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Private health insurance for Canadians: What you need to know
Residents of Canada have access to three types of health insurance:
In Canada, private health insurance covers medical costs that provincial plans won’t pay for, including:
Why public health insurance isn’t enough
All Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible for health insurance coverage through a provincial or territorial health care plan. Your public health insurance covers the cost of medically-necessary hospital services and physician visits, but most other medical expenses are either not covered, partially covered, or conditional on certain demographic factors like age.
To help you visualize the gaps in your public healthcare plan, the table below compares health coverage through provincial plans across nine provinces.
Coverage | Ontario | Quebec | British Columbia | Alberta | Manitoba | Saskatchewan | Nova Scotia | New Brunswick | Newfoundland and Labrador |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hospital services | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Physician services | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Dental services | C | C | C | C/P | C | C | C | C | C |
Prescription drugs | C | C | C/P | C | C | C | C | C | C |
Vision services | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C |
Home care services | C | C | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
Mental health | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | E |
Paramedical services | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Private/semi-private hospital accommodations | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Ambulance services | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Emergency travel health services | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Non-emergency travel health services | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
What about group plans?
If you have access to group health benefits through your employer, that plan may fill in key gaps left by public health insurance. However, group healthcare is contingent on your employment, meaning that you could lose those benefits if you leave or lose your job.
Who needs private health insurance in Canada?
Not all Canadians need private health insurance — but it’s a game changer for those living with coverage gaps, such as self-employed, unemployed, or retired Canadians.
If you have regular medical costs that aren’t covered by your provincial plan and don’t have access to group health insurance, you and your family may be living in an expensive health insurance coverage gap.
Olivia runs a wedding photography business in the greater Toronto area. She’s living her dream of making art out of love, but because she’s self-employed, she doesn’t have access to a group health plan, and her provincial health insurance won’t cover the cost of her antidepressant or her prescription glasses.
Plan: Guaranteed Issue Classic
Monthly premium: $162.06
Emile retired from his career as an environmental engineer and now spends his days outdoors and volunteering at the local nature center. His hospital stay last year after a hiking accident was covered by the Manitoba Health Services Insurance Plan, but his ongoing physiotherapy costs aren’t, and neither are the mobility aids he now needs to keep up with his love of nature.
Plan: Guaranteed Issue Classic
Monthly premium: $188.72
Layla works two part-time jobs to support herself and her daughter. Although her pay is enough to cover rent and other essentials and she doesn’t qualify for low-income benefits, she and her child don’t have dental or vision insurance because her jobs are part-time and don’t offer a group benefits plan.
Plan: Guaranteed Issue Advanced
Monthly premium: $179.27
Gabriel lost his group health and dental insurance benefits when the tech company he worked for went through a round of mass layoffs earlier this year. He’s on the job market now and searching for a new opportunity as a web developer, but he needs coverage for his prescriptions and diabetic supplies in the meantime.
Plan: Protect Classic
Monthly premium: $90.68
See yourself in these stories? Get a quote today
How much does health insurance cost in Canada?
Health insurance costs in Canada vary by province, insurance company, and plan, as well as by demographic factors like age. Younger Canadians pay lower premiums for the same coverage.
The table below compares average monthly premiums for Canadians ages 21 to 44 for PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Economic plan — our most affordable plan that includes dental coverage along with standard medical benefits.
Province | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
Alberta | $118.29 |
British Columbia | $116.84 |
Manitoba | $95.79 |
New Brunswick | $105.37 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | $111.24 |
Nova Scotia | $101.24 |
Northwest Territories | $118.29 |
Nunavut | $105.37 |
Ontario | $134.05 |
Prince Edward Island | $108.79 |
Quebec | $123.32 |
Saskatchewan | $78.39 |
Yukon | $116.84 |
PolicyMe health insurance plans, at a glance
How PolicyMe’s health insurance works
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Questions to ask before buying health insurance
Not sure whether you need private health insurance — or which plan to buy? Start by asking yourself these five questions.
Review the coverage offered by your provincial health plan as well as any group benefits you may have access to through your employer (or your spouse’s). Are you maximizing those benefits?
