Guaranteed issue means an insurance plan that accepts applicants who meet its eligibility rules (such as age, province, and provincial health coverage) without any medical questions, health screening, or underwriting. Your health cannot be used to decline you or raise your rate. In Canada the term covers two kinds of plan. Some are open any time — for example Canada Life Select (Assured Acceptance), Manulife GI Enhanced and The EDGE Benefits Basic Health & Drug. Others are conversion plans you can only get within a set window after group coverage ends — for example Canada Life Freedom to Choose Guaranteed (60 days) and Manulife FollowMe Health (90 days). These plans are particularly valuable for individuals with pre-existing conditions, those taking multiple medications, or anyone who might not qualify for underwritten coverage. The trade-off is that they often cost more for the coverage you get and have lower benefit maximums than underwritten plans, and some limit coverage for pre-existing conditions or apply waiting periods — check the plan.