12 Best Health Insurance in Canada Plans for Canadians

Looking to learn about private Canadian health insurance plans and how to choose the best health insurance in Canada?

Some of the most frequently asked questions about the best health insurance in Canada are: who are the top best insurance companies in Canada? Why is it necessary to choose them?

In addition to those frequently asked, you need to ask the right people otherwise you could get a health plan that may not be best suited for you. Read on and see for yourself.

What is Health Insurance

Health insurance in Canada is the way of ensuring that you have the ‌support you need to ensure that your family and yourself are protected when medical needs arise.

Even though some people might be inclined to tell you that health care in Canada is free because they have heard it from friends, the truth is, there are different kinds of health insurance in Canada that will allow you to access medical care without having to look at their price tag.

Best Health Insurance in Canada

The 12 best health insurance Canada includes both the Public and Private health insurance companies which are geared towards the coverage of costs associated with health. Private health insurance goes as far as providing private hospital care, examinations, and procedures. They also protect many people from large costs associated with hospitalization, physician visits and ensure that high-quality healthcare remains affordable for all Canadians. They include:

1. Manulife

Age: All

They offer flexcare health plan, dental plus, comboplus, enhanced and basic plans. These plans contain products like: prescription drugs, dental services, vision care, extended health care coverage.

Sum insured can be about $91.30. Male in Ontario pay $74.40per month and Coverage is about $250,000.

Cons:

Hospital benefits are not includedBasic traveller’s insurance only covers the first 9 days of a trip.

2. SunLife Financial

Age: AllYou can find health choice B, health and dental choice B plan which contains dental family coverage, test, x-rays, scaling, extractions, filing and lab tests.Moreso, the sum insured is about 69.58. 40-year-old single and non-smokers pay $74.40 per month. You have coverage up to 1,000,000.

Cons:

Emergency travel medical, a vision not included in Basic planEach family member must have the same plan.

3. State Farm

State Farm has different plans and products unique for each individual in Canada. Their personal health care plans have the same features as a group plan. Cover the same as their group plans. Prole interested in alternative care coverage which they have, purchase it all the time.

Cons: 

They operate natural health care which is good but it can be a bit expensive.4. Scotia Life Health & Dental Insurance

This health insurance company offers extended health care with many extended health plans. Family and individuals alike can purchase their insurance packages. But people over sixty (60) years old have a different rule that governs their own plan.

Cons: They are strict with those having pre-existing conditions.

5. GMS Health Insurance

GMS health insurance has extended health care with a variety of products. These products include medical supplies and equipment and variation in medical specialists. They have the OmniPlan and ExtendaPlan which both focus on It is for extended health care that is extensive and more coverage, respectively.Moreover, other plans like the Basic plan are for individuals looking for just simple insurance with other plans.

6. Ontario Blue Cross

For this province in Canada, they have many plans. Most of these plans contain basic insurance products. The plans include the blue choice, basic Plus and the blue Choice Balance or the Blue Choice. Most of these plans are packages. The blue choice allows people to select and use different coverage.

7. Great West Life

Age: AllYou can find the core, core plus, core elite packages and plan directly for retired people. All these plans have unique products which include enhanced health care for individuals and families. Even for people with pre-existing medical conditions.Canada life swallowed them and they now operate as one.

8. CAA

Age: AllTheir plan begins with basic health care which is a good thing. They deal in vehicle insurance services and also health care insurance. Each age bracket has its own plan unique to them.However, they offer services through Manulife health insurance companies. Any individual can benefit depending on their age group.

9. Green Shield Canada

Green Shield Canada has two unique plans, which are the Zone, and Link. The Zone is for those individuals who are new to the private health care system. The Link is for those who are transitioning and leaving a private health care plan. However, they have several other unique plans which their own benefit from. So people retiring and wishing to continue private coverage can do so.

10. Limited Health Insurance Canada

Majorly they focus on areas of health costs that can be affordable and substantial for individuals who need extra financial help.There are other insurance companies who offer these products but they have chosen to focus on just these areas to bring total satisfaction.

11. TD Insurance

TD Insurance offers services to people who want to purchase insurance for critical accidents and critical care plans. This is a bold step they have taken to make a difference.Moreso, they cover accident and sickness hospitalization services. They have just chosen to streamline their health care insurance. 

12. Ivari

Ivari insurance company provides coverage for those who have a critical illness. Their specialty is on critical care insurance plans.  At the same time, they individualized their plans and premiums and made them unique.

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost Per Month in Canada?

Answering the question of how much does health insurance cost in Canada. As we know ‌it varies from province to province, but on average, healthcare premiums can cost C$157 for a family per month. Individual males pay about C$47 per month, and females can pay C$80 per month.

What Determines the Cost of Health Insurance in Canada

1. Your age 
2. The province you live
3. The type of health insurance plan you want
4. The amount you earn.

Understanding Health Insurance in Canada

Health insurance in Canada refers to policies that help to pay for health-related expenses. There is a mix of public and private health insurance plans available, and every province and territory has its own plan which is administered through its respective government entity called the “Provincial Insurance Plan” (to be exact, under the Health Accords signed in the early 1990s).With a lot of changes happening in the world of healthcare in Canada, it’s hard to navigate the path towards finding coverage that meets your needs. Thankfully, working with a health insurance agent is the best way to ensure you end up with a plan that fits your clients’ individual needs. Whether they are an employee working across state lines, newcomers to Canada, or even self-employed professionals who need help purchasing short-term insurance, let us ‌look at what health insurance is and the factors you will need to consider when purchasing a policy.

