Private Insurance in Canada: What It Is and What It Costs
Private insurance in Canada is optional coverage that pays for health, dental, travel and disability costs that provincial plans do not. Individual health and dental plans from Manulife, available through HealthQuotes.ca, typically cost about $55 to $300