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Manulife vs TruStone Super Visa Insurance
Manulife and TruStone differ most in how they treat pre-existing conditions. Manulife's Standard Plan (underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company) applies a flat 180-day exclusion with no stability test, while TruStone's HMC plan (underwritten by The Empire Life Insurance Company) offers an optional 365-day stability window — one of the longest among the providers we work with.
Manulife offers three tiers (Basic, Standard, and Enhanced) with coverage up to $200,000, from age 30 days to 85 years. TruStone offers a single HMC plan where you choose the coverage amount ($10,000 to $200,000), available for applicants from 15 days to under 90 years.
Manulife vs TruStone at a glance
- Manulife underwriter
- Manufacturers Life
- TruStone underwriter
- Empire Life
- Manulife structure
- Basic · Standard · Enhanced (up to $200,000)
- TruStone structure
- Single HMC plan ($10,000–$200,000)
- Manulife pre-existing
- Standard: flat 180-day exclusion
- TruStone pre-existing
- Optional 365-day stability window
Both plans must meet the same IRCC baseline
Both providers are reviewed against the same IRCC Super Visa insurance requirement: coverage valid for at least one year from the date of entry, at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage, and proof of a paid or instalment policy. Confirm the current minimum with your advisor, as requirements can change.
Manulife vs TruStone comparison table
| Feature | Manulife | TruStone |
|---|---|---|
| Underwriter | The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company | The Empire Life Insurance Company |
| Administrator | Manulife (CoverMe / Visitors to Canada) | TruStone Health (TruStone Financial Inc.) |
| Plan structure | Basic, Standard, and Enhanced tiers | Single HMC plan — coverage-amount options, not tiers |
| Coverage amount | Up to $200,000 | $10,000 to $200,000 (you choose the amount) |
| Eligibility age | 30 days to 85 years | 15 days to under 90 years |
| Pre-existing approach | Standard: flat 180-day exclusion, no stability test. Enhanced may cover stable conditions | Optional 365-day stability window — a condition stable for 365 days may be eligible when the option is selected |
| Waiting period | 72 hours (within 30 days of arrival) or 7 days | 5 days after arrival — waivable; confirm with your advisor |
| Refund note | 10-day free look; $25 fee on 2-year non-arrival cancellation | $250 refund fee, or no penalty with a Super Visa denial letter |
| Best for | Families wanting a large brand and a clear tier structure (Basic, Standard, Enhanced) | Families prioritizing the long 365-day stability option or lower coverage amounts |
Figures reflect each provider's reviewed policy wording (Manulife Standard Plan effective October 2023). TruStone's underwriter and policy date are confirmed as Empire Life; confirm current terms with your advisor before purchasing.
The key difference: flat exclusion vs. 365-day stability
Manulife's Standard Plan uses a flat 180-day exclusion with no stability test — any condition treated, medicated, or symptomatic in the 180 days before the effective date is excluded, regardless of how stable it has been. Manulife's Enhanced tier may instead offer coverage for stable conditions.
TruStone takes a different approach with its optional 365-day stability upgrade: a pre-existing condition that has been stable for the 365 days before the trip may be eligible for coverage when the option is selected. A longer stability window like 365 days asks the applicant to have been stable for a full year, which is a higher bar than a shorter window — but unlike Manulife's flat exclusion, it does give a path to coverage for a stable, ongoing condition.
For a parent with a long-standing but stable condition, TruStone's 365-day option can be worth comparing against Manulife's Enhanced tier. See our Pre-Existing Conditions Guide for what 'stable' means.
Real-life scenarios
Parent age 56, no medical conditions
Both fit. Manulife's Standard Plan covers this profile without the exclusion mattering, and TruStone's HMC plan lets you pick a coverage amount. Compare price, deductible, coverage amount, and refund terms.
Grandparent age 70, diabetes stable for several years
This favours a stability-based approach. TruStone's optional 365-day stability window may cover the condition if it has been stable for a full year, while Manulife's Standard Plan would exclude it under the flat 180-day rule (Manulife's Enhanced tier is the alternative to compare).
Applicant age 87
TruStone covers applicants up to under 90, while Manulife runs to 85 — so for an 87-year-old, TruStone may be the practical option. Confirm eligibility and the stability option with your advisor.
Worried about the Super Visa being refused
TruStone applies no refund penalty when a Super Visa denial letter is provided; Manulife offers a 10-day free look and a $25 fee on its 2-year non-arrival cancellation. Confirm refusal-refund rules before buying.
Pros and cautions to review
- Manulife: large national brand, three-tier structure (Basic, Standard, Enhanced), coverage up to $200,000, ages to 85 — but the Standard Plan's flat 180-day exclusion has no stability test, so check Enhanced if medical history is a factor.
- TruStone: an optional 365-day stability window (one of the longest), coverage choices from $10,000 to $200,000, eligibility to under 90, and no refund penalty with a denial letter — but the 365-day window is a higher stability bar, so confirm whether your parent's condition qualifies.
Final verdict
Manulife may suit families who want a large brand and a clear tier structure (Basic, Standard, Enhanced) for a healthier applicant. TruStone may suit families whose parent has a long-standing but stable condition that could fit the 365-day window, who need an older-age option (to under 90), or who want flexible coverage amounts.
For most families, the best approach is to request both quotes with one identical applicant profile and compare how each handles the parent's age and medical history.
Manulife vs TruStone FAQs
Manulife's Standard Plan uses a flat 180-day exclusion with no stability test, while TruStone offers an optional 365-day stability window — a condition stable for a full year may be eligible when the option is selected. Manulife's Enhanced tier may also cover stable conditions; compare it against TruStone's 365-day option.
Continue comparing Super Visa insurance options
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