How to Choose a Good Private Health Insurance Plan in Canada?

7 Tips that will aid you in choosing a Health Insurance Plan in Canada are:

1. Researching for the right coverage online.
2. Operate within your means and keep it affordable
3. Go for family over individual health plans system
4. Go for the ones with discounts and many offers
5. Select a plan with lifetime renewability
6. Never forget to compare quotes online
7. Network hospital coverage in your province 
8. Choose the ones with a high claim settlement ratio. 
9. Select the ‌ plan that suits your needs.

Types of Individual Health Insurance Plans in Canada

Health insurance in Canada is an important part of Canadian and provincial law. It helps you get health care when it’s needed. However, two types of health insurance operate in Canada:

1. Private health insurance and 
2. Public health insurance

1. Private Health Insurance Plans

Canadian private health insurance is mainly purchased by individuals or offered as a benefit by an employer. The purpose of health insurance policies sold in Canada is to provide protection from the high and unpredictable cost of medical care not covered by the government. They cover prescription drugs, dental care, eye care and so many other health services.

2. Public Health Insurance Plans

Public health insurance is universal health care funded through taxes of citizens and administered by the government of Canada. As a citizen in Canada, you are required to have a health insurance card to receive medical services. Province to province operates different health insurance systems in Canada.

Private Health Insurance Vs Public Health Insurance in Canada

What Does Health Insurance Cover in Canada?

Canada’s healthcare system is a mix of public and private. Most Canadians have health care coverage through their employer, or through government (provincial or federal) programs. Some are also through private health insurance and they cover:

1. Prescription medication
2. Dental care
3. Vision and prescription eyeglasses
4. Physician services, surgery/anesthesia, x-ray and laboratory services
5. Physiotherapy
6. Ambulance services
7. Hearing aids
8. Nursing care
9. chiropractic care
10. Other optometry services

Then public health insurance covers:

1. Doctor’s visits
2. Hospital visits, and
3. Surgeries.

Why Should I Get a Private Health Insurance Policy?

If you live in Canada, part of your income tax return will contain a section on how much money you made that year, how much money you spent on copayments for medications and doctor visits, as well as any medical expenses you have incurred. However, it is also pertinent to get private health insurance in Canada and the reasons are:

1. Gives you options for various treatments you need, when and where you need them.
2. Offers a larger range of services and treatments.
3. Helps prevent future unexpected medical expenses
4. Some health insurance providers render affordable and cost-effective medical services
5. Saving on health emergencies
6. Gives you peace of mind of having not to worry about how to pay for a large health care charge. 

Do Health Insurance Policies Change Depending on the Province?

Yes, health insurance policies change depending on the province you live in Canada. The ten provinces in Canada and three territories offer their own public insurance policies. Some are significantly different. All of them offer basic health care services but some are more generous than others.

13 Public Health Insurance Systems for Each Province in Canada

How to Get Health Insurance Quotes in Canada?How you can get health insurance quotes in Canada is through:

1. A broker: charges around 10% of the premium
2. Individual research yourself and 
3. The use of an internet comparator.

What is the Best Way to Find a Cheap Health Insurance Plan?

You grew up in Canada or you are living in another country and moving to Canada and probably wondering the best way to purchase cheap health insurance. There are unique things to consider when buying private or public healthcare insurance, so I have broken down each separately:

1. Understanding exactly what you need
2. Having a good knowledge of your plan, what it covers and how it works.
3. Ability to compare the benefits offered by different providers and
4. Identifying any exclusions or limitations that may apply.

Who Gets Free Health Care in Canada?

Canada operates and administers a universal health care system funded through individual taxes. This means that any Canadian citizen or permanent resident is qualified to apply for public health insurance. Different provinces and territories have unique health plans with different plans that citizens benefit from.

Are Health Insurance Premiums Tax-Deductible in Canada?

The answer is Yes and health insurance premiums are taxable. Individual health insurance paid are often eligible for a tax deduction under the Medical Expense Tax Credit. Moreover, premiums payments to private insurance plans count also as qualifying medical expenses. The amount themselves are eligible for the tax credit. 

How Do I Cancel My Personal Health Insurance Plan in Canada?

In Canada, cancelling your private health insurance is a big issue. You have to know that most policies run for a one-year term even when you pay monthly.In summary, you can cancel it through writing. Check if your policy has expired, if not you may owe for it. Go through your specific contract all over again and contact your insurance provider for clarification.

Health Insurance in Canada FAQs

Is Canadian health care really free?

Canadians pay for their health services through taxes which are deductible monthly. 

Is it possible to combine health and dental insurance?

Yes, you can combine your health and dental plan. The insurance can be under one plan and one monthly premium.

Can I buy health insurance on my own?

Absolutely Yes. You can buy a health insurance plan for yourself. 

Conclusion

Now that you are more knowledgeable about health insurance, it may be time to take the next step and look into different plans, how to apply and how to choose the best health insurance, provider. Good luck in your quest for better health. If you have questions or need help, refer to this article, leave a review or talk to your doctor in your province.