Though Canada's national healthcare system provides many essential health services for free, many services are not covered, such as dental care, eye care, prescription drugs, and more.
Private health insurance in Canada can supplement your public insurance to give you the best coverage for your unique health and wellness needs.
Key Takeaways
- Blue Cross Health Insurance is the best health insurance product in Canada.
- Manulife Health and Sun Life also offer comprehensive private health insurance plans.
- In Canada, dental care, vision care, and other kinds of specialty medical services are not covered by public health insurance.
- On average, private health insurance in Canada costs between $80 and $115 per month.
Comparing the top 7 health insurance companies in Canada
Here are the choices for best health insurance in Canada.
How we picked the best health insurance
To evaluate health insurance, we analyze over 15 data points to generate a trustworthy Genius Rating. We consider all aspects of a health insurance policy, including the premium, overall coverage, extra perks, disability coverage, customer satisfaction, and customizable coverage, to assess its overall value. Then, the health insurance policy’s features are rated based on how they stack up against other available options.
Best health insurance 2025 winner – Blue Cross Health Insurance
Allows Customization?
Dental
Vision
Prescription
Blue Cross has been providing health insurance plans and coverage for Canadians for over 70 years. With flexible packages for both individuals and employer benefit plans, Blue Cross health insurance has an array of options available. Some options include prescription drug, vision, and hospital benefits, out-of-province emergency medical care, critical illness coverage, and short or long term disability coverage.
Pros
- Wide availability
- Flexibility and premium coverage
- Virtual health care included
Cons
- Plans may vary depending on region
- Difficult to navigate
Provinces
ALL
Eligibility
- Canadian citizen
- Age of majority
Why You Want It
Get comprehensive health care coverage + Recognized insurance provider.
Special Features
- Can include virtual health care (for certain regions)
- Can include hearing aids
- Can include medical equipment
Allows Customization?
Dental
Vision
Paramedical
Prescription
Travel Coverage
Hospital Room Coverage
Accidental Death And Dismemberment
Short-term Disability
Long-term Disability
Our pick for the best health insurance of 2025 is Blue Cross Health Insurance. This product is available across Canada and has optimal coverage flexibility, making it likely that you'll find a plan that's suited to your needs.
Blue Cross Health Insurance is highly customizable, giving you various modules you can choose to add on as you please. You begin with a base level of coverage – Entry, Essential, or Enhanced – and build the plan up from there.
Available extras include:
- Critical illness insurance
- Hospital cash (where they'll pay you a certain dollar amount every day you're in the hospital)
- Assured access (where you can put your plan on hold if you acquire group coverage)
Their website even provides the convenience of immediate quotes.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
See more at the Blue Cross health benefits page.
Manulife Health Insurance
Allows Customization?
Dental
Vision
Prescription
Manulife offers a variety of supplemental health insurance options for individuals and employers, including health, dental, disability, critical illness, and more. Health insurance can be expensive, but the added peace of mind it provides is usually worth it, as you'll know you're covered in the event that some catastrophe occurs.
Pros
- Options for most health insurance needs
- Earn rewards and save money with Manulife Vitality
- Emergency medical travel coverage available with the FollowMe plan
- Get special rates for families with 3 or more children
Cons
- The options can be overwhelming
- Always make sure to shop around
Provinces
ALL
Eligibility
- Canadian citizen
- Age of majority
Why You Want It
Earn rewards with Manulife Vitality + Special rates for familes.
Special Features
- Can include catastrophic coverage
- Earn Manulife Vitality reward points on your premiums
- Special family rates
Allows Customization?
Dental
Vision
Paramedical
Prescription
Travel Coverage
Hospital Room Coverage
Accidental Death And Dismemberment
Short-term Disability
Long-term Disability
Manulife Health Insurance has the most plan choices out of all the companies we looked at (excluding the customizable plans). You can choose from seven plans with varying coverage, including:
- 2 prescription-focused plans
- 2 dental-focused plans
- 3 combination options
You also have the option to include the following add-ons to your plan:
- Hospital
- Additional vision care
- Travel
- Accidental death and dismemberment
- Catastrophic insurance to your plan
You can buy stand-alone coverage too, for hospital and catastrophic insurance.
