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Desjardins Health Insurance Review 2025

By
PolicyMe Editorial Team
July 17, 2025
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Key Takeaways
  • Desjardins is one of the leading health insurance providers in Canada, with strong roots in Quebec and plan availability across the country.
  • Both Desjardins health insurance plans offer generous paramedical coverage, travel insurance, and add-ons for prescription drugs and dental care.
  • While Desjardins has an established reputation in the industry, its customer experience leaves something to be desired and reviews note widespread claims handling issues.

Overview of Desjardins health insurance

Desjardins is one of Canada’s largest financial groups and has grown into a leader in the insurance space, with a wide range of health insurance products, as well as life and travel insurance products. Despite having strong roots in Quebec, Desjardins' health insurance policies are available across the country and offer customizable coverage options, competitive benefits, and a large network of healthcare providers.

We took a close look at leading health insurance providers in Canada to assess their plans and benefits. Here’s an overview of how Desjardins health insurance stacks up:

Category: All-in-one

Types of coverage: Critical illness, Disability, Health and dental, Travel health, Visitors and returning

Customer experience score: 2.98/5

Industry reputation score: 4.01/5

Awards:

  • 2025 Canada's Top 100 Employers
  • 2024 ICBA: Life & Health Insurer of the Year (nominee)

We analyzed health insurance plans from nearly 20 different providers across Canada, evaluating each based on product variety, affordability, customer experience, and industry reputation. This included a breakdown of monthly premiums for 35- and 60-year-old policyholders, average cost per $100 of coverage, and what each plan includes. To assess customer experience, we reviewed feedback from platforms like Google, BBB, Insureye, Trustpilot, and Reviews.io. Lastly, we rated each company’s industry reputation using financial stability scores, employee satisfaction (via Glassdoor), and rankings from the Leger Corporate Reputation Study.

Key features of Desjardins' health insurance plans

Desjardins’ personal health insurance plans cover everyday health expenses like dental work, prescription drugs, and professional healthcare services. Here are some of the health insurance benefits you can expect to see:

Feature
Description
Customizable coverage
Desjardins offers two health plans, with add-ons available for prescription drugs and dental care.
Coverage for professional services
Even the basic plan covers reimbursements for visits to chiropractors, osteopaths, and other paramedical practitioners.
Online account management
Manage your claims and track reimbursements through the online portal or mobile app.
Flexible coverage
These policies are temporary, one-year policies that automatically renew each year until your 70th birthday, though you can terminate at any time.
Multi-coverage discount
You’ll receive a 5% discount on your premiums when you combine Desjardins health care coverage with another health or life insurance product (min. $400 annual premium required).
Travel assistance services
Plans include travel insurance, including 24/7 phone assistance, a second medical opinion, and travel support in case of medical or non-medical emergencies.

Learn more: What does health insurance cover?

Pros and cons of Desjardins health insurance

As one of Canada’s largest insurance providers, Desjardins offers a wide range of coverage options—but its size can also lead to some drawbacks, particularly when it comes to customer service and claims handling.

  • Flexible plan options—basic, enhanced, and add-on coverage
  • Generous limits for paramedical coverage
  • All plans include travel insurance
  • Easy claims management through online portal and app
  • Discount available for bundling with other products
  • Basic plans include limited dental coverage, with no coverage for major dental work or orthodontics
  • Waiting periods apply for some coverage
  • No access to online quotes; must speak with an agent
  • Numerous reviews note issues with claim submission and frequent denials
  • Reviews note poor customer service

Types of Desjardins health insurance

Desjardins offers two health insurance plans: Health Plus Basic Plan and Health Plus Enhanced Plan. To be eligible for health insurance coverage, you must be between the ages of 18 and 64, meet medical underwriting criteria, and be insured by a provincial health plan. Any dependent children must be under the age of 21 when you apply.

Category
Basic coverage max.
Enhanced coverage max.
Paramedical services
$400/year per practitioner
$600/year per practitioner
Physiotherapist
$250/year
$350/year
Audiologist and speech therapist
$400/year combined
$500/year combined
Counsellor
$400/year
$500/year
Vision care
$150 for eyewear + $50 exam every 24 months
$250 for eyewear + $70 exam every 24 months
Hospitalization
Not included
100% of semi-private room, unlimited days
Travel insurance
$5 million for first 30 days of trip
$5 million for first 30 days of trip
Hearing aids
$300 per 36 months
$500 per 36 months
Accidental dental
$1,000 per accident
$2,000 per accident
Medical equipment
$2,000 per year
$4,000 per year
Orthopedic shoes and foot orthotics
$200 per year
$250 per year
Transportation by ambulance
$2,000 per year
$4,000 per year
Lifetime coverage maximum
$250,000
$350,000

Add-on coverage is available for prescription drugs and dental care:

Category
Basic coverage reimbursement
Enhanced coverage reimbursement
Prescription-only drug expenses
70% of first $7,142 up to $5,000 per year
90% of first $11,111 up to $10,000 per year
Preventative dental services (oral exam, X-rays, recall, cleaning)
80% up to $750 combined per year
100% up to $750 combined per year for first 2 years, $1,000 after that
Basic dental care (fillings, extraction, etc.)
50% up to $750 combined per year
60% up to $750 combined per year for first 2 years, $1,000 after that
Major dental care (root canals, prosthodontics, etc.)
Not covered
60% up to $500 per year after 24-month waiting period
Orthodontic care
Not covered
60% up to $1,000 for the coverage period after 24-month waiting period

How much does Desjardins health insurance cost?

Costs for a personal health insurance plan from Desjardins vary depending on factors like your age, the type of plan, optional benefits, and how many people you need to cover. Generally speaking:

  • Family plans are more expensive than individual ones
  • More comprehensive coverage (dental add-ons, etc.) will increase the cost

Unfortunately, Desjardins does not offer online quotes for health insurance, so we were unable to conduct research into average costs for these plans. If you want a quote, you’ll need to speak directly to a Desjardins agent.

Is Desjardins health insurance worth it? 

Whether Desjardins health insurance is worth it depends on your priorities. It offers strong, customizable coverage and bundling options—but may fall short if you’re looking for top-tier customer service, online convenience, or long-term affordability.

Desjardins health insurance might be worth it if you:

  • Want customizable coverage with fairly high limits
  • Value an established insurer with a strong industry reputation
  • Want to bundle coverage for better rates

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On the other hand, Desjardins might not be worth it if you:

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  • Value excellent customer service and claims handling
  • Want to easily browse quotes and purchase coverage online
  • Want the most affordable premiums
  • Need health insurance over the age of 70
  • Need a lifetime renewable plan

FAQ: Desjardins health insurance

Our mission is to empower Canadians to make informed financial decisions. To achieve this, we have an expert editorial team that includes licensed insurance advisors and financial planners. We prioritize the best interests of Canadian families and won't endorse any product, company or financial strategy that we believe isn't suitable. Our educational guides are crafted by in-house experts, like licensed life insurance advisors. Before publication, we subject our research and advice to scrutiny and comprehensive revisions for accuracy and completeness.

Our mission is to empower Canadians to make informed financial decisions. To achieve this, we have an expert editorial team that includes licensed insurance advisors and financial planners. We prioritize the best interests of Canadian families and won't endorse any product, company or financial strategy that we believe isn't suitable. Our educational guides are crafted by in-house experts, like licensed life insurance advisors. Before publication, we subject our research and advice to scrutiny and comprehensive revisions for accuracy and completeness.