Health Insurance Canada 2026: Private Plans + Costs
Canada has free healthcare. But it does not cover everything.
Private health insurance covers dental, drugs, vision, physio.
A 35-year-old pays $75 per month for extended health.
That is with Manulife Flexcare or Sun Life Personal Health.
Get covered for $5,000 dental + $10,000 drugs.
What Public Healthcare Does NOT Cover
OHIP, MSP, RAMQ are free. But they skip:
- Dental: $0 covered → Cleanings $300/year
- Prescriptions: $0 covered → Drugs $1,200/year average
- Vision: $0 covered → Glasses $400 every 2 years
- Physio/Massage: $0 covered → $95 per session
- Ambulance: $45-$240 → Not free in most provinces
So, private insurance fills the gaps.
2026 Best Private Health Plans
We compared 4 plans for a 35-year-old in Ontario:
- Manulife Flexcare: $78/month → Best dental $5K/year
- Sun Life Personal Health: $82/month → Best drug $10K/year
- Canada Life Health: $74/month → Best vision + massage
- Blue Cross: $69/month → Cheapest, lower limits
So, Manulife wins for families.
Sun Life wins for drugs.
Who Needs Private Health Insurance
1. Self-employed: Yes
No work benefits. So, buy private.
2. Retired under 65: Yes
No work plan + no ODB yet. So, cover drugs.
3. New immigrants: Yes
3-month wait for OHIP. So, bridge gap.
4. Employees with bad plan: Yes
$500 dental cap is nothing. So, top up.
Read Critical Illness Insurance Canada 2026 for lump sum protection.
Travel Health Insurance
Leaving Canada? You need travel medical.
USA hospital: $15,000 per day.
OHIP pays $400 per day. So, you owe $14,600/day.
Get $5M travel insurance for $1.50/day.
3 Ways to Save
1. Skip dental if teeth good: -$25/month
Only drug + vision. So, $50/mo total.
2. Annual pay: -$90/year
Pay once. Then, 10% off.
3. Couple plan: -$180/year
Joint vs 2 single. So, cheaper.
See Disability Insurance Canada 2026 to protect income too.
FAQ
Is private health insurance worth it in Canada?
Yes if you spend $900+/year on dental, drugs, glasses.
Plan costs $900. So, breakeven.
Can I use HSA instead?
Yes if self-employed.
Health Spending Account = 100% tax deductible. Better than insurance.
Does OHIP cover ambulance?
No.
$45-$240 per trip. Private insurance pays 80-100%.