How to Get the Best Health Insurance in British Columbia

Health insurance in British Columbia 101

British Columbia’s Medical Services Plan (MSP) covers medically-required services performed by a physician or midwife, diagnostic services, and certain medically-required dental and oral surgeries performed in a hospital. Additionally, the province’s Fair PharmaCare program provides some prescription drug coverage (subject to income-based deductibles and maximums) to eligible individuals. 

But what the MSP doesn’t cover is just as significant as what it does. Most moderate-to-high income British Columbians have no public health insurance coverage for dental service, routine eye examinations, paramedical services, mental health care, and medical equipment like hearing aids and mobility devices. And while British Columbia’s health care programs for low-income families are extensive, they’re also complicated to navigate and riddled with technicalities and exclusions. 

If you’re one of the many British Columbians with a gap in your health insurance coverage, private health insurance could reduce your out-of-pocket medical spending.  

How private health insurance fills British Columbia’s coverage gaps

BC’s free provincial health care does not cover all the services you might need, like dental, vision, paramedical, and other health services. Private plans are ideal supplements to provincial coverage at an affordable price for most Canadian citizens.

The best health insurance in British Columbia 

We’ve identified the best private health insurance plans in British Columbia 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 British Columbian, 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 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.

^{* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in British Columbia as of December 2025.}

^{** 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.}

1. Guaranteed Issue Classic from PolicyMe 

^{* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in British Columbia.}

Our expert take: PolicyMe’s Classic plan offers the best balance between coverage and cost savings, with especially generous offerings in the areas of mental health and paramedical services. For British Columbians in search of basic supplementary health coverage at a competitive price, this plan is easy to get and reasonably affordable. 

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

^{* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in British Columbia.}

Our expert take: GreenShield’s premiums are competitive for those over the age of 45, making it a strong option for seniors trying to supplement public coverage. The ZONE 5 (Choice) plan also boasts decent coverage for paramedical services, accident dental care, and travel insurance, so frequent travelers could benefit from this option. If you’re in search of robust prescription drug coverage, though, you may want to look elsewhere, as this plan won’t cover pre-existing prescriptions. 

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

^{* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in British Columbia.}

‍Our expert take: The major advantages of this insurance plan are pricing and convenience. While it’s not the best option for seniors or those with urgent dental and vision needs, ScotiaLife’s health and dental coverage is a low-priced, straightforward option for many Scotiabank customers.

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. ComboPlus Basic Plan from Manulife

^{* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in British Columbia.}

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 British Columbia, with particularly strong dental and mental health coverage and a surprisingly long list of customization options to tailor your coverage to your personal needs. 

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.

5. ExtendaPlan with Basic Prescription Drugs and Dental Care from GMS

^{* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in British Columbia.}

‍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 and just want a few counseling sessions a year when it comes to mental health coverage, the ExtendaPlan could be a good fit.

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.

Compare the top 3 health insurance plans in British Columbia

^{* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in British Columbia.}

How much does health insurance in British Columbia cost?

The average household in British Columbia spent $3,139 in total out-of-pocket healthcare costs in 2023, according to Statistics Canada. By comparison, the national average that year was $3,087. 

That figure includes the cost of private health insurance premiums, but these made up just 15.6% of British Columbians’ healthcare spending in 2023. For most people, a private health insurance policy like PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Classic plan (our top pick for British Columbia) could save a total of $1,801 per year in out-of-pocket costs. 

How? Your health insurance premiums simply need to be lower than your routine out-of-pocket healthcare spending, which is true for most Canadians. Here’s a comparison of monthly health insurance quotes for our top 3 private health insurance plans in British Columbia:

^{* These are sample quotes collected December 20, 2025.}

What does British Columbia’s Medical Services Plan cover?

Enrolment in British Columbia’s Medical Services (MSP) plan is mandatory for all B.C. residents who meet eligibility requirements, including First Nations residents and certain holders of work permits and study permits. If you’re enrolled in the MSP, you’re eligible for coverage of: 

If you’re enrolled in MSP and a resident of B.C., you may also register for Fair PharmaCare drug coverage. Eligibility depends on family income, and once the program’s deductible is met, it covers certain prescriptions and medical supplies.

The table below goes into more detail about specific benefits offered through MSP coverage. 

While British Columbia’s MSP has limited coverage for non-essential medical services, the MSP Supplementary Benefits plan provides some additional coverage for low-income families. 

In addition to these specific income-based benefits, the BC Employment and Assistance (BCEA) program offers a variety of Health Supplements and Programs that may help to offset the cost of a wide range of healthcare expenses for British Columbians struggling financially. 

How to find the best health insurance for you

With so many options and variables, finding the right medical coverage in British Columbia can feel like a challenge. Let’s make it easier: start by following the checklist below. 

1. Take stock of your current coverage: Make sure you understand and are taking full advantage of the health insurance already available to you, either through MSP or your workplace. If you fall under the MSP SB’s $42k/year adjusted net income threshold, be sure to explore all supplementary benefits. 
2. Scrutinize your medical spending: What do you actually spend in an average year on medical care that’s not covered by your existing insurance (MSP or otherwise)? Tally up your dental bills, mental health expenses, paramedical visits, and anything else that falls under the wellness umbrella that’s not currently covered — then divide the total by 12 to find your average monthly spending. 
3. Measure your coverage gap: Your average monthly out-of-pocket healthcare spending represents the size of your coverage gap, but it’s also important to understand its makeup. Are most of your out-of-pocket expenses going towards dental care? Medical equipment? Your monthly massage? 
4. Look for plans with the closest fit for your coverage gap: Here’s where that math comes in — start comparing health insurance plans, looking for coverage that most closely matches your actual spending. As you review your options, compare the monthly premiums with your current monthly spending. 
5. Request quotes from your best matches: Once you’ve found a few plans that are suited to your family members’ health insurance needs, request health insurance quotes from each company. Consider underwriters, your family’s current state of wellbeing, and the type of network you prefer for healthcare providers. You may want to compare quotes at the same coverage level or request quotes for multiple levels of coverage (say, a standard and enhanced plan from the same insurance company) to find the best fit for your budget. 

The best private health insurance in British Columbia is the plan that reduces your medical spending without reducing your medical care. PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue plans are a good starting point, but the right plan is different for every Canadian.

Now is a good time to consider whether you might also need life insurance, disability insurance, and critical illness coverage (and double check whether you have any of these through a group plan). Many insurers offer discounts on a bundled policy.

FAQ: Best health insurance in British Columbia

Prices listed on this page are based on information available as of January 2026. The prices shown are for general reference only and may vary based on factors like your age, location, and product selection.