Start tallying up your regular out-of-pocket costs. Do you see a chiropractor, a therapist, or an acupuncturist every month? Do you have prescriptions that aren’t covered by public health insurance?
Add up all of your routine medical costs to get a monthly total. That’s the size of your healthcare gap — and the maximum you should think about paying for a private health insurance policy.
As you start comparing plans, identify the areas of coverage that are most important to you. For instance, if you rely on regular chiropractic adjustments for well-being, look for a plan with generous per-visit and annual maximums for paramedical services. If you’re worried about major dental work, make sure your plan covers it.
Don’t assume that all of your health insurance will kick in instantly and cover all the health care services you need. Many plans come with detailed exclusions and waiting periods that could leave you without coverage when you need it if you’re not reading the fine print.
Take the time to research health insurance providers in detail, including their industry reputation and customer experiences. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional if you’d like guidance.
“One of the biggest mistakes someone can make when buying individual health insurance is moving forward with a plan they think will work best for them instead of reaching out to an PolicyMe advisor to check if they can get a more suitable plan at a better price.”
– Jeremy Burbano, Licensed Insurance Advisor
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FAQs: Health Insurance in Canada
Public healthcare in Canada is free, but the cost of individual health insurance policies can vary by age, province, insurer, and plan. For example, a 25-year-old on PolicyMe’s basic Guaranteed Issue Economic plan in Saskatchewan pays an average of $78.39/month for health insurance, while a 62-year-old on the Guaranteed Issue Advanced plan in Ontario pays $303.46/month. For most Canadians between the ages of 21 and 44, monthly rates average between $100 and $150 per month for PolicyMe’s most popular plans.
Yes, all Canadians can buy private health insurance to supplement the essential coverage offered by the public healthcare system. Individual health insurance plans can fill in coverage gaps left by provincial plans and lower overall medical spending for many Canadians, especially those who are self-employed, retired, or otherwise unable to access group healthcare benefits.
PolicyMe’s experts reviewed 65 private health insurance plans from 9 insurers to find the best options for Canadians. PolicyMe’s health and dental plans earned the highest overall scores for customer service, financial stability, and value for money. However, other major health and life insurance companies such as GreenShield, GMS, and Manulife also earned competitive scores in these key areas.
All Canadian citizens and other legal residents have access to free public health insurance through provincial and territorial plans. These plans typically cover basic, medically-necessary physician and hospital services, which leaves a large portion of Canadians’ routine medical care uninsured. Group healthcare plans and private health insurance serve to fill in these coverage gaps, offering reimbursement for things like dental and vision care, medical equipment, mental health services, and more. Many private health insurers also offer travel insurance, critical illness insurance, and disability insurance to meet additional coverage needs.
Sometimes. Most private health insurance plans include dental coverage for you and your dependents, but some don’t. You can also purchase dental-only plans, which typically skip prescription drug coverage and only include dental insurance and coverage for paramedical services, mental health, and other extended health benefits. Be sure to read the coverage details of any plan before you buy to make sure it matches your family’s actual healthcare needs.
To get private health insurance quotes in Canada, start by identifying your coverage gaps and researching health insurers with a good reputation for customer care. You may also want to consider whether you’re willing to undergo a medical exam for fully-undewritten health insurance, or whether you prefer the simplicity of a guaranteed issue policy (like PolicyMe’s health and dental plans). Once you know what you’re looking for, fill out an application to request your health insurance quotes.
You can have multiple health insurance plans in Canada, from your province’s public healthcare plan to employer-sponsored group healthcare and private health insurance. You can even purchase multiple private health insurance plans if you can’t find one that meets all of your specific healthcare needs. Be cautious, though — while you want to be fully covered, buying multiple plans can lead to overpaying for redundant coverage, and can also generate confusion when it comes to determining which insurance company is responsible for reimbursement.
Yes, health insurance premiums are tax-deductible for Canadians. Your private health insurance premiums for yourself and your dependents are eligible medical expenses that you can claim at tax filing time. This includes both health and dental insurance. It's a great way to reduce your taxable income while ensuring you and your family are covered for essential healthcare needs.
There are some nuances to this for Canadians who run their own businesses. If you're unsure, it’s wise to consult with a tax professional to maximise your deductions and ensure compliance with CRA regulations.
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