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- RBC offers disability insurance for professionals, employees, self-employed individuals, and business owners
- It offers disability coverage through different options, including Professional Series, The Foundation Series, Quantum Series, Bridge Series, and Retirement Protector
- With RBC, business owners can access specialized coverage for overhead expenses, commercial loans, key persons, and disability buy-sell needs
- Through RBC disability riders, you can add partial disability, inflation protection, future income, retirement savings protection, and more to the base coverage
RBC Insurance, part of RBC, one of Canada’s largest financial institutions, offers disability insurance designed to protect your income if an illness, injury, or mental health condition prevents you from working. Its lineup includes individual coverage for employees, professionals, and business owners, as well as specialized plans for business expenses. RBC disability insurance can complement government disability benefits such as the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) by providing additional income protection, subject to eligibility and the policy’s benefit-coordination provisions.
Quick review:
- PolicyAdvisor ratings: 5/5
- Best for: Working professionals and business owners
- Skip if: Your existing disability coverage already adequately meets your income-protection needs
About RBC disability insurance
RBC Insurance offers a range of disability insurance plans designed for different income protection and business needs. Options include Professional Series, Foundation Series, Quantum, Bridge Series, and Retirement Protector, along with specialized coverage for business overhead expenses, commercial loans, key persons, and disability buy-sell arrangements.
Key features of RBC disability insurance
| Eligible age |
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| Benefit period | 2, 5, or 10 years or until age 65 (can vary by plan) |
| Waiting period |
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| Occupation classes | 4A, 3A, 2A, A, or B classes, depending on the plan |
| Contract type | Non-cancellable to age 65 and guaranteed continuable to age 65 |
| Grace period | 31 days after the first premium |
| Survivor benefits | Available with Professional, Foundation, and Bridge series if the insured dies before age 65 while receiving total disability benefits, subject to policy terms. |
| Business owner specific plans |
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| Riders |
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Who is eligible for RBC disability insurance?
Eligibility for RBC disability insurance depends on the following:
- Residency: You must be a Canadian resident
- Eligible age: 18-60 years (for Retirement Protector, it is 18-55 years)
- Occupation: RBC classifies eligible occupations into 4A, 3A, 2A, A, or B classes. The occupation class can affect the maximum monthly benefit. Not every plan is available to every occupation class.
- Income and existing coverage: Your earned income and any existing disability insurance can affect the amount of coverage you qualify for. Employment and financial requirements vary by plan.
- Health: Depending on the policy, you can be subject to medical underwriting, which can affect exclusions, premiums, or available coverage
Types of RBC disability insurance
RBC offers a range of disability insurance plans, including Professional Series, The Foundation Series, Quantum, Bridge Series, and Retirement Protector.
Professional Series
This is an individual income protection plan that provides long-term term disability insurance and return-to-work benefits. It provides disability benefit periods for 2 or 5 years or until age 65 and comes with a waiting period of 0, 60, 90, 120, 180, 365 or 730 days. The two-year benefit period is not available with a 730-day waiting period.
This professional disability insurance plan also provides recovery benefits, quicker access to care by appropriate physician specialists, waiver of premium during disability, and customizable options through riders. It is also a portable plan and can remain in force even if you switch jobs.
The Foundation Series
This disability insurance plan provides total disability benefits along with broader return-to-work assistance. Like other disability insurance plans that RBC offers, the Foundation Series also offers flexibility so that you can get a policy that fits your needs and benefits.
The Foundation Series covers you under a regular occupation definition for the first 24 months of disability, after which the definition changes to any-occupation based on your education, training, experience, and prior economic status. An optional Enhanced Definition of Disability Benefit can extend the regular-occupation definition to the end of the benefit period. It also includes return-to-work and recovery benefits, waiver of premiums while disabled, and more.
Quantum
Designed to provide comprehensive income protection for professionals and business owners. Quantum provides disability benefits in case an illness or injury causes you to lose at least 20% of your earnings, subject to the policy’s disability definition. It provides long-term disability benefits for 2 or 5 years or until age 65, with flexible waiting periods ranging from 0, 60, 90, 120, 180, 365 and 730 days.
The Quantum Series offers return-to-work and recovery benefits, waiver of premium during disability, access to appropriate physician specialists, and optional riders. It also offers guaranteed renewability up to the age of 65.
Bridge Series
The Bridge Series is a flexible RBC long-term disability plan that offers comprehensive coverage with optional benefits such as partial disability, future insurability, and cost-of-living protection. Its cost-containment features help keep premiums affordable, making it an option for a wide range of occupations, including employees, business owners, farmers, and part-time or newly self-employed workers. The plan includes benefit-coordination provisions and 24-month benefit limitations for certain conditions, including mental health disorders and specified musculoskeletal and chronic conditions.
