The Importance of Individual Health Insurance Plans in Ontario

Having an individual health insurance plan is crucial for every resident of Ontario. With a reliable health insurance policy, individuals get peace of mind knowing that their healthcare needs are covered. As a health insurance brokerage in Ontario, we have years of experience working with Canada’s top insurance providers. In this blog, we explore the best individual health insurance plans available in Ontario for 2025. Additionally, we’ll provide factors to consider when choosing a health insurance policy.

Understanding the Health Insurance Landscape in Ontario

Before diving into specific insurance providers, it’s essential to understand the health insurance landscape in Ontario. The province offers a variety of options, including government-funded programs, employer-sponsored plans, and individual health insurance plans. Individual health insurance plans are ideal for those who do not have access to employer coverage or are self-employed.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Individual Health Insurance

When selecting an individual health insurance plan in Ontario, several factors need to be considered. This includes coverage options, premiums, deductibles, co-pays, network providers, and customer service. Evaluate each of these aspects to ensure your chosen plan meets your specific healthcare requirements while also staying within your budget.

Blue Cross Ontario: A Comprehensive Health Insurance Option

Blue Cross Ontario is a prominent health insurance provider that offers comprehensive coverage to individuals in the province. Their plans include essential medical services, prescription drugs, dental care, and vision care. Blue Cross Ontario also provides flexible options to tailor the coverage to individual needs, ensuring that individuals are protected against unexpected medical expenses.

What Does a Blue Cross Individual Health Insurance Plan Cover?

Blue Cross Basic Individual Health Plan

• Included
  • Dental: 60% preventative care with no coverage for major orthodontic procedures
  • Vision: $100/2 years
  • Mental Health: 60% (maximum $250/year per service)
  • Paramedical: 60% (maximum $250/year per service)
• Not Included
  • Prescription Medication
  • Travel

Blue Cross Standard Individual Health Plan

• Included
  • Dental: 70% preventative care with no coverage for major orthodontic procedures
  • Vision: $150/2 years
  • Mental Health: 70% (maximum $400 per year per service)
  • Paramedical: 70% (maximum $400 per year per service)
  • Prescription Medication: 70%, maximum co-pay: $100, maximum out-of-pocket: $1,350
• Not Included
  • Travel

Blue Cross Enhanced Individual Health Plan

• Included
  • Dental: 70% preventative care with no coverage for major orthodontic procedures
  • Vision: $300/2 years
  • Mental Health: 80% (maximum $500 per year per service)
  • Paramedical: 80% (maximum $500 per year per service)
  • Prescription Medication: 80%, maximum co-pay: $50, maximum out-of-pocket: $900
  • Travel: 100% of the costs within the eligible time period (eligible time will vary based on your plan)

Sun Life Financial: Flexible Coverage for Individual Health Insurance

Sun Life Financial offers flexible individual health insurance plans that cater to the diverse needs of Ontarians. Their plans include coverage for medical services, prescription drugs, paramedical services, and vision care. Sun Life Financial also provides additional wellness benefits and digital tools to help individuals manage their health effectively.

What Does a Sun Life Basic Individual Health Insurance Plan Cover?

Sun Life Basic Individual Health Insurance

• Included
  • Dental: 60% preventative care, no coverage for orthodontic or restorative procedures
  • Mental Health: 60% (maximum $25 per visit/year, $250 per practitioner/year)
  • Paramedical: 60% (maximum $25 per visit/year, $250 per practitioner/year)
  • Prescription Medication: 60% (maximum $750/year)
  • Travel: $1 million up to 60 days
• Not Included
  • Vision

Sun Life Standard Individual Health Insurance

• Included
  • Dental: 70% preventative care, no coverage for orthodontic or restorative procedures
  • Vision: $50 per eye exam, $150 of coverage for prescription glasses, prescription eye contacts, and ocular surgery
  • Mental Health: 100% (maximum $300 per practitioner/year, no maximum per visit)
  • Paramedical: 100% (maximum $300 per practitioner/year, no maximum per visit)
  • Prescription Medication: 70% (maximum $7,000/year)
  • Travel: $1 million up to 60 days

Sun Life Enhanced Individual Health Insurance

• Included
  • Dental: 80% preventative care, 60% for orthodontic, 50% for restorative
  • Vision: $50 per eye exam, $200 of coverage for prescription glasses, prescription eye contacts, and ocular surgery
  • Mental Health: 100% (maximum $400 per practitioner/year, no maximum per visit)
  • Paramedical: 100% (maximum $400 per practitioner/year, no maximum per visit)
  • Prescription Medication: 80% (maximum $5,000/year)
  • Travel: $1 million up to 60 days

Manulife Financial: Customizable Health Insurance Plans

Manulife Financial offers customizable individual health insurance plans designed to suit various healthcare needs. Their plans provide coverage for medical services, prescription drugs, dental care, and travel insurance. Manulife Financial also offers extended coverage options, allowing individuals to add additional features as needed.

What Does a ManuLife Individual Health Insurance Plan Cover?

