Key Takeaways
- The best health insurance is PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Classic plan, which covers the gaps in prescription drug, dental and vision coverage for adults living in Ontario.
- Based on the average household’s health expenses in Ontario, Guaranteed Issue Classic can save you around $1,680 per year on drug, dental, vision, paramedical and mental health expenses.
- The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) generally doesn’t cover drugs, dental or vision care for adults from 25-64.
Health insurance in Ontario 101
Ontario’s public healthcare system covers some basics, but there are large coverage gaps. Private plans, which start around $134/month with PolicyMe, can expand your coverage and reduce out-of-pocket costs, building on your free provincial coverage without duplicating it.
What’s covered by the government: The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) covers all medically necessary physician and hospital services for Canadian residents.
It also includes drugs, dental, and vision for children and drugs and vision care for seniors 65 and over. Everyone with a disability lasting more than 6 months qualifies for 75% of the cost of prosthetics, orthotic braces, mobility aids, communication aids, and more.
What’s not: But without medical coverage through social assistance (or an employer’s group benefits plan), you are probably going to need private health coverage for your own prescription medication, dental work, vision care, and paramedical services (like chiropractors, naturopaths, etc.).
How private health insurance fills Ontario’s coverage gaps
OHIP covers medically necessary care, but you may have to pay out of pocket for certain dental, vision, drug, and paramedical services. Private plans are a smart supplement, saving money on out-of-pocket costs and building on public coverage without replicating it.
Benefits cost less than you think
What’s the best health insurance in Ontario?
We’ve identified the best private health insurance plans in Ontario by analyzing over 1,700 quotes covering 50+ private health insurance products from the seven biggest providers in Canada, sourced from official product websites and supplemented with customer ratings from Google.
To identify the best plans for the average Ontario resident, we focused on plans with:
- Excellent coverage for adults: Adults aged 18–14 are most overlooked by government health care coverage, making them prime candidates for private health insurance.
- Complete coverage: We prioritized insurance options that include coverage for both prescription drugs and dental services in addition to other extended health benefits.
- Mid-tier pricing: We focused on plans with mid-range pricing that’s competitive in the industry in order to deliver the highest value for the largest number of Canadians.
- Non-replacement plans: We’ve recommended plans designed for Canadians without existing workplace health benefits, rather than those seeking to replace previous employer-sponsored plans.
The result is a ranking system of the best health insurance plans for Canadian parents, single parents, self-employed workers and seniors living in Ontario.
★★★★★ (5.0) |
PolicyMe |
Classic |
$162/month |
35% above industry average |
★★★★☆ (4.0) |
GreenShield |
ZONE 5 (Choice) |
$149/month |
21% above industry average |
★★★★☆ (4.0) |
ScotiaLife |
Health Insurance Plan with Dental Insurance Plan |
$116/month |
46% below industry average |
★★★★☆ (4.0) |
GMS |
ExtendaPlan with Basic Prescription Drugs and Dental Care |
$126/month |
35% below industry average |
★★★★☆ (4.0) |
Manulife |
ComboPlus Basic Plan |
$126/month |
45% below industry average |
* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Ontario.
** Comparison reflects the total amount of prescription drug, dental, vision, paramedical, mental health, accidental dental, and ambulance coverage versus the industry average for comparable plans.
PolicyMe’s rankings are based on an independent, data-driven review of Canada’s leading health and dental insurance products and providers. Our analysis draws on more than 1,700 quotes covering over 50 health and dental insurance products from the seven largest providers in Canada, sourced from official product websites and supplemented with customer ratings from Google.
Rankings are determined first by star rating (from highest to lowest) and then by premiums (from lowest to highest). To ensure fairness and accuracy, we only compare costs and coverage between plans with the same type of coverage, pricing tier, and eligibility requirements.
The premiums shown in this article are based on publicly available rates as of December 2025. Our pricing comparisons always use quotes for the same age groups within the same geographic region.
Our findings are entirely data-driven and do not include paid placements. However, they should not be considered a substitute for personalized financial or health advice.
About coverage and total coverage comparisons
Our analysis examines coverage across eight benefit categories during the first year of enrollment: prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, paramedical services, mental health services, accidental dental services, ground ambulance transportation, and air ambulance transportation.
To estimate each plan’s overall value, we calculated the net amount of coverage by subtracting expected out-of-pocket costs—including deductibles, co-insurance, and co-payments—from stated coverage limits.
Because dental definitions and coverage limits vary by provider, readers should always consult their policy documents to confirm which dental services are covered.
