Health Insurance Quotes
Personal health insurance helps cover eligible health-care expenses that are not covered by your provincial health plan or employer benefits. Depending on the policy, coverage can include prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, paramedical services, medical equipment and other health-related expenses.
It can be particularly useful if you are self-employed, between jobs, retiring, or simply want additional protection beyond your existing benefits.
At A Glance
- Fill gaps in your health coverage for expenses not covered by your provincial plan
- Cover expenses such as prescription drugs, dental, vision and paramedical services, depending on the plan
- Choose coverage based on your needs and budget, with different levels of benefits available
- Protect yourself if you lose group benefits when changing jobs, becoming self-employed or retiring
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My Simple Process
1. Learn
Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to make the right decision and learn all there is to know about disability insurance.
2. Consult
Take advantage of our free no-obligation consultation and let us help you find the best policy.
3. Apply
Apply online and get covered instantly!
4. Servicing
We're here to provide ongoing support with your policy, including changes, assisting with claims, and more!
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The Basics
What is personal health insurance?
Personal health insurance is private insurance that helps pay for eligible medical and health-related expenses that are not fully covered by your provincial health plan.
Coverage varies by policy, but commonly includes prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, paramedical practitioners and certain medical supplies.
What does health insurance cover?
Depending on the plan, coverage may include:
- Prescription drugs
- Dental care
- Vision care
- Massage therapy, physiotherapy and other paramedical services
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Hospital accommodation
- In-home care and other eligible health expenses
Some plans also offer optional travel medical or other benefits.
Who should consider personal health insurance?
Personal health insurance can be useful if you do not have comprehensive coverage through an employer or association, or if your existing benefits do not provide enough coverage.
It can be particularly relevant for self-employed individuals, people between jobs and retirees who no longer have workplace benefits.
How does personal health insurance work?
You pay a monthly premium in exchange for the coverage provided under your policy. When you incur an eligible expense, you submit a claim and the insurer reimburses you according to the plan’s coverage percentage, maximums, deductibles and other policy terms.
Not every expense is covered, so it is important to understand the policy before relying on it for a particular treatment or service.
Dive Deeper
Do you need health insurance if you have employer benefits?
Employer-sponsored benefits can provide valuable coverage, but they may not cover every expense and can change when you change jobs or when an employer changes the plan.
Personal health insurance can supplement group coverage or provide protection when group benefits are no longer available.
Can you get health insurance if you have pre-existing conditions?
Possibly. Eligibility and coverage for pre-existing conditions depend on the insurer and the specific plan.
Some plans use medical underwriting and may exclude certain pre-existing conditions, while other products are designed to provide coverage without medical underwriting or with guaranteed acceptance. Coverage, exclusions and premiums can differ significantly between plans.
What is guaranteed acceptance health insurance?
Guaranteed acceptance health insurance is designed to provide coverage without traditional medical underwriting or medical questions.
These plans can be useful for people who may not qualify for medically underwritten coverage, although they may have different coverage limits, waiting periods, exclusions or premiums.
How can you customize a health insurance plan?
Health insurance plans can differ significantly in the level of coverage they provide.
Depending on the insurer, you may be able to choose different levels of prescription drug, dental, vision and paramedical coverage, as well as optional benefits such as travel medical coverage. Comparing the coverage limits and exclusions is just as important as comparing premiums.
Are health insurance premiums guaranteed?
Generally, no. Unlike many life insurance policies with level premiums, personal health insurance premiums are not guaranteed for life.
Premiums can change as you move into a different age category, and the insurer may also have the right to change premiums for a plan or risk class, subject to the policy terms and required notice.
How much does personal health insurance cost?
The cost depends on factors such as your age, province, the people covered, the amount of coverage and the plan features you choose.
More comprehensive coverage generally costs more, so the goal is to find a balance between the benefits you are likely to use and the premium you are comfortable paying.
When should you buy personal health insurance?
Consider personal health insurance if you don’t have coverage through work or are leaving an employer. Some plans require you to apply within 60 days of losing your group benefits to qualify for coverage without medical underwriting.
It’s also worth considering while you’re healthy, since pre-existing medical conditions may affect your eligibility for coverage or result in exclusions.
Is personal health insurance different from travel medical insurance?
Yes. Personal health insurance is primarily designed to cover eligible health-care expenses in Canada that are not covered by your provincial or workplace plan.
