad-l pad-r mob-pad-r centered-block mob-pad-l pad-t mob-pad-t pad-b mob-pad-b\" style=\"border-radius:0x\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center mar-t mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b-hlf mob-mar-t\" id=\"h-rbc-critical-illness-insurance\">RBC Critical Illness Insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b-hlf pad-r mob-pad-r pad-l mob-pad-l has-text-reg-font-size\">Protect yourself and your loved ones with critical illness insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter btn is-style-primary primary\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-lg-font-size has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/health-insurance\/critical-illness-insurance\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-32972-476a44f4\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"button click\" data-dig-label=\"Learn More-https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/health-insurance\/critical-illness-insurance\/ \">Learn More<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:19px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-rbc-default-collapsible\"><p><button class=\"collapse-toggle collapsed\" data-target=\"#collapse2de7ba0a\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse2de7ba0a\" data-dig-id=\"LP-10384-2de7ba0a\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"accordion closed\" action-closed=\"accordion closed\" action-opened=\"accordion open\" data-dig-label=\"Things Our Lawyers Want You to Know\"><div>Things Our Lawyers Want You to Know<\/div><\/button><\/p><div class=\"collapse-content collapse\" id=\"collapse2de7ba0a\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-collapsible-inner-block collapse-inner\">\n<p class=\"has-text-sm-font-size\">*Home and auto insurance products are distributed by RBC Insurance Agency Ltd. and underwritten by Aviva General Insurance Company. In Quebec, RBC Insurance Agency Ltd. Is registered as a damage insurance agency. As a result of government-run auto insurance plans, auto insurance is not available through RBC Insurance in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-sm-font-size\">This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s what Canadians need to know about the difference between life insurance and critical illness insurance in order to choose the right protection for you and your loved ones. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":208,"featured_media":33345,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"templates\/new-rbci-design.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[47,4],"article-type":[80],"ppma_author":[169],"class_list":["post-33298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-insurance","tag-critical-illness-insurance","tag-life-insurance","article-type-advice-learning"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Difference Between Life Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance | RBC Insurance<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here\u2019s what Canadians need to know about the difference between life insurance and critical illness insurance in order to choose the right protection for you and your loved ones.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Difference Between Life Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance | RBC Insurance\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here\u2019s what Canadians need to know about the difference between life insurance and critical illness insurance in order to choose the right protection for you and your loved ones.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"RBC Insurance\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"Mark Gronowski\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-15T18:40:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-03T21:02:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?quality=80\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"683\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"noellagilkes\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mark Gronowski\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"28 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/advice-learning\\\/life-insurance\\\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/advice-learning\\\/life-insurance\\\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"noellagilkes\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/401857fcb2c7717f8c04c3d33e8bc689\"},\"headline\":\"Difference Between Life Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-15T18:40:34+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-03T21:02:06+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/advice-learning\\\/life-insurance\\\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1648,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/advice-learning\\\/life-insurance\\\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2021\\\/06\\\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?quality=80\",\"keywords\":[\"Critical Illness Insurance\",\"Life Insurance\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Life Insurance\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/advice-learning\\\/life-insurance\\\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/advice-learning\\\/life-insurance\\\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/advice-learning\\\/life-insurance\\\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\\\/\",\"name\":\"Difference Between Life Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance | RBC Insurance\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/advice-learning\\\/life-insurance\\\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/advice-learning\\\/life-insurance\\\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2021\\\/06\\\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?quality=80\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-15T18:40:34+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-03T21:02:06+00:00\",\"description\":\"Here\u2019s what Canadians need to know about the difference between life insurance and critical illness insurance in order to choose the right protection for you and your loved ones.