Canada Life Insurance & Protection UK

Canada Life is one of the UK’s longest-established protection providers, with a history in the UK market stretching back over 120 years. Part of the Great-West Lifeco group, they offer life insurance, critical illness cover, income protection and group protection, available through independent financial advisers .

That’s Family Finance · Last reviewed June 2026

▶ In plain English. Who are Canada Life?

Canada Life has been operating in the UK for over 120 years, making them one of the most established names in UK protection. They’re part of Great-West Lifeco, a major Canadian financial services group. In the UK, they’re particularly well known in the group protection market (death in service, group income protection) as well as offering individual life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection through independent advisers.

We are not tied to Canada Life. If they’re the best option for your circumstances, we’ll tell you. If another provider offers better definitions, pricing or terms, we’ll tell you that too.

On this page

Canada Life UK protection products

Canada Life offer a comprehensive range of individual and group protection products in the UK, available through independent financial advisers.

Product 1

Life Insurance

Level or decreasing term life insurance paying a lump sum on death within the policy term. Suitable for family protection, mortgage cover, or leaving a financial legacy. Available on a single or joint life basis with flexible term and sum assured options.

Product 2

Critical Illness Cover

Pays a tax-free lump sum on diagnosis of a covered critical illness. Available standalone or combined with life insurance. Includes children’s critical illness cover. Always compare definitions across providers before choosing.

Product 3

Income Protection

Replaces a proportion of your income if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury. Flexible deferred period options to suit different budgets and employment situations.

Comparison: As an adviser, we can compare Canada Life with other UK protection providers. Get in touch for a comparison.

UK history

120+ years

Part of

Great-West Lifeco

Children’s CI

Included

Group protection

Offered

Canada Life group protection

Canada Life offers employers a comprehensive suite of employee benefits. If you’re a business owner or director looking to set up death in service or group income protection, we can advise on this alongside individual cover.

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Group life assurance (death in service)

Provides a lump sum payment to an employee’s dependants if they die while employed. One of the most valued employee benefits, providing financial security for families at no cost to the employee.

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Group income protection

Replaces a proportion of an employee’s income if they are unable to work due to illness or injury for an extended period. Helps employers support staff through long-term absence and manage absence costs.

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Group critical illness cover

Pays a lump sum to an employee diagnosed with a covered critical illness. Provides financial support at a time when employees may need to take extended leave or adapt their lifestyle following a serious diagnosis.

Canada Life wellbeing support, added-value benefits

Canada Life include added-value wellbeing support with their protection policies, giving policyholders access to health and wellbeing services without needing to make a claim.

GP helpline

Access to a GP telephone helpline, allowing policyholders to speak to a qualified doctor without waiting for an NHS appointment.

Mental health support

Access to mental health support services to help policyholders address concerns early before they escalate.

Second medical opinion

Access to a second medical opinion from a specialist consultant, particularly valuable following a serious diagnosis.

Bereavement and legal support

Access to bereavement counselling and legal helplines providing guidance on practical matters from employment issues to wills and estate planning.

Please note: Canada Life’s added-value services are provided by third parties and are not part of the core insurance contract. They may be amended or withdrawn at any time. Always refer to Canada Life’s own documentation for the most current details.
A family together in their garden

Over 120 years in the UK market

Canada Life has been operating in the United Kingdom for over 120 years, making them one of the most long-standing life insurance and protection providers in the UK market. They are part of Great-West Lifeco, one of the world’s leading insurance and financial services companies, headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada.

In the UK, Canada Life is particularly well established in the group protection market, providing death in service, group income protection and group critical illness cover to thousands of UK employers. Their individual protection range, life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection, is available through independent financial advisers.

Canada Life Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

120+

Years in the UK market

Great-West Lifeco

Parent group

PRA & FCA

UK regulated

Why use an adviser for Canada Life?

An adviser like That's Family Finance can compare Canada Life against other UK protection providers, including Guardian, Royal London, Legal & General, Aviva, Zurich, Vitality, LV=, Aegon and Corebridge Financial, and recommend the policy that genuinely suits your circumstances.

Our advice is free of charge at the point of advice. We may be paid commission by the insurer if you proceed, which we will always disclose clearly.

We are not Canada Life. We can advise on Canada Life and many other providers, and we’ll always tell you honestly which one suits you best.

You might also find this useful

Other protection providers we advise on.

Corebridge Financial (formerly AIG Life) Explained

Adviser-only protection with Smart Health added-value benefits included as standard.

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Aegon Life Insurance & Protection Explained

Life insurance, critical illness and income protection from one of the world’s largest financial services companies.

Read more

Guardian Critical Illness Cover Explained

Adviser-only pure protection with some of the most comprehensive CI definitions in the UK market.

Read more

Royal London Helping Hand Explained

Free wellbeing and recovery support included with all advised Royal London protection plans.

Read more

Get Protection Advice

Not sure which provider is right for you? Send us an enquiry for an honest view.

Contact us
A parent carrying a sleeping child

Protection advice, available across the UK

That’s Family Finance provides protection advice to families and individuals across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Whether you’re in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Glasgow, Essex or anywhere in between, we work with you remotely or in person to find the right cover for your circumstances.

We advise on Canada Life alongside other protection providers, including Guardian, Royal London, Legal & General, Aviva, Zurich, Vitality and LV=.

We are not Canada Life.

Want to know if Canada Life is right for you?

Send us an enquiry or reach us on WhatsApp for an honest, no-obligation view.

Not tied to Canada Life

Common questions

Questions we’re asked about Canada Life protection.

What protection products does Canada Life offer in the UK?

Canada Life offers life insurance, critical illness cover, income protection and group protection products in the UK through independent financial advisers.

Is Canada Life a good insurer in the UK?

Canada Life is one of the UK’s longest-established protection providers with over 120 years in the UK market, part of the Great-West Lifeco group.

Does Canada Life offer group protection?

Yes. Canada Life offers group life assurance (death in service), group income protection and group critical illness cover for employers.

Who owns Canada Life in the UK?

Canada Life in the UK is part of the Great-West Lifeco group, one of the world’s leading insurance and financial services companies, headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada.

Can I get Canada Life protection through an independent adviser?

Yes. Canada Life protection products are available through FCA-regulated independent financial advisers.

How does Canada Life compare to other UK protection providers?

An adviser like That's Family Finance can compare Canada Life with other UK protection providers and recommend a suitable policy for your circumstances.

Canada Life’s added-value services are provided by third parties and are not part of the core insurance contract. They may be amended or withdrawn by Canada Life at any time. Always refer to Canada Life’s own policy documentation for the most current details, including the full list of covered conditions, definitions, and exclusions.

We are not Canada Life. This page contains information about Canada Life’s protection products based on their published materials at the time of writing. Canada Life Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Talk it through with us

Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back to you, usually the same day. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 8pm.