Travel medical insurance is designed primarily to cover eligible emergency medical expenses while travelling outside your province or Canada.
Can incorporated business owners use their corporation to pay for health and dental expenses?
Yes, an incorporated business may be able to provide health and dental benefits to an owner-employee through a Health Spending Account (HSA) or other Private Health Services Plan (PHSP).
An HSA is different from traditional health insurance. Instead of paying a fixed insurance premium for specific coverage, the corporation can establish a plan that reimburses eligible medical and dental expenses. When properly structured, qualifying employer-provided PHSP benefits can generally be received tax-free by the employee, while the corporation may be able to deduct eligible costs.
Because the tax treatment of shareholder-employees can depend on the facts and how the plan is structured, it is important to confirm the setup with your accountant or tax advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is personal health insurance worth it?
It can be worthwhile if you regularly have health-care expenses that are not covered by your provincial or employer plan, or if you want protection against larger eligible expenses.
Whether it makes sense depends on your expected health-care costs, existing coverage and the premium you would pay.
Do you need personal health insurance if you are self-employed?
It can be particularly valuable for self-employed Canadians because you may not have access to an employer-sponsored benefits plan.
A personal plan can help cover expenses such as prescription drugs, dental care, vision and paramedical services.
What happens to your health insurance when you change jobs?
Your employer-sponsored coverage may end when your employment ends, although some group plans provide conversion options.
Having individual health insurance can help maintain coverage when you leave an employer or become self-employed.
Does health insurance cover dental care?
Some personal health insurance plans include dental coverage, while others offer it as an optional benefit or have separate dental plans.
Coverage can vary substantially, including the percentage reimbursed, annual maximums, waiting periods and types of treatment covered.
Does health insurance cover prescription drugs?
Many personal health insurance plans include prescription drug coverage, but reimbursement rates, annual maximums, deductibles and eligible medications vary by plan.
Prescription drugs for pre-existing medical conditions are typically not covered under medically underwritten plans, but may be covered by guaranteed-issue plans, subject to the policy’s limits and exclusions. Check the plan details for eligible medications and dispensing fee limits.
Can health insurance cover massage therapy and physiotherapy?
Many plans provide coverage for paramedical services such as massage therapy and physiotherapy, subject to the policy’s coverage limits and practitioner requirements.
Other eligible practitioners may include chiropractors, psychologists, naturopaths and acupuncturists, depending on the plan.
Can you get health insurance without employer coverage?
Yes. Personal health insurance is designed for individuals and families who may not have comprehensive workplace or association benefits.
It can also be used to supplement existing group coverage.
Can you get health insruance after retiring?
Yes. Retirement is one situation where personal health insurance can become particularly important because employer benefits may no longer be available.
Some insurers offer plans specifically designed for retirees, while other personal health plans may also be available depending on your age and health.
Can you cancel personal health insurance?
Yes, you can cancel an individual health insurance policy by following the insurer’s cancellation requirements.
Before cancelling, consider whether replacing the coverage later could be more difficult because of changes in your health or age.
Why Work With An Independent Insurance Advisor
Buying personal health insurance isn’t simply about finding the lowest monthly premium. Different insurers can offer significantly different coverage, reimbursement levels, annual maximums, exclusions, waiting periods and underwriting requirements.
As an independent insurance advisor, I can help you:
- Assess your existing coverage and identify potential gaps
- Compare personal health insurance plans from multiple Canadian insurers
- Compare coverage and premiums for prescription drugs, dental, vision and paramedical services
- Understand exclusions, waiting periods and coverage limits
- Identify plans that may be better suited to your health history and budget
- Help you navigate the application process and understand what information the insurer may require
The goal isn’t simply to find the cheapest health insurance. It’s to find coverage that provides meaningful benefits for the expenses you are most likely to face.
What's the next step?
You can request a personalized health insurance quote or book a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your existing coverage and options.
Prefer to buy directly?
Some people prefer to research and purchase personal health insurance directly from an insurance company rather than working with an advisor. That’s an option for certain health insurance plans.
For your convenience, here are links to several insurers that offer personal health insurance:
- Sun Life – Personal Health Insurance or Health Coverage Choice
- Canada Life – Freedom to Choose™ Health and Dental Insurance Select Plan or Guaranteed Plan
- Pacific Blue Cross – Personal Health Insurance
If you would prefer to compare options from multiple insurers and have someone help you understand the differences, use the button below to book an appointment