Best Health Insurance Plans in Ontario in 2026

The best health insurance plan in Ontario depends on your health needs and budget. For most working adults, Manulife Enhanced or Desjardins Enhanced offer the most comprehensive coverage. For budget-conscious buyers, Sun Life Basic provides solid entry-level protection including travel and prescriptions. See our full comparison table above or get a free quote for a personalized recommendation.

Costs vary widely between carriers. For the average cost of individual health insurance in Ontario, basic plans start at about $100/month and increase in price depending on your health risks. For example, older individuals are assumed to have higher health risks than their younger counterparts. Additionally, enhanced plan options come with more comprehensive coverage, and therefore have higher costs. For these larger plans, you can expect to pay up to $300/month.

You can purchase individual health insurance directly from a provider or through a licensed broker like HealthQuotes. Individual plans do not require employer sponsorship. You can get a free online quote and enroll without a phone call. Some providers also offer guaranteed acceptance plans with no medical underwriting, which are available regardless of your health history.

Yes, OHIP will still cover medically-necessary services even if you have a private plan. This includes medical care in a hospital, doctor’s appointments, and other basic emergency medical needs.

Private health insurance usually covers whatever OHIP doesn’t deem medically necessary, like dental care and vision care.

No, if you have private individual health/dental insurance in Ontario, you are not eligible for coverage under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). To qualify for the CDCP you must have no access to any private dental insurance, including coverage you purchased yourself, through a family member, employer, pension, or group plan.

It depends on the plan. Guaranteed acceptance plans, which don't ask medical questions, often exclude pre-existing conditions for a set period, sometimes permanently for certain conditions. Standard underwritten plans ask health questions upfront and may decline or limit coverage for conditions you already have. Always check the plan brochure before you buy.

Most standard plans start coverage right away for new conditions and accidents, but many apply a short waiting period, often a few months, for dental benefits. Guaranteed acceptance plans typically have longer exclusion periods for pre-existing conditions. Waiting periods vary by provider, so confirm the details before you enroll.

International students studying in Ontario are usually covered by UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan) instead of OHIP, which pays for primary medical care and some extended services. Newcomers to Canada need Ontario residency and either permanent residency, a pending PR application, or a valid work permit to enroll in OHIP. Private insurance can bridge the gap for both groups while provincial coverage is pending.

It comes down to whether your expected health costs are higher than what you'd pay in premiums. If you take regular medication, need dental work, or use paramedical services often, a plan usually pays for itself. If you're healthy and rarely use anything beyond OHIP, it may cost more than it saves.

"Health insurance" typically covers prescription drugs, paramedical services, vision, and mental health support. "Health and dental insurance" adds dental coverage on top. Nearly all individual plans sold in Ontario today bundle both under one policy, so in practice, most people buying "health insurance" are getting dental coverage included.