Mortgage Life Insurance

Written by Priyanka Correia
Fact-checked by Caitlin Wood

Updated June 29, 2021

Mortgage Life Insurance

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Do you currently have a mortgage? If so, have you ever stopped to consider what would happen if you pass away before your house is paid off? Who would be burdened with continuing the mortgage payments?

Rather than leave your loved ones to deal with your mortgage, an insurance policy can provide your family with the funds needed to fully repay your mortgage in the event of your untimely passing. And while a traditional life insurance policy can do that, there are other unique types of insurance that can take care of your mortgage, such as mortgage life insurance.

Let’s take a closer look at mortgage life insurance to help you determine if this is the right policy for you.

What is Mortgage Life Insurance?

Also known as mortgage protection insurance, mortgage life insurance is a type of term life insurance that covers your mortgage completely if you pass away early in life. If this happens, the policy will repay the entire outstanding balance of your mortgage.

In this case, your lender is the beneficiary of the policy rather than your family members. Instead of a death benefit being passed on to your named beneficiaries, the proceeds of the policy go to the lender when you pass away. This is the main difference between mortgage life insurance and a typical life insurance policy.

That said, while your spouse/partner or children may not see any payout, they will not be left with any outstanding mortgage to continue paying.

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How Does Mortgage Life Insurance Work?

Mortgage life insurance is finite and expires after a certain period of time, much longer than a term life insurance policy. Most policies cover terms lengths that are in line with traditional mortgage amortization periods, for example, 15 to 30 years. Your policy’s value is tied to whatever is still outstanding on your home loan.

For instance, if you still owe $200,000 on your mortgage, then that’s how much your mortgage life insurance policy will be worth. As such, the coverage amount will decrease as you pay down your mortgage balance. The premiums, however, remain the same throughout the term of the policy.

If you pass away before the term expires, your lender will receive the death benefit which will be used to cover the remainder of the outstanding mortgage balance.

How Much Does Mortgage Life Insurance Cost?

The cost of a mortgage life insurance policy will vary greatly from situation to situation. More specifically, your policy will be based on the following factors:

Age. The younger you are when you take out your policy, the less you will likely pay for it.
Health. Your health may be factored into the amount that your insurance provider charges you for your premiums. Generally speaking, those with health issues pay more for their life insurance policies.
Coverage type. Mortgage life insurance includes a death benefit that is paid out to the lender. But some policies may also include a short-term disability component, in which case the policy will be more expensive.
Outstanding mortgage balance. Your coverage will depend on the amount still outstanding on your home loan when the policy is first taken out.
Single versus joint coverage. If your policy is covering both you and your spouse, you will pay more for the policy.

Mortgage Life Insurance vs. Traditional Life Insurance

Mortgage life insurance covers the outstanding balance of your home loan, which decreases as the balance is paid off. A traditional life insurance policy, on the other hand, remains the same throughout the term of the policy and is not tied to your mortgage. Mortgage life insurance coverage expires when your mortgage is fully repaid.

Further, a mortgage life insurance policy pays out a death benefit to your lender when you pass away, while your named beneficiaries receive the death benefit with a traditional life insurance policy.

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Mortgage Life Insurance vs. Home Insurance

A conventional home insurance policy provides financial coverage in the event that your home is damaged, or the contents within it are damaged, lost, or stolen. In this case, you will be compensated for any damages or losses according to your home insurance policy. This type of insurance does not pay out a benefit in the event of your passing.

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Mortgage Life Insurance Providers

	Coverage Amount	Age Range	Provinces Available	Medical Exam Needed
Policy Advisor	$25,000 – $5 million	18 – 72	Ontario	No

What to Look For in a Mortgage Life Insurance Policy

If you are considering taking out a mortgage life insurance policy, consider the following factors before making your choice:

Premiums. The cost of the policy should fit comfortably within your budget.
Waiting period. Some policies might not take effect right away.
Claim policy. Look into what the claims process is, as they can vary between insurers.
Discounts. Some insurance providers might offer discounts for joint policies or if you take out other types of policies with the same insurer.
Benefit payment. Find out how the death benefit will be paid out when a claim is filed. While some insurance providers will pay out the flat amount you insured, others will just pay out what’s left on the mortgage.

Is Mortgage Life Insurance The Same as Mortgage Loan Insurance?

No. While mortgage life insurance pays off your entire mortgage in the event that you pass away, mortgage loan insurance does not. Instead, mortgage loan insurance protects the lender if you default on the loan.

Do You Need Mortgage Life Insurance?

If you already have a life insurance policy in place, then a mortgage life insurance policy is probably not needed. However, if you do not currently have life insurance, then a mortgage life insurance policy may be something worth considering.

If you are unable to qualify for a traditional life insurance policy or simply haven’t taken the time to take one out, then a mortgage protection policy might be the way to go. It will give you the peace of mind knowing that your loved ones will not be left with major mortgage payments if you pass away before your time.

Priyanka Correia

Priyanka is a marketing major who graduated from John Molson School of Business in 2018. She has experience in writing about personal finance, media outreach, and SEO. She is passionate about marketing and educating Canadian consumers about how to take control of their financial lives.