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/advice-learning\\\/life-insurance\\\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/advice-learning\\\/life-insurance\\\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/advice-learning\\\/life-insurance\\\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2021\\\/06\\\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?quality=80\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2021\\\/06\\\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?quality=80\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":683,\"caption\":\"Critical illness vs life insurance\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/advice-learning\\\/life-insurance\\\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Advice &amp; Learning\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/article-type\\\/advice-learning\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Difference Between Life Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/\",\"name\":\"RBC Insurance\",\"description\":\"Personal Insurance\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"RBC Insurance\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2021\\\/06\\\/rbc-logo-shield.svg?quality=80&w=1024\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2021\\\/06\\\/rbc-logo-shield.svg?quality=80&w=1024\",\"width\":\"1024\",\"height\":\"1024\",\"caption\":\"RBC Insurance\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"description\":\"RBC Insurance offers personal insurance such as car, home, life, health, travel and creditor insurance, plus retirement investment solutions to Canadians.\",\"telephone\":\"1-800-769-2568\",\"legalName\":\"RBC Insurance Services Inc.\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"1001\",\"maxValue\":\"5000\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/401857fcb2c7717f8c04c3d33e8bc689\",\"name\":\"noellagilkes\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2021\\\/06\\\/Avatar.webp?quality=80&w=1285311091e249d85a89a1c2139527829f8\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2021\\\/06\\\/Avatar.webp?quality=80&w=128\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcinsurance.com\\\/en-ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2021\\\/06\\\/Avatar.webp?quality=80&w=128\",\"caption\":\"noellagilkes\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Difference Between Life Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance | RBC Insurance","description":"Here\u2019s what Canadians need to know about the difference between life insurance and critical illness insurance in order to choose the right protection for you and your loved ones.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Difference Between Life Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance | RBC Insurance","og_description":"Here\u2019s what Canadians need to know about the difference between life insurance and critical illness insurance in order to choose the right protection for you and your loved ones.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/","og_site_name":"RBC Insurance","article_author":"Mark Gronowski","article_published_time":"2026-01-15T18:40:34+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-02-03T21:02:06+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":683,"url":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?quality=80","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"noellagilkes","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Mark Gronowski","Est. reading time":"28 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/"},"author":{"name":"noellagilkes","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/#\/schema\/person\/401857fcb2c7717f8c04c3d33e8bc689"},"headline":"Difference Between Life Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance","datePublished":"2026-01-15T18:40:34+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-03T21:02:06+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/"},"wordCount":1648,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?quality=80","keywords":["Critical Illness Insurance","Life Insurance"],"articleSection":["Life Insurance"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/","url":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/","name":"Difference Between Life Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance | RBC Insurance","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?quality=80","datePublished":"2026-01-15T18:40:34+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-03T21:02:06+00:00","description":"Here\u2019s what Canadians need to know about the difference between life insurance and critical illness insurance in order to choose the right protection for you and your loved ones.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?quality=80","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?quality=80","width":1024,"height":683,"caption":"Critical illness vs life insurance"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/advice-learning\/life-insurance\/life-insurance-vs-critical-illness-insurance\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Advice &amp; Learning","item":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/article-type\/advice-learning\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Difference Between Life Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/","name":"RBC Insurance","description":"Personal Insurance","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/#organization","name":"RBC Insurance","url":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/rbc-logo-shield.svg?quality=80&w=1024","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/rbc-logo-shield.svg?quality=80&w=1024","width":"1024","height":"1024","caption":"RBC Insurance"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"description":"RBC Insurance offers personal insurance such as car, home, life, health, travel and creditor insurance, plus retirement investment solutions to Canadians.","telephone":"1-800-769-2568","legalName":"RBC Insurance Services Inc.","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"1001","maxValue":"5000"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/#\/schema\/person\/401857fcb2c7717f8c04c3d33e8bc689","name":"noellagilkes","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/Avatar.webp?quality=80&w=1285311091e249d85a89a1c2139527829f8","url":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/Avatar.webp?quality=80&w=128","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/Avatar.webp?quality=80&w=128","caption":"noellagilkes"}}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/critical-illness-vs-life-insurance.webp?quality=80","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":169,"user_id":208,"is_guest":0,"slug":"noellagilkes","display_name":"noellagilkes","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/Avatar.webp?quality=80&w=128","url2x":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/Avatar.webp?quality=80&w=128"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33298","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/208"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33298"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33298\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33657,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33298\/revisions\/33657"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33298"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33298"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33298"},{"taxonomy":"article-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-type?post=33298"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcinsurance.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=33298"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}