Retirement Protector
The Retirement Protector Plan is a disability insurance option designed to help protect your retirement savings if a disability prevents you from working. It provides benefits that can help you continue making retirement contributions during a period of disability, helping reduce the impact of lost income on your long-term retirement plans. It is a good choice if you are contributing to an RRSP and do not have a company pension plan. The total disability benefit paid out is between $300 and $1,500 per month.
A quick comparison of the disability insurance plans listed above:
| Features | Professional Series | The Foundation Series | Quantum Series | Bridge Series | Retirement Protector |
| Eligible age | 18-60 years | 18-60 years | 18-60 years | 18-60 years | 18-55 years |
| Benefit period | 2 years, 5 years, or up to age 65 | 2 years, 5 years, or up to age 65 | 2 or 5 years or until age 65 | 2 or 5 years or until age 65 | 10 years or to age 65, depending on occupation class |
| Waiting period | 0, 60, 90, 120, 180, 365 or 730 days | 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 days; 360 and 720 days for certain occupation classes | 0, 60, 90, 120, 180, 365 or 730 days | 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 days; 360 and 720 days for certain occupation classes |
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| Survivor benefit | Beneficiary receives a payment which is 3x the maximum monthly benefit payable at death | Beneficiary receives a payment which is 3x the maximum monthly benefit payable at death | Not applicable | Beneficiary receives a payment which is 3x the maximum monthly benefit payable at death | Not applicable |
| Definitions of disability used |
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Regular occupation for the first
24 months and then converted to any occupation |
Loss of Income (≥20% earnings loss). | Regular occupation for the first
24 months and then converted to any occupation |
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| Riders |
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Other types of RBC disability insurance
In addition to those listed above, RBC also offers Simplified Disability Insurance, Overhead Expense Plan, Disability Buy-Sell, Key Person Protection, and Loan Protector.
- Overhead Expense Plan: It is designed to reimburse fixed business expenses when an owner becomes totally disabled. The Overhead Expense Plan is available to actively working business owners aged 18-60, with benefit periods of 15 or 24 months and waiting periods of 30, 60, or 90 days, depending on occupational class. The coverage is available for businesses with up to 10 employees
- Disability Buy-Sell: This plan helps fund the buyout of a disabled partner or shareholder’s business interest. It is available to partnerships and incorporated businesses with at least 2 actively involved shareholders who have worked together for at least 3 years. Coverage is available for ages 18-60 years with 360, 540, or 720-day waiting periods and flexible funding options, including monthly payments or a lump sum
- Key Person Protection: It helps compensate a business for the financial loss caused by the total disability of a key employee, owner, or shareholder. The business owns the policy and must demonstrate the expected financial loss. It is available for ages 18-55, with 60- or 90-day waiting periods and a 12-month benefit period. The monthly benefits range from $2,500 to $25,000, depending on occupational class
- Loan Protector: Loan Protector is designed to help businesses continue meeting commercial loan obligations if an insured business owner becomes totally disabled. The business must generally have operated for at least three years, with the insured owning at least 25% and actively working full-time in the business. Coverage may be available through periodic or lump-sum benefits, and the benefit period will be 24 months or 730 days, respectively
- Simplified Disability Insurance: It is available to those aged between 18 and 55 years and requires no medical questions. You can choose a monthly benefit ranging from $500, $1,000 or $1,500. The benefit period is payable for up to 2 years per disability, and the waiting period can be either 60 or 90 days
What is covered under RBC disability insurance?
RBC disability insurance plans offer income protection and business-focused benefits, depending on the policy selected. Here is what is typically covered under their policy:
- Monthly disability benefit: Provides income replacement when a qualifying illness or injury prevents you from working or results in a covered loss of income
- Flexible waiting and benefit periods: Depending on the plan, you can choose waiting periods ranging from 0 to 730 days and benefit periods of 2 or 5 years, or to age 65. Other options are available on certain plans or for certain occupation classes
- Return-to-work and recovery benefits: Most of the disability plans that RBC offers provide support and benefits to help policyholders return to work following a disability
- Waiver of premium: RBC may waive premiums while you are receiving eligible disability benefits
- Survivor benefit: RBC disability plans including Professional Series, the Foundation Series, and Bridge Series provide a lump-sum payment to beneficiaries if the insured dies while receiving disability benefits. The survivor benefit is up to 3x the monthly benefit payable at the time of death
- Business protection: RBC offers specialized coverage for business overhead expenses, business loan payments, key-person disability, and disability-related buyouts. These require separate business coverage rather than being automatically included in personal income-protection policies.
