A baby, an adoption or a blended family means someone new depends on your income. This page explains what people often check first, what kinds of protection exist, and what to ask.
Start with what you already have
Benefits at work. If your employer has a group plan, ask how to add your child. Plans usually give a short window after a birth or adoption to add dependants, often around 30 days, so ask for the exact deadline.
Group life insurance. Coverage through work is often a modest amount and usually ends when you leave the job. Check the amount and whether it can be converted to a personal policy.
Beneficiaries. The person named on a life insurance policy is who gets the payout. Review it after a major life change. If a child is named, ask how the money would be managed, because a young child cannot manage it directly. The rules are different in Quebec.
Your will. A will is where you name a guardian for your children and who looks after money for them. Insurance does not do that. A lawyer can help.
Income during leave. This usually comes from government benefits and sometimes an employer top-up (Quebec has its own plan, the QPIP). It is not insurance you buy, and it is different from disability insurance.
Kinds of protection people look at
Life insurance pays a death benefit to the people you name. Term insurance covers a set number of years. Permanent insurance is designed to last your whole life. Our life insurance needs calculator walks through income, debts and the cost of raising children.
Disability insurance pays part of your income if illness or injury stops you from working. For many families, the ability to earn is the biggest thing to protect. Our disability income gap calculator compares your spending with the income that would continue.
Critical illness insurance pays a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious illness the policy lists.
Coverage on a child. Some insurers offer life or critical illness coverage on children, or as an add-on to a parent's policy. Ask what it covers, what it costs and whether it can be converted later.
Questions worth asking
If one of us could not work, how long could we manage, and from what income?
What does our work coverage pay, and what happens to it if either of us leaves the job?
Who would look after the children, and who would manage the money?
When should I look at life insurance after having a baby?
Many people look into it before or soon after a baby arrives. Insurers ask about your health, and health can change over time, so an advisor can explain how timing and your circumstances may affect your options.
Can I add my baby to my group benefits?
Usually, but often only within a short window after the birth or adoption, commonly around 30 days. Ask your plan administrator for the deadline and what you need to provide.
Does a will replace life insurance?
No. A will says who looks after your children and who receives your property. Life insurance pays money to the people you name. Many families use both.
Is parental leave pay the same as disability insurance?
No. Leave income usually comes from government benefits and any employer top-up. Disability insurance pays if illness or injury stops you from working.
How much life insurance do people look at?
There is no single right number. People often start with the income their family would need to replace, then add debts, children's education and final expenses, and subtract savings and existing coverage.
General information, not advice or a recommendation. Rules differ by province and by insurer, so confirm with your insurer or a licensed advisor. This page was last checked in November 2026.