HOW IT WORKS
How Think Insurance works
We are brokers, not one insurance company. That single fact changes everything about how getting covered goes — what you are shown, who does the paperwork, and who picks up the phone two years later. Here is the whole process, start to finish.
From first call to coverage, in five steps
The same five steps whatever you are insuring. Most people are covered inside two weeks; simple cases are same-week.
01
Tell us what you need
A five-minute call. No forms and no medical questions yet.
02
We compare the market
A shortlist from a dozen Canadian insurers, with our pick and why.
03
We apply for you
Medicals, underwriting and paperwork. You sign once.
04
You approve and start
You see the final premium before anything is paid.
05
We stay your contact
Renewals, changes and claims come back to the same people.
Same steps, whatever the cover
What changes is how long the middle takes.
Life, critical illness, health & dental
The full advice path above. Underwriting takes days to a few weeks depending on the amount and your health, and we stay on it throughout.
- Medical questions, sometimes a nurse visit
- Cover starts once the insurer approves and the first premium clears
Super Visa & visitors
Faster, and the order matters: proof of paid insurance forms part of the IRCC application, so this is arranged before you apply, not after.
- No medical for most applicants
- Refundable where the visa is refused and no claim has been made
Travel & student
Quote and buy online in minutes. The calculator on each page gives live rates from the insurers we hold contracts with.
- Instant confirmation by email
- Cover can start the same day
THE PART NOBODY EXPLAINS
So how does a broker get paid?
By the insurer, not by you. When a policy goes in force the insurer pays us a commission out of the premium it was always going to collect. Going direct to that same insurer does not make the premium lower — the rates are filed by the insurer and are the same either way.
What it does change is how many companies you get to see. One company can only offer you its own product. We can put a dozen side by side, including the ones that price your particular situation better, and tell you which we would take and why.
A broker costs you nothing extra
Premiums are set by the insurer. The price is the same whether you come through us or go to them directly.
We are not owned by an insurer
No sales targets for one company’s product. If the best fit for you is a carrier we barely place business with, that is the one we recommend.
You see the exclusions first
Waiting periods, stability windows and what is not covered — before you buy, not in the wording afterwards.
The companies behind your policy
Your policy is issued and your claim is paid by a Canadian insurer, not by us. We hold contracts with Manulife, Canada Life, BMO Insurance, RBC Insurance, Sun Life, iA Financial, Empire Life, Equitable Life, Desjardins and others, and we quote across them rather than defending one of them.
Which insurers appear on your quote depends on the product and on your own details — age, health and the amount of cover all change who is competitive.
Common questions
Does going through a broker cost more?
No. Premiums are set by the insurer, so a broker costs you nothing extra. What you gain is a comparison across carriers instead of one company's answer.
How long does it take to get covered?
Travel and student cover can start the same day. Super Visa is usually a day or two. Life and critical illness depend on underwriting — typically one to three weeks, longer if the insurer asks for medical records.
Do I have to take a medical?
For most Super Visa, visitor, travel and student policies, no. For life and critical illness it depends on your age and the amount of cover; smaller amounts are often approved on the health questions alone.
Can I change my mind after I buy?
Yes. Canadian policies carry a review period after the documents are issued — return it inside that window and the premium is refunded in full.
What happens if I need to claim?
You call us first. We tell you what the insurer will ask for, help you assemble it, and follow the file through. The insurer pays the claim; our job is to make sure nothing stalls it.
Start with a conversation, not a form
Tell us who you are protecting and we will come back with real options, usually the same day.