Another important feature of Manulife Health Insurance is the ability to earn Manulife Vitality reward points, and then use them for discounts on your insurance or other popular brands, services, and gift cards.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
For more information, see their health insurance page.
Sun Life Health Insurance
Allows Customization?
Dental
Vision
Prescription
Supplemental health insurance can be expensive, but can cover Canadians for health emergencies and costs not otherwise covered by government plans. Sun Life health insurance offers 4 types of health insurance products that can give you peace of mind at all life stages. These include personal health insurance, critical illness insurance, long term care insurance, and disability insurance.
Pros
- Offers most of the main health insurance coverages you'd expect
- Virtual advisors available to help you decide
- 3 different plans available for personal health insurance
- Get a quote online
- Critical illness, long term care, and disability insurance plans available
Cons
- Vision care not available for Basic personal plan
- Accidental death and dismemberment only available with life insurance
Provinces
ALL
Eligibility
- Canadian citizen
- Age of majority
Why You Want It
Get help from a virtual advisor + Choose from 3 personal health plans.
Special Features
See Issuer for Details
Allows Customization?
Dental
Vision
Paramedical
Prescription
Travel Coverage
Hospital Room Coverage
Accidental Death And Dismemberment
Short-term Disability
Long-term Disability
Sun Life Health Insurance has three different plans for you to choose from, each of which includes prescription, dental, and paramedical coverage. Vision is offered in the two higher-tier plans.
You can also purchase disability and critical illness insurance from Sun Life Health Insurance, but there's no option to add them as an extra to your plan.
The extras they do offer are:
- Semi-private hospital stays
- Preventative dental
- Restorative dental
- Orthodontics
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
The availability of these extras depends on the plan you choose. To learn more, see their health insurance page.
CAA Health Insurance
CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) offers health insurance through Securian Canada, a transition as of 2024 away from using Manulife as their underwriter. CAA offers some great customization options so you can choose your health, drug, and dental coverage separately. They also suggest three plans in case you're overwhelmed by choice.
Extended medical coverage from CAA includes interesting extras such as:
- Speech therapists
- Hearing aids
- Orthotics
Coverage and maximums vary by practice.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
For more details, visit CAA Health & Dental Insurance.
Costco Health Insurance Canada
Manulife underwrites Costco Health Insurance, which is available to Costco members.
The Costco Health & Dental insurance options offer 3 different base plans:
- Starter
- Essential
- Enhanced
Each plan has slightly varying coverages and maximums, but they all cover the basics, including drugs, dental, and vision.
The Starter plan also doesn't require that you fill out a questionnaire when submitting your application.
One thing to note is that your vision and prescription coverages are much better when you fill them at Costco – 90% with the Starter plan at a Costco pharmacy vs. 70% elsewhere.
Each plan also includes basic travel insurance, which is not always the case. For all three plans, you get 9 days of coverage for up to $5 million.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
For more information, see Health & Dental Insurance For Costco Members.
Canada Life Health Insurance
Allows Customization?
Dental
Vision
Prescription
Canada Life health insurance can cover you for things your provincial plan doesn't. While they offer guaranteed acceptance for some plans, their options are not as comprehensive or flexible as you may find with other health insurance providers. They offer insurance coverage for dental care, prescription drugs, vision care, paramedical and ambulance services, and more.
Pros
Cons
Provinces
ALL
Eligibility
- Canadian citizen
- Age of majority
Why You Want It
Up to $250,000 in prescription drug coverage + No termination age.
Special Features
- 20% off regular priced items at Rexall
- Guaranteed plans offered if you're leaving your current health insurance plan
- Apply in less than 15 minutes
Allows Customization?
Dental
Vision
Paramedical
Prescription
Travel Coverage
Hospital Room Coverage
Accidental Death And Dismemberment
Short-term Disability
Long-term Disability
Canada Life Health Insurance offers three health insurance plans, with the option to add other benefits to each of them.
These optional benefits include:
- Emergency travel medical insurance
- Major dental
- Hospital cash
- Accidental death and dismemberment
In addition, the plans themselves come with coverage for:
- Ambulance
- In-home nursing
- Medical supplies
- Hearing aids
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
You can now find information about their insurance options on their health insurance page.
Desjardins Health Insurance
Desjardins offers two health insurance plans – Basic and Enhanced plans.
The Basic plan offers:
- Medical and paramedical care
- Dental care due to accident
- Travel insurance
- Vision Care
The Enhanced plan offers the same, but with higher reimbursement rates.
You can’t sign up online, but the website states that their plans are personalizable with add-on options. They offer high maximum coverage limits but no options for Canadians ages 70+.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
For more information and their contact details, check out their health insurance page.
RBC Health Insurance
Though RBC doesn't officially offer health insurance, they do offer personal insurance coverage called "injury and illness coverage." This includes coverages that other health plans offer, such as:
- Disability insurance
- Critical illness insurance
- Hospital insurance, aka Royal RecoverAssist
RBC doesn't provide individual dental coverage unless it’s part of a Group Benefit Solutions plan via your employer.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
See RBC’s page regarding Injury & Illness Insurance Coverages for more information.
Want to learn more about health insurance companies in Canada? Check out our reviews:
Why do you need health insurance in Canada?
In Canada, our basic healthcare services are completely free. Every Canadian citizen and permanent resident can receive essential healthcare at no cost, whether it's an emergency visit to the hospital or a routine appointment with a family doctor.
However there are still medical-related incidents that aren't covered. Universal healthcare in Canada does not include vision, dental care, and specialty medical equipment.
Here are a few examples of items and services that aren't covered by the Canadian healthcare system:
- Prescription medications (for most people in most provinces)
- Dental care
- Psychology services
- Massage therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Private hospital room stays
- Ambulance and EMT services
- Prescription eyeglasses
- Medical equipment (wheelchairs, crutches, leg braces, etc.)
Many Canadians can’t pay for these out of pocket, and so they turn to private health insurance to bridge the gap between public healthcare and their needs.
You need private health insurance in Canada so you can better access supplemental health services. The monthly fee won’t always cover 100% of your medical costs, but it makes a significant difference.
But… will health insurance save you money?
You may save money subscribing to a private health plan if you have ongoing health needs, like multiple prescriptions or regular chiropractor visits.
You may not save money if you’re in top physical condition and don’t visit the doctor very often.
Remember, health insurance is something you pay for just in case. You may not need a wheelchair now, but you’ll be very glad to have coverage if you get into an accident.
Personal example
Without insurance: I pay $180 per month for my prescription medication.
With insurance: I pay a monthly fee for the plan plus a lesser fee for prescription meds.
My Blue Cross Health Insurance plan includes 80% coverage for prescription medication, so here’s what I actually pay:
- Monthly fee: $78.75
- Prescription fee: $36 (80% of the full $180 cost)
- Total: $114.75
My savings are $65.25 per month thanks to my health insurance plan. Plus, this plan carries other benefits like 60% reimbursement for visual and dental care.
It’s worth considering additional health insurance if you have regular health needs or you want to be cautious.
Types of health insurance in Canada
There are several different types of health insurance available in Canada, some of which may be more or less relevant to you depending on your stage in life.
Provincial health insurance coverage
Each province has its own methods for providing health coverage, which you can find out about through their ministries of health.
| Province or territory | Details to note | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | * Psychiatric visits are covered * Vision care covered for those under the age of 19, over 65, or with issues due to trauma, accident, or illness. | Ministry of Health |
| British Columbia | * Contraceptives * Certain orthodontic services are also covered | Ministry of Health |
| Manitoba | * Covers up to 7 visits for chiropractic services per year | Manitoba Health |
| New Brunswick | * Those without insurance can receive prescriptions through the New Brunswick Drug Plan | Health |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | * Complete coverage for maternity care * Complete coverage for radiology interpretive services | Health and Community Services |
| Northwest Territories | * Covers basic hospital and medical treatment * Radiotherapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy are covered as long as service is from an insured facility | Health and Social Services |
| Nova Scotia | * Addiction treatment is free | Department of Health and Wellness |
| Nunavut | * Prenatal and postnatal care * Coverage for radiotherapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy provided as long as service is from an insured facility | Health |
| Ontario | * Those between ages 20 and 64 with specific medical conditions receive free care from optometrists | Ministry of Health |
| Prince Edward Island | * Covers most medically necessary services | Health PEI |
| Quebec | * Diagnostic mammograms are free of charge * Vasectomies are also covered | Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux |
| Saskatchewan | * Free physiotherapy and occupational therapy services * Mental health services provided through Saskatchewan Health Authority is covered | Health Human Resources |
| Yukon | * Covers required hospital and medical services * Covers some dental-surgical procedures | Health and wellness |
Your province will cover most basic needs (like doctor visits) but won't necessarily cover other essentials (like dentistry and prescription medicine). For this reason, many Canadians have additional health coverage, either privately or through their employer.
Personal health insurance
Personal health insurance (AKA supplementary health insurance) covers what your province doesn't. It's especially useful for prescription medicine costs and specialized medical visits, like the dentist or physiotherapist.
Many plans can extend to cover your family as well.
Group health insurance
Group health insurance is what you get through your employer. Your company purchases the coverage then offers it to their employees, often at a discounted price from what you'd pay individually, or even at no additional cost to you. It also sometimes includes life insurance benefits.
You can further supplement your group health insurance by opting for upgrades on the same plan, or by buying additional personal health insurance. Just make sure you're not paying twice for the same benefit.
Disability insurance
Disability insurance specifically covers you if you can no longer work due to a disability, whether it's a temporary or permanent condition. It covers a portion of your salary in monthly payouts for a period of time or up to a certain maximum.
This can sometimes be bought in addition to your private or group insurance as an add-on.
Critical illness insurance
Upon being diagnosed with a critical illness and surviving for a specified period of time, critical illness insurance will pay you a one-time lump sum, regardless if you're able to work or not.
Long-term care insurance
Long-term care insurance provides coverage for things like nursing homes. As such, this insurance is more relevant for ages 60+.
You could consider switching out your disability insurance for long term care once you're retired (or close to) since you no longer have a salary to cover.
Travel medical insurance
For anyone travelling outside of Canada, adding travel medical insurance is recommended. This will cover any medical expenses that arise while you're out of the country, and if you're a frequent traveller, this can save you quite a bit of money – and hassle.
One thing to note is that premium travel credit cards often come with some pretty substantial travel health insurance, so it's a good idea to double check what you already have covered.
How to get health insurance in Canada
To get public health insurance, all you need is a provincial or territorial health card, which will allow you to access health care when you need it.
You can request a provincial/territorial health card through the links listed in the table above.
To get private health insurance, which typically covers a portion of specialized health care needs, you purchase a health insurance plan from an insurance provider. You can usually purchase these plans online or over the phone.
What’s the difference between public and private health insurance?
In Canada, public health insurance covers basic, medically necessary health expenses while private health insurance covers specialized treatments.
| Public health insurance | Private health insurance |
|---|---|
| *Doctor visits *Testing and diagnostics *Inpatient care *Surgeries *Radiation therapy *Emergency medical services | *Paramedical services (massage, chiropractor, etc.) *Vision care *Dental care *Mental health services *Certain prescriptions *Elective and specialized procedures *Physiotherapy and rehabilitation *Therapies |
Do health insurance policies change depending on the province?
Each province and territory has its own health plan, but all health plans share the same basic coverages as defined by the Canada Health Act:
"The purpose of the Act is to ensure that all eligible residents of Canada have reasonable access to insured health services, on uniform terms and conditions, and without patient charges."
- All regional health insurance policies must cover medically necessary and certain surgical-dental services in order to receive federal funding.
- Each province and territory gets to define "medically necessary" for itself.
What is global health insurance?
Global health insurance is a private policy you can purchase that covers you while you’re living outside your home country for an extended period of time.
It’s intended to cover healthcare for people who live semi-permanently outside their home country, not for people who are travelling temporarily for healthcare services.
- Not tied to a specific country (although limits may apply)
- Ideal for long-term expats and global citizens
- Helpful if you’re not eligible for coverage in your current country of residence
- Not the same as travel insurance, which is for short-term trips
How much does health insurance cost per month in Canada?
The average cost per month is between $80 to $115 for private health insurance in Canada, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information. It depends on your age, your coverage needs, your add-ons, and your provider.
What is the best health insurance for seniors?
Overall, we think Manulife Health Insurance offers the best overall health insurance for seniors, due to its multiple coverage plans and numerous add-ons that can further tailor the coverage provided.
Please note that those age 70+ shouldn't try to use Desjardins Health Insurance – this insurer doesn't ensure anyone past this age.
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone, and is not endorsed or sponsored by a bank, credit card issuer, rewards program or other entity. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website.
FAQ
What's the best health insurance in Canada?
We've determined that Blue Cross Health Insurance is the best option for health insurance in Canada. However, coverage and prices vary significantly between providers, so you should research which company and plan is best for you.
What are the top 3 health insurances?
Manulife Health Insurance, Sun Life Go Life Insurance, and Blue Cross Health Insurance earned top ratings for flexibility, quality, and coverage options. Each offers unique coverage with a range of pricing so you can choose the best fit for your family.
Which is better, Sunlife or Blue Cross?
Blue Cross Health Insurance is rated well for prescription medication and dental coverage whereas Sun Life Go Life Insurance is best for travel medical coverage. Both are highly rated for financial stability, with Blue Cross Health Insurance having a slight edge.
What is private health insurance in Canada?
Private health insurance in Canada is supplemental coverage that you have to buy through a provider like Blue Cross or Manulife. It may cover things not covered by public health insurance, such as vision, dental, travel, and specialty medical supplies.
What is public health insurance in Canada?
Public health insurance is provided for free to all Canadians and Permanent Residents. You’ll need your provincial health card to access the essential medical care it provides but will require private insurance for vision care, dental care, and more.
Can you tell me how to buy health insurance in Canada?
If you don't already have a group plan provided by your employer, make a list of your most important needs, review the best-rated companies above, and choose a plan that offers the most coverage for those areas.
What's the average cost of private health insurance per month in Canada?
The average monthly premium is about $101, or $1,212 per year – much lower than previous years. Of course, this doesn't include any out-of-pockets costs, such as your portion of prescription medication, vision care, dental care, and other services
Do you need supplemental health insurance in Canada?
Supplemental health insurance is not required in Canada. Our national healthcare system covers most fundamental medical needs, but vision, dental, and pharmaceutical costs aren't covered so many Canadians top up their public insurance with supplemental private insurance.
Are health insurance premiums tax deductible in Canada?
Yes, if at least 90% of the premiums were for eligible medical expenses, they can be claimed on your tax return as medical expenses. You can find more details through the Government of Canada website or through a tax professional.
Is there Costco health insurance in Canada?
Yes, Costco does offer health insurance through Manulife. They have 3 basic plans, each of which is fairly extensive, plus you'll get extra coverage if you regularly use a Costco pharmacy and/or vision centre.
Does health insurance include vision?
As of now, public health insurance does not include vision – you'll need private health insurance coverage to help with these costs. All health insurance providers offer varying degrees of vision coverage in their supplemental plans.
Does health insurance include dental?
Currently, dental insurance is not covered by public health care in Canada. Private health insurers offer varying degrees of dental care through their insurance plans to help individuals pay for the costs associated with maintaining dental health.
Find more insurance products
Are you looking for a different type of insurance? You can find all our top insurance product reviews right here:
Latest Articles in Health Insurance
Personal Finance
Canada health care is a public service and universal system that earns much praise on the international stage. Though it is a national syste...
