Time to care
Financial flexibility for a parent who needs to reduce work hours, take leave or travel for treatment.
InsuranceVilla • Family Health Protection
Protect Your Child’s Future and Your Family’s Financial Well-Being.
A serious childhood illness can change a family’s finances overnight. Desjardins Health Priorities – Child, 20 Pay is designed to provide a lump-sum benefit when an insured child meets the policy definition of a covered critical illness—giving families greater financial flexibility while they focus on care.
20 Pay
Plan for a limited premium-payment period while considering long-term critical illness coverage.
2926 core critical illnesses and 3 included childhood conditions described in the insurer’s guide; up to 3 additional childhood conditions may be available.
Not every diagnosis qualifies. Benefits, riders, eligibility, payment duration, and policy duration depend on the issued contract.
Tax-free lump sumFor an eligible claim under the policy
20-pay structureA defined premium-payment approach
Partial advancesFor certain less severe diagnoses and treatments
Optional premium returnsSubject to rider terms and availability
Why protection matters
Protecting the child—and the family’s plan
Critical illness insurance complements, rather than replaces, life insurance, disability insurance, health coverage or an RESP. An eligible benefit can help parents manage additional expenses and disrupted income during a child’s recovery.
Recovery-related costs
Help with care-related travel, accommodations, childcare, and other family needs, subject to the family’s choices.
Long-term planning
Reduce the risk of dipping into education savings or retirement reserves after a covered diagnosis.
Life insurance versus critical illness insurance: life insurance generally pays a death benefit, while critical illness insurance can pay the policyholder after a covered diagnosis that satisfies the contract requirements. They serve different purposes.
Covered conditions
Know what Health Priorities – Child can cover
Open each category to review the illnesses described in Desjardins’ published guide. The lists below are educational summaries—not medical or coverage definitions.
👶Childhood diseases — 3 included 3 conditions⌄
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Rett syndrome
- Cystic fibrosis
➕Additional childhood diseases — subject to availability 3 conditions⌄
- Cerebral palsy
- Muscular dystrophy
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
🎗️Cancers & tumours 2 conditions⌄
- Benign brain tumour
- Cancer (life-threatening)
❤️Cardiovascular 5 conditions⌄
- Aortic surgery
- Coronary artery bypass surgery
- Heart attack
- Heart valve replacement or repair
- Stroke
🧠Neurological 5 conditions⌄
- Bacterial meningitis
- Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease
- Motor neuron disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease and specified atypical Parkinsonian disorders
🫁Vital organs 3 conditions⌄
- Kidney failure
- Major organ failure on waiting list
- Major organ transplant
🛡️Accidents & functional loss 8 conditions⌄
- Acquired brain injury
- Blindness
- Coma
- Deafness
- Loss of limbs
- Loss of speech
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
🌿Other 3 conditions⌄
- Aplastic anemia
- Occupational HIV infection
- Permanent loss of independent existence
The insurer’s guide describes 26 core illnesses (including permanent loss of independent existence) plus 3 included childhood conditions; three additional childhood diseases may be offered under additional coverage. The final list and exact definitions depend on the contract version and endorsements.
Beyond major illnesses
Partial benefits for certain less severe conditions
Some qualifying diagnoses or procedures may trigger a partial benefit rather than the full critical illness amount. Percentages below apply to the relevant insurance amount, subject to contract definitions and limits.
Selected early-stage cancers
15% up to $50,000
Examples: carcinoma in situ, stage 1 malignant melanoma, certain thyroid cancers, and eligible in-situ breast diagnoses. One advance per applicable category, subject to the policy.
Total mastectomy or total prostatectomy
30% up to $100,000
For qualifying ablation procedures, with reductions that may apply where other cancer advances have already been paid.
Other eligible cancers
1% up to $5,000
For certain other cancers that do not qualify under the full or early-stage cancer definitions. Interactions with prior advances apply.
Minor cardiovascular conditions and procedures
15% up to $50,000
Examples include coronary angioplasty, certain aortic aneurysm treatment and insertion of an eligible pacemaker or defibrillator.
Temporary loss of independent existence
15% up to $25,000
For a qualifying loss of independence under the policy. Prior advances may reduce a subsequent full benefit if the condition becomes permanent.
Important advance rules
Read the contract
Advances are subject to eligibility, category limits and benefit-offset rules. Multiple advances may affect the amount payable on a later claim. The specific version of the policy controls.
Further learning
Explore the official Desjardins resources
For definitions, coverage details and optional benefits, review the insurer’s documents alongside your personalized illustration.
The educational guides cited here include editions published in 2023–2024. Product availability, terms and benefit definitions should be verified against current Desjardins materials before an application or client recommendation.
Let’s protect what matters most.
Request a needs-based conversation about Health Priorities – Child, suitable benefit amounts, premium-return options and how this protection fits your family’s long-term goals.