Disclaimer
PolicyMe’s findings are based on unaltered data and are free from paid placements or sponsored influence. While we strive to keep our information current, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of third-party data. These rankings are intended as a general reference and should not be considered a substitute for personalized financial or health advice.
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1. Guaranteed Issue Classic from PolicyMe
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Rating
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★★★★★ (5.0)
|
|
Premiums*
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$123/month
|
|
Drug coverage
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70% of generic prescription drugs (up to $600 per year)
|
|
Pre-existing prescription coverage
|
Yes
|
|
Dental coverage
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Up to 80% of preventative, restorative, and major dental services (up to $750 per year)
|
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Vision coverage
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100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $60 for eye exams and $250 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery)
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Paramedical coverage
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80% of visits to 9 paramedical professionals (up to $750 per year combined)
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Mental health coverage
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100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $100 per visit and $800 combined per year)
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Accidental dental coverage
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100% of accidental dental services (up to $10,000 per year)
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Ambulance coverage
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100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited)
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* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Ontario.
Our expert take: The sweet spot for most customers, PolicyMe’s Classic plan combines best-in-class affordability with robust coverage. Key advantages of this plan include a high reimbursement rate and generous annual maximums for paramedical services and mental health care, along with excellent insured benefits for ambulance services and most dental care.
- Includes access to online health forums
- Includes coverage for breathing equipment/oxygen, diabetic supplies, durable medical equipment, hearing aids, in-home nursing, mobility aids, orthotics/orthopedic shoes and prostheses
- No medical questionnaire required
Available products from PolicyMe:
- Guaranteed Economic, Classic, and Advanced: A series of guaranteed health insurance plans with comprehensive coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, and more
- Dental Care: A guaranteed health insurance plan with no coverage for prescription drugs
- Protect Economic, Classic, and Advanced: A series of replacement health insurance plans with comprehensive coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, and more
2. ZONE 5 (Choice) from GreenShield
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Rating
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★★★★☆ (4.0)
|
|
Premiums*
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$117/month
|
|
Drug coverage
|
90% of generic and birth control prescription drugs (up to $5,000 per year)
|
|
Pre-existing prescription coverage
|
No
|
|
Dental coverage
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Up to 80% of preventative, restorative, and major dental services (up to $700 per year)
|
|
Vision coverage
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100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $100 for eye exams and $150 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery)
|
|
Paramedical coverage
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100% of visits to 8 paramedical professionals (up to $45 per visit and $500 per profession)
|
|
Mental health coverage
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100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $500 combined per year)
|
|
Accidental dental coverage
|
100% of accidental dental services (up to $10,000 per year)
|
|
Ambulance coverage
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100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited)
|
* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Ontario.
Our expert take: GreenShield’s ZONE 5 (Choice) plan may be a good option for seniors, frequent travelers, or anyone in search of an affordable health insurance plan to supplement Ontario Health Services Insurance. Prescription drugs, dental care, and mental health services are weak spots for this plan, but emergency dental and travel coverage are competitive.
- Below-average premiums for older adults and seniors
- Includes access to GreenShield Pharmacy, 4 hours of virtual counselling through GreenShield Mental Health, and 4 virtual visits per year through GreenShield Telemedicine
- Includes travel insurance and semi-private or private hospital accommodations
-
Below-average prescription drug, dental, and mental health coverage
Available products from GreenShield:
- LINK 1, 2, 3, and 4: A series of replacement health insurance plans with complete and no-dental options.
- ZONE 1, 2, and 3 and Zone Fundamental: A series of guaranteed health insurance plans with complete and no-drug options.
- ZONE 4, 5, 6, and 7: A series of underwritten health insurance plans with complete and no-dental options.
3. Health Insurance Plan with Dental Insurance from ScotiaLife
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Rating
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★★★★☆ (4.0)
|
|
Premiums*
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$89/month
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Drug coverage
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75% of generic, brand-name, birth control, and smoking cessation prescription drugs (up to $10,000 per year)
|
|
Pre-existing prescription coverage
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Yes
|
|
Dental coverage
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Up to 75% of preventative dental services (up to $500 per year)
|
|
Vision coverage
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100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $150 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery, including a $50 limit for eye exams)
|
|
Paramedical coverage
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75% of visits to 10 paramedical professionals (up to $25 per visit and 12 visits per profession each year)
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|
Mental health coverage
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75% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $25 per visit, 12 visits per year, and $800 combined per year, including visits to paramedical professionals)
|
|
Accidental dental coverage
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75% of accidental dental services (up to $2,000 per year)
|
|
Ambulance coverage
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75% of ground ambulance transportation (unlimited) and 100% of air ambulance transportation (up to $10,000 per year)
|
* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Ontario.
Our expert take: The biggest drawback of ScotiaLife’s health insurance plan is that it’s only available to Scotiabank customers. If you’re in that group, however, it’s an excellent option for those in search of low-priced, straightforward health coverage to supplement existing benefits.
- 1 optional add-on available (dental coverage)
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Includes semi-private hospital accommodations
-
Only available to customers 64 and under
-
3-month dental waiting period
-
1-year waiting period for vision care
Available products from ScotiaLife:
- Health Insurance Plan: A guaranteed no-dental health insurance plan with a single dental option available only to Scotiabank customers, their spouses, and dependent children
4. ExtendaPlan with Basic Prescription Drugs and Dental Care from GMS
|
Rating
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★★★★☆ (4.0)
|
|
Premiums*
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$115/month
|
|
Drug coverage
|
100% of generic and birth control prescription drugs (up to $3,500 per year) with a maximum co-payment of $6 per prescription
|
|
Pre-existing prescription coverage
|
No
|
|
Dental coverage
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Up to 75% of preventative and major dental services (up to $500 per year)
|
|
Vision coverage
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80% of vision services every 2 years (up to $250 combined for eye exams and prescription lenses and frames)
|
|
Paramedical coverage
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80% of visits to 8 paramedical professionals (up to $350 per year combined)
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Mental health coverage
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100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $65 per visit and 10 visits combined per year)
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Accidental dental coverage
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100% of accidental dental services (up to $2,000 per injury)
|
|
Ambulance coverage
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100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited)
|
* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Ontario.
Our expert take: The ExtendaPlan from GMS is a good budget pick that’s better for prescription drug coverage than for dental services. If you don’t visit paramedical professionals often, only need basic preventative care for dental, and just want a few counseling sessions a year when it comes to mental health coverage, the ExtendaPlan could be a good fit.
- Above-average prescription drug coverage
-
Below-average premiums for all ages
- 5 optional add-ons available
- Direct billing and online claims
- Includes access to the GMS Care Network
-
$6 deductible per prescription
-
3-month waiting period may apply for dental care
-
Below-average dental, vision, paramedical, and mental health coverage
Available products from GMS:
- BasicPlan, ExtendaPlan, and OmniPlan: A series of guaranteed, no-drug health insurance plans with complete coverage options.
- EssentialPlan, ChoicePlan, and PremierPlan: A series of replacement health insurance plans with no-drug and complete coverage options.
5. ComboPlus Basic Plan from Manulife
|
Rating
|
★★★★☆ (4.0)
|
|
Premiums*
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$104/month
|
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Drug coverage
|
70% of generic prescription drugs (up to $5,000 per year)
|
|
Pre-existing prescription coverage
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Yes
|
|
Dental coverage
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Up to 80% of preventative and restorative dental services (up to $750 per year)
|
|
Vision coverage
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100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $70 for eye exams and $250 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery)
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Paramedical coverage
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60% of visits to 8 paramedical professionals (up to $500 per profession and $4,000 per year combined)
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Mental health coverage
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100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $65 per visit and 15 visits combined per year)
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Accidental dental coverage
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100% of accidental dental services (up to $2,000 per year)
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|
Ambulance coverage
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100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited)
|
* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Ontario.
Our expert take: Manulife offers a wide range of private health and dental insurance plans. We think the ComboPlus Basic plan offers the best value for money for families in Ontario, with particularly strong dental and mental health coverage and a surprisingly long list of customization options to tailor your coverage to your personal needs.
- 7 optional add-ons available
-
Includes access to TELUS Health Virtual Care and survivor benefit
- Includes accidental death and dismemberment insurance and travel insurance
-
Small net gain on dental coverage
Available products from Manulife:
- Flexcare ComboPlus Starter, Basic, and Enhanced Plan: A series of complete health insurance plans with guaranteed options.
- Flexcare DentalPlus Basic and Enhanced Plan: A pair of guaranteed, no-drug health insurance plans.
- Flexcare DrugPlus Basic and Enhanced Plan: A pair of no-dental health insurance plans.
- FollowMe Basic, Enhanced, Enhanced Plus, and Premiere Plan: A series of complete replacement health insurance plans.
- Guaranteed Issue Enhanced: A complete, premium health insurance plan with guaranteed acceptance.
Join 18,000+ Canadians with quality coverage from coast to coast.
Compare the top 3 health insurance plans in Ontario
Plan |
Classic |
ZONE 5 (Choice) |
Health Insurance Plan with Dental Insurance Plan |
Rating |
★★★★★ (5.0) |
★★★★☆ (4.0) |
★★★★☆ (4.0) |
Medical questions required |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Premiums* |
$162/month |
$149/month |
$116/month |
Drug coverage |
70% of generic prescription drugs (up to $600 per year) |
90% of generic and birth control prescription drugs (up to $5,000 per year) |
75% of generic, brand-name, birth control, and smoking cessation prescription drugs (up to $10,000 per year) |
Pre-existing prescription coverage |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Dental coverage |
Up to 80% of preventative, restorative, and major dental services (up to $750 per year) |
Up to 80% of preventative, restorative, and major dental services (up to $700 per year) |
Up to 75% of preventative dental services (up to $500 per year) |
Vision coverage |
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $60 for eye exams and $250 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery) |
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $100 for eye exams and $150 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery) |
100% of vision services every 2 years (up to $150 for prescription lenses, frames, and laser surgery, including a $50 limit for eye exams) |
Paramedical coverage |
80% of visits to 9 paramedical professionals (up to $750 per year combined) |
100% of visits to 8 paramedical professionals (up to $45 per visit and $500 per profession) |
75% of visits to 10 paramedical professionals (up to $25 per visit, 12 visits per profession, and $800 combined per year, including visits to mental health professionals) |
Mental health coverage |
100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $100 per visit and $800 combined per year) |
100% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $500 combined per year) |
75% of visits to mental health professionals (up to $25 per visit, 12 visits per year, and $800 combined per year, including visits to paramedical professionals) |
Accidental dental coverage |
100% of accidental dental services (up to $10,000 per year) |
100% of accidental dental services (up to $10,000 per year) |
75% of accidental dental services (up to $2,000 per year) |
Ambulance coverage |
100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited) |
100% of ground and air ambulance transportation (unlimited) |
75% of ground ambulance transportation (unlimited) and 100% of air ambulance transportation (up to $10,000 per year) |
* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Ontario.
How much does health insurance in Ontario cost?
According to our research, the premiums for a guaranteed acceptance health insurance plan start around $90/month for a basic plan, $95/month for a mid plan, and $196/month for a premium plan for an 18-year-old in Ontario.
The costs for a 65-year-old applicant increase to $152–$278/month, while kids below 17 can get covered for an average of $57–$163/month.
In 2023, the average household spent around $3,143 on out-of-pocket medical expenses (including private health benefits) in Ontario, compared to $3,087 for the average Canadian household. With the Guaranteed Issue Classic plan from PolicyMe, you could claim around $1,680 of the average drug, dental, vision, paramedical and medical equipment expenses per year.
As for what you’d pay, here’s a comparison of the monthly health insurance quotes* for the top 3 health insurance plans in Ontario:
Kids (0-4) |
$47.21 |
$59.47 |
$82.77 |
Kids and youth (5-20) |
$70.81 |
$89.21 |
$124.15 |
Adults (21-44) |
$134.05 |
$162.06 |
$221.36 |
Adults (45-54) |
$156.57 |
$197.27 |
$274.54 |
Adults (55-59) |
$173.98 |
$215.63 |
$295.75 |
Adults (60-64) |
$178.21 |
$223.77 |
$303.46 |
Seniors (65+) |
$149.88+ |
$196.00+ |
$259.80+ |
* Prices reflect the approximate costs for residents in the relevant age group in Ontario. These quotes were collected December 20th, 2025. Your own quotes may differ.
What does the Ontario Health Insurance Plan cover?
Provincial healthcare in Ontario covers all medically necessary services through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). With a valid health card, you’re covered for 100% of:
- Hospital services, including nursing, administering drugs, performing diagnostics, performing surgery, and providing standard meals and accommodations
- Physician services, including consultations, examinations, diagnostics, treatments and psychiatric treatments
- Dental, psychological, and vision services performed in a hospital, including eye trauma treatment, jaw surgery, and crisis counselling
Although they aren’t covered by OHIP, ambulance services are heavily subsidized in Ontario.
Outside of Canada, provincial health insurance covers emergency and non-emergency physician and hospital services, but only up to the rate normally paid at home. For example, OHIP reimbursement for emergency hospital services is capped at $400/day. Unless you bought travel insurance before going abroad, you’ll have to deal with the rest of the bill.
Read on for a quick overview of OHIP, including what it covers and for whom:
|
Prescription Drugs
|
* Children (0-24) are eligible for prescription drug coverage through OHIP+, which pays for most medications listed on Ontario’s public drug formulary if they don’t have private insurance.
* Seniors (65+) receive 100% of generic prescription drug costs after a $100 deductible (with a $6.11 co-payment per fill or refill) |
|
Dental
|
* Children (0-17): The Healthy Smiles Ontario program provides free basic and emergency dental care for eligible children under 18 from low-income families, but it doesn’t cover major or orthodontic dental work. |
|
Vision
|
* Children (0-19) receive one eye exam per year (plus minor assessments as needed)
* Adults (20-64) with an eligible eye condition receive one eye exam per year (plus any needed minor assessments)
* Seniors (65+) receive one eye exam every 18 months (plus two minor assessments) |
|
Paramedic
|
No coverage
|
|
Mental health
|
No coverage
|
|
Extended health
|
* Everybody requiring disability-related equipment or supplies for 6+ months receives 75% of the cost of communication aids, diabetic supplies, hearing aids, mobility aids and select prosthetics through the Assistive Devices Program |
Additional government assistance programs
You can also get coverage through the following assistance programs:
- Adults (25+) living in a home, receiving assistance at home, or receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Payments: 100% of generic prescription drugs (with a $2 co-payment per fill or refill) and 100% of disability-related equipment or supplies through the ADP
- Seniors (65+) with low income: 100% of generic prescription drugs (with a $2 co-payment per fill or refill) through the Seniors Co-Payment Program and 100% of basic, routine dental services and partial denture coverage through the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program
- Adults (25-64) with high prescription drug costs and no private health coverage: 100% of generic prescription drugs after a deductible matching 4% of your post-tax income through the Trillium Drug Program
- Children in the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities program: 100% of disability-related equipment or supplies through the ADP
How to find the best health insurance for you
The secret to buying health insurance is to know your needs and do your research. Here are 5 steps to finding the right fit for you and the most important questions at each stage:
- Find your existing coverage: Take a look at your province’s public healthcare plan and your employer’s group health benefits to identify the coverage you already have. Are you using it completely?
- Tally your existing costs: Add up your health out-of-pocket expenses during the past year (including the receipts for prescription drugs, dental work, and medical equipment) and any successful health insurance claims. Is there anything left over? How much?
- Identify coverage gaps: These could be leftover expenses from successful claims or services that aren’t covered by public or group healthcare. How much money did you lose to coverage gaps last year? If you divide the total by 12, what’s the monthly cost?
- Request health insurance quotes: Now that you know your coverage gaps, you can start to look for plans to address them. Do you need supplemental health insurance, vision, dental, paramedical services (like physiotherapy), or do you want to maximize your covered services? Are your expenses eligible? Are the premiums lower than the monthly cost of your coverage gaps? How long is the waiting period for coverage?
- Calculate your savings: Read the fine print regarding each plan’s maximums, covered services, and fees. If you had bought it last year, how much money would you have paid in premiums? How much money would you have saved?
Don’t forget to take a hard look at the customer reviews for different health insurance companies. Good customer service means peace of mind when the time comes to use your coverage.
Finally, now is a good moment to consider if you also want other types of insurance, like disability insurance or life insurance. Many providers offer discounts on bundles.
FAQ: Best health insurance in Ontario
Unless you receive social assistance, OHIP doesn’t cover prescription drugs, vision, dental, paramedical services, mental health services, life insurance or critical illness insurance for adults between 25-64. And while prescription drug and dental costs are covered for children, they’re still missing coverage for orthodontic and major dental work, plus prescription eyewear and accidental dental coverage.
PolicyMe has some of the highest average customer review scores on Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot and Insureye in Ontario.
If you’re 18, you can get private health coverage without a medical questionnaire starting at an average of $90/month for a basic plan and $196/month for a premium plan. The cost of a health plan increases to $152–$278/month for a 65-year-old resident in Ontario, while kids below 17 can get covered for an average of $57–$163/month.
Not all private health insurance plans in Ontario cover pre-existing medical conditions or prescriptions. Check the health insurance provider’s brochures and policy booklets to see if pre-existing health conditions are among the list of exclusions.
International students are required to pay for coverage through the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP), which covers primary medical services and some extended benefits in place of OHIP. Newcomers to Canada must have an address in Ontario and either permanent residency, a pending application, or a valid work permit to apply to OHIP.
Yes, the public Ontario health insurance program is free for eligible residents. However, OHIP doesn’t cover everything and there are eligibility requirements (age, income) for certain programs. Many Ontario residents get private plans to supplement provincial coverage, especially for vision, dental, drug, and paramedical services.
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