The Best Vision Insurance Plans for Every Canadian (2026)

What does vision insurance cover?

Nearly all private health insurance plans in Canada include vision insurance, which covers: 

• Eye exams
• Prescription lenses (including contact lenses, bifocals, and progressive lenses) 
• Frames
• Laser surgery

Reimbursement rates and annual maximums vary between plans, but you can usually expect a vision care plan to cover up to 100% of the cost of eye exams and prescription glasses each year. 

Vision coverage isn’t standalone

Vision coverage typically goes hand in hand with health insurance coverage in Canada. While it’s sometimes offered as an optional add-on, you’re not likely to find an insurance policy that offers only vision benefits without any other type of health coverage.

Best vision insurance plans in Canada

To identify the best health insurance plans for vision care in Canada, we analyzed top-rated plans from seven trusted insurance providers. We focused on plans with: 

• High reimbursement rates: Some eye health plans only reimburse 70% or 80% of eye care services, leaving policyholders with out-of-pocket costs. We only recommended plans that offer 100% coverage. 
• Generous per-visit maximums: Each plan covers at least $60 per visit for comprehensive eye exams and at least $250 for prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, and surgeries such as LASIK. 
• Reasonable costs: If your priority is coverage for eyewear and annual eye exams, you may not want to pay extra for additional coverage. We looked for plans that deliver high value for vision correction and moderate costs for other coverage. 

Guaranteed Issue Advanced by PolicyMe

Our expert take:

PolicyMe's Guaranteed Issue Advanced plan is one of the most affordable premium health insurance products on the market. Its dental, vision, and mental health coverage exceed the industry average by as much as 42%, and there are no per-visit or per-profession limits on how you claim your paramedical benefits.

Available products: 

• Economic, Classic, and Advanced—a series of complete, guaranteed health insurance plans
• Dental Care—a guaranteed, no-drug health insurance plan.
• Protect Economic, Classic, and Advanced—a series of complete replacement health insurance plans

ZONE 7 (Ultimate) by GreenShield

Our expert take:

With ZONE 7, GreenShield reverses the trends seen in its lower-tier products by hiking both drug coverage and premiums at the expense of paramedical coverage. Said drug coverage doesn't cover pre-existing prescriptions or medication related to pre-existing conditions, so it's best to think of ZONE 7 as insurance against an expensive diagnosis rather than a way to cut existing expenses.

Available products:

• 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

Freedom to Choose Select Elite by Canada Life

Our expert take:

Freedom to Choose Select Elite by Canada Life is best-suited to young families seeking long-term financial protection from an expensive diagnosis. If you're over the age of 45, you'll need to look elsewhere for lower premiums, not to mention coverage for drugs for pre-existing conditions and prescriptions.

Available products:

• Freedom to Choose Guaranteed, Guaranteed Plus, and Guaranteed Elite — a series of guaranteed and replacement health insurance plans with complete and no-dental options
• Freedom to Choose Select, Select Guaranteed, Select Plus, and Select Elite — a series of health insurance plans with guaranteed, underwritten, complete, and high-drug options

ComboPlus Basic Plan by Manulife

Our expert take:

Despite its name, Manulife's ComboPlus Basic Plan is a mid-tier product. Unfortunately, its drug coverage doesn't match its pricing aspirations, and its dental coverage rate drops to 50% after the first $400 in eligible expenses.

Available products: 

• 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

Guaranteed Issue Classic by PolicyMe

Our expert take:

The Guaranteed Issue Classic plan by PolicyMe balances competitive premiums with above-average coverage, no waiting periods, and no medical questions asked. Better yet, it's flexible–there are no per-visit or per-profession limits on your paramedical or mental health coverage, providing exceptional value for the medical services you use most.

Available products:

• Economic, Classic, and Advanced — a series of complete, guaranteed health insurance plans
• Dental Care — a guaranteed, no-drug health insurance plan
• Protect Economic, Classic, and Advanced — a series of complete replacement health insurance plans

Who needs vision insurance?

Anyone with vision problems, from mild nearsightedness to more serious conditions like glaucoma or cataracts, can benefit from vision insurance. In Canada, public healthcare only covers limited vision care, typically for seniors, children, or adults with eye conditions. 

To see what public vision coverage is available in your province, check the table below. 

Those most in need of private vision insurance include: 

• Adults with vision conditions in all provinces except Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Ontario
• Children in Alberta and British Columbia
• Anyone without access to group vision insurance benefits through their workplace

How much does vision insurance cost?

The cost of vision insurance depends on a wide range of variables, including your age, your province, and the level of overall health coverage included in your policy. Rates vary widely from as little as $40/month for kids to $250/month or more for seniors. 

To give you a snapshot of basic costs, we’ve compared average monthly rates for different age groups for the five plans in our recommendation list: 

On average, a single policyholder can expect to pay at least $100/month for a private health plan including vision coverage, with added costs if your household has multiple members or if you’re above age 45.

Is vision insurance worth it?

If you’re looking for a private health insurance plan solely for vision coverage, it’s likely not worth the cost. Without insurance, a basic comprehensive eye exam costs between $75 and $200—comparable to the monthly rate for private health coverage.

Only buy vision coverage if the plan also covers other healthcare services you’re currently paying for out of pocket, such as prescription drugs, dental care, or paramedical services.

How to choose the best vision insurance for your household

No single health insurance plan will meet every Canadian’s vision insurance needs. To find the best plan for your household, consider the following: 

1. Do you need additional coverage? Vision insurance in Canada comes bundled with other health coverage, typically including prescription drug coverage and dental insurance. If you don’t need those benefits, a private insurance plan usually isn’t worth the cost. 
2. How much are you currently spending on vision care? Add up everything you’ve paid in the last year for optometrist visits, prescription eyewear and enhancements, and other costs typically covered by vision insurance companies. 
3. How much are you spending on other healthcare not covered by provincial plans? Calculate your total out-of-pocket spending for things like prescriptions, dental care, and paramedical services. 
4. How much of your current out-of-pocket costs could be covered by a private plan? Now’s the time to analyze actual vision insurance offerings and compare them with your current spending. Look for reimbursement rates, per-visit and annual maximums, and exclusions to understand how an insurance plan could shift your bottom line. 

Once you’ve done a thorough needs assessment and crunched the numbers on coverage, you can request health insurance quotes from trusted health and life insurance companies. Compare each rate to the amount you’d save under the plan to make a final determination. 

FAQ: Best vision insurance

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.