ManuLife Basic Individual Health Insurance

• Included
  • Dental: 70% of the first $575 worth of dental expenses (maximum $400/year)
  • Vision: $150/2 years
  • Mental Health: Maximum $300/year
  • Paramedical: $20/visit, maximum $300/year
  • Travel: $5 million, 15 day maximum per trip
• Not Included
  • Prescription Medication

ManuLife Standard Individual Health Insurance

• Included
  • Dental: 80% of the first $400 worth of dental expenses, 50% of the following $860 worth of dental expenses (maximum $750/year)
  • Vision: $250/2 years
  • Mental Health: Maximum $500/year
  • Paramedical: $25/visit, maximum $500/year
  • Prescription Medication: 90%, maximum $5,000/year
  • Travel: $5 million, 30 day maximum per trip

ManuLife Enhanced Individual Health Insurance

• Included
  • Dental: 100% of the first $500 worth of dental expenses, 60% of the following $700 worth of dental expenses (maximum $920/year)
  • Vision: $250/2 years
  • Mental Health: Maximum $750/year
  • Paramedical: $50/visit, maximum $2,000/year
  • Prescription Medication: 90%, maximum $20,000/year
  • Travel: $5 million, 30 day maximum per trip

Canada Life: Affordable and Wide Range of Options

Canada Life is known for its affordable individual health insurance plans in Ontario. They offer a wide range of options with flexible coverage for medical services, prescription drugs, dental care, and vision care. Great-West Life also provides health spending accounts and wellness programs to promote a healthy lifestyle.

What Does a Canada Life Individual Health Insurance Plan Cover?

Canada Life Basic Individual Health Insurance

• Included
  • Dental: 70%, maximum $350/year for preventative care, no coverage for major dental procedures
  • Vision: 100%, maximum $150/2 years
  • Mental Health: 100%, maximum $30/visit, maximum $300/year for each service
  • Paramedical: 100%, maximum $30/visit, maximum $300/year for each service
  • Prescription Medication: 70%, maximum $500/year
• Not Included
  • Travel

Canada Life Standard Individual Health Insurance

• Included
  • Dental: 80%, maximum $750/year for preventative care, no coverage for major dental procedures
  • Vision: 100%, maximum $200/2 years
  • Mental Health: 100%, maximum $40/visit, maximum $400/year for each service
  • Paramedical: 100%, maximum $40/visit, maximum $400/year for each service
  • Prescription Medication: 80%, maximum $10,000/year
• Not Included
  • Travel

Canada Life Enhanced Individual Health Insurance

• Included
  • Dental: 80%, maximum $1000/year for preventative care, 50% for major dental procedures, maximum $750/year
  • Vision: 100%, maximum $250/2 years
  • Mental Health: 100%, maximum $50/visit, maximum $500/year for each service
  • Paramedical: 100%, maximum $50/visit, maximum $500/year for each service
  • Prescription Medication: 90% for first $10,000/year, 100% for following $240,000
• Not Included
  • Travel

Desjardins Insurance: Coverage Tailored to Your Needs

Desjardins Insurance offers individual health insurance plans that can be tailored to meet specific needs. Their plans provide comprehensive coverage for medical services, prescription drugs, dental care, and vision care. Desjardins Insurance also offers additional coverage options, such as disability insurance and critical illness coverage.

What Does a Desjardins Individual Health Insurance Plan Cover?

Desjardins Basic Individual Health Insurance

• Included
  • Dental: 80% preventative, no orthodontic
  • Vision: $150/2 years for prescription eyeglasses, prescription eye contacts, surgery, $50/exam
  • Mental Health: Maximum 80% for each service, maximum $400/year
  • Paramedical: Maximum $400/year for each service
  • Prescription Medication: 70%, maximum $5,000/year
  • Travel: $5 million, maximum 90 days/year

Desjardins Enhanced Individual Health Insurance

• Included
  • Dental: 100% preventative, 100% major dental, 60% orthodontic
  • Vision: $250/2 years for prescription eyeglasses, prescription eye contacts, surgery, $70/exam
  • Mental Health: Maximum 80% for each service, maximum $500/year
  • Paramedical: Maximum $600/year for each service
  • Prescription Medication: 90%, maximum $10,000/year
  • Travel: $5 million, maximum 90 days/year

BMO Insurance: Comprehensive Health Insurance Solutions

BMO Insurance provides comprehensive individual health insurance solutions to individuals in Ontario. Their plans offer coverage for medical services, prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, and paramedical services. BMO Insurance also offers additional benefits, including emergency medical travel coverage and health and wellness resources.

Finding the Best Individual Health Insurance Plan in Ontario

It really is all about what you’re looking for in a health insurance plan. Each of the carriers listed above has multiple different types of plans that fit any kind of lifestyle and budget, from individual health to guaranteed issues to life insurance. You will need to take the time to look through each and figure out which one best fits you.

When it comes to individual health insurance plans in Ontario, several providers offer comprehensive coverage options. Blue Cross Ontario, Sun Life Financial, Manulife Financial, Great-West Life, Desjardins Insurance, and BMO Insurance are among the top choices. However, it’s essential to carefully consider factors such as coverage options, premiums, and customer service to find the best plan that meets your unique needs. By evaluating these factors and assessing your healthcare requirements, you can make an informed decision and select the ideal individual health insurance plan in Ontario.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does an Individual Health Insurance Plan Cost?

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.