Insurance Tools · Life Insurance

Term Death-Benefit Shapes

See how level, decreasing (mortgage) and increasing term coverage track, or drift from, the need it is meant to protect.

Applies to increasing term only, capped at 150% of the initial face amount.
How this works. A term policy's death benefit can hold steady, shrink, or grow over the years you are covered. Level term pays the same face amount whenever death occurs: simple, but you may end up over- or under-insured as your needs change. Decreasing term shrinks alongside a falling debt; banks sell it as "mortgage insurance" because the amount at risk is the outstanding mortgage, which amortizes down over time. Increasing term grows (e.g. 5% a year, capped at 150% of face) for needs expected to rise with inflation or income. The amber line is the outstanding mortgage: where the blue benefit line sits above it you are over-insured for that debt, and where it sits below you are under-insured.
Educational illustration of standard Canadian insurance concepts. Figures are illustrative, not an insurer’s rates.
Illustration only, not a quote or advice. Figures are simplified for education and do not reflect any specific insurer's rates. Consult a licensed advisor.