- Optional riders: Depending on the plan, RBC’s disability coverage can be customized with options such as cost-of-living protection, future income options, partial disability benefits, regular occupation extension, additional monthly benefits, and retirement protection
What is not covered under RBC disability insurance?
RBC disability insurance policies have certain exclusions and benefit limitations, which may vary by plan. However, the common exclusions include the following:
- War-related disability: Certain plans exclude disabilities resulting from an act or accident of war.
- Normal pregnancy or childbirth: Normal pregnancy and childbirth are excluded, although complications may be covered
- Incarceration: No benefits are payable while the insured is incarcerated
- Pre-policy conditions: Injuries or illnesses that occur before the policy takes effect are not covered.
- Other disability benefits: Benefits may be reduced when payments are received from other sources, such as automobile accident insurance
- Age limits: Partial or residual disability benefits generally do not continue past age 65 unless the disability began within three months of the insured’s 65th birthday
Pros and cons of RBC disability insurance
What is the cost of RBC disability insurance?
The cost of disability insurance offered by RBC Insurance with $5,000 in monthly benefit ranges from $85 to $353 per month for occupation type 4A. On the other hand, for the same monthly benefit but for 3A occupation class, the cost ranges from $120 to $496 per month.
RBC disability insurance cost (2026):
| Age (in years) | $5,000 monthly benefit (4A) | $5,000 monthly benefit (3A) |
| 30 | $85.79/month | $120.80/month |
| 40 | $131.60/month | $194.74/month |
| 50 | $213.76/month | $331.06/month |
| 60 | $353.02/month | $496.63/month |
*Illustrative cost for a non-smoker male in good health, with a $5,000 monthly benefit, 90-day waiting period, and coverage to age 65.
Cost of RBC disability insurance
- $5,000 monthly benefit (4A)
- $5,000 monthly benefit (3A)
- $5,000 monthly benefit (4A)
- $5,000 monthly benefit (3A)
*Illustrative monthly premiums shown in Canadian dollars (CAD) for a $5,000 monthly disability benefit. Rates vary by age, occupation class, health, waiting period, benefit period, riders, underwriting, and other policy factors. Actual premiums may differ.
What riders are available with RBC disability insurance?
Some of the riders that RBC offers with its disability insurance plan include Family, compassionate care riders, Additional monthly benefits, Enhanced definition of disability benefit, Partial disability benefit, Future income option, Cost of living benefit, Retirement protector rider, and a few more. With RBC, the main add-ons focus on increasing coverage later, protecting against inflation, extending disability definitions, or adding partial disability support.
What it does
Provides monthly benefits if your spouse or child is diagnosed with a terminal illness, helping you take time away from work to provide care
What it does
Lets you increase your disability coverage as your income grows without providing new medical evidence
What it does
Increases disability benefits to help offset the impact of inflation while you are disabled, subject to policy limits
What it does
Adds extra monthly disability coverage to your base policy
What it does
Provides benefits when you can work but your disability limits your ability to work or earn income
What it does
Extends the regular-occupation definition beyond the initial 24 months on eligible plans
What it does
Helps maintain contributions to an RSP while you are totally disabled
What it does
Provides a specified benefit following certain accidental injuries or accidental death
What it does
On eligible plans, waives the waiting period when you meet the requirements and are hospitalized for 72 consecutive hours
What it does
It lets the policyholder convert all or part of their disability coverage to long-term care insurance. This conversion can be done without providing evidence of good health
What it does
Available with the Retirement Protector plan at no additional cost for qualified health care professionals. If you become HIV- or hepatitis-impaired and meet the rider’s specified conditions, you may qualify as disabled under the policy
Does RBC offer coverage for partial or residual disability?
Yes, RBC offers coverage for partial or residual disability, but the coverage varies by plan. Professional Series includes built-in partial and residual disability benefits. Partial disability benefits can provide 50% of the monthly benefit during the first 24 months and 25% thereafter, while residual disability can provide the full benefit for a qualifying 80% or greater loss of earnings. Foundation Series provides total disability coverage as standard, with partial and residual benefits available as optional coverage. It also offers a recovery benefit after returning to work.
Can I get a survivor benefit with RBC disability insurance?
Yes, select RBC disability insurance plans offer a survivor benefit if the insured dies while receiving eligible disability benefits. It is available with plans such as the Professional Series, Foundation Series, and Bridge Series, but is not available with Quantum or Retirement Protector. The survivor benefit is a lump-sum payment equal to three times the maximum monthly disability benefit.
Can I increase my coverage later with RBC disability insurance?
Yes, RBC offers a Future Income Option (FIO) on Professional Series, Foundation Series, Quantum, and Bridge Series. This rider allows you to increase your monthly disability coverage as your income grows without providing new medical evidence. However, the exact eligibility requirements can vary depending on the policy’s eligibility requirements and maximum limits.
How does RBC compare to other disability insurance providers in Canada?
RBC offers a broad range of disability insurance options, including standalone income protection plans and specialized coverage for business owners. Its plans provide features such as flexible waiting periods, benefit periods up to age 65, partial or residual disability coverage on select plans, and customizable riders. Other insurers may offer different occupation definitions, benefit structures, and riders. Read our guide on best disability insurance companies in Canada to compare leading providers.
Our advisor’s take on RBC disability insurance
At PolicyAdvisor, we recently helped a 40-year-old professional compare disability insurance options. He wanted long-term coverage with flexible benefit periods and options to customize his protection as his income and needs changed.
Client profile:
- Age: 40-year-old non-smoking Canadian
- Coverage need: Long-term disability income protection
- Primary concern: Flexible coverage with options that could adapt as their income and circumstances changed
- Our comparison: We compared RBC’s disability insurance plans with leading Canadian options based on disability definitions, benefit periods, waiting periods, riders, and coverage flexibility. As compared to others, RBC offered a broad range of plans suited to different occupations and needs
Why we recommended RBC:
- Offers multiple disability plans for professionals, employees, business owners, and self-employed individuals
- Provides flexible waiting and benefit periods, with select plans offering coverage up to age 65
- Offers riders such as future income option, cost-of-living protection, partial disability, retirement protection, and more to customize coverage
How to buy RBC disability insurance with PolicyAdvisor?
To buy RBC disability insurance with PolicyAdvisor, here are the steps you need to follow:
- Assess your coverage needs: Analyze how much disability income protection you need based on your income, occupation, expenses, and existing coverage
- Contact our advisor: Tell us about your occupation, income, and coverage needs. We will compare RBC with other disability insurance options and help you understand the differences
- Compare your options: Review available plans on the basis of premiums, disability definitions, waiting periods, benefit periods, and optional riders
- Complete the application: Once you choose a plan, complete the application and provide the information required for underwriting and finally review the policy
Schedule a call now to get started with the application process!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RBC disability insurance worth it?
RBC disability insurance can be worth considering as it can provide an important source of income protection if an illness or injury prevents you from working. Its plans offer different benefit periods, waiting periods, disability definitions, and optional riders. RBC offers a range of plans, which gives flexibility to pick the one that suits your needs and budget. Whether it is worthwhile depends on the policy’s terms, premiums, and your existing coverage.
What is the waiting period of RBC disability insurance?
The waiting period for Foundation and Bridge Series is 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 days, with 360- and 720-day options available to certain occupation classes. For the Professional and Quantum Series, it ranges from 0, 60, 90, 120, 180, 365 or 730 days. The Retirement Protector has a waiting period of 90 days.
Does RBC disability insurance cover self-employed individuals?
Yes, RBC offers disability insurance options for self-employed individuals and business owners, although eligibility depends on the specific plan and underwriting requirements. Its business-focused coverage also includes an Overhead Expense Plan, Disability Buy-Sell, Key Person Protection, and Loan Protector to address different business-related financial risks.
Can I get RBC disability insurance if I already have coverage through my employer?
Yes, you can purchase individual RBC disability insurance even if you have coverage through an employer. Individual coverage can help supplement an existing group plan, particularly when employer coverage does not fully replace your income or has limitations on benefit amounts, definitions, or portability. Your existing coverage should be reviewed before choosing additional protection.
Can I get riders with RBC disability insurance?
Yes, RBC offers several optional riders on eligible disability insurance plans, including Future Income Option, Cost of Living Benefit, Partial Disability Benefits, Additional Monthly Benefits, Family Compassionate Care, Retirement Protector, and Accidental Death & Dismemberment. The exact availability varies by plan, occupation, and underwriting, so not every rider is available with every RBC disability policy.
Does RBC disability insurance cover injuries and illnesses?
Yes, RBC disability insurance is designed to provide income protection when an illness or injury prevents you from working, subject to the policy’s definition of disability, exclusions, and other terms. The disability coverage can also apply to qualifying physical or mental health conditions, provided the condition meets the requirements for disability benefits under the specific plan.
Is RBC disability insurance non-cancellable?
Yes, RBC individual disability insurance policies can be non-cancellable to age 65, meaning the insurer generally cannot cancel the policy or change the premium for an individual policy as long as you meet the policy requirements and continue paying premiums.
RBC disability insurance provides income protection when an illness, injury, or mental health condition prevents you from working. It offers plans for professionals, employees, self-employed individuals, and business owners, plus specialized business coverage. Options include long-term disability benefits, flexible waiting and benefit periods, partial disability protection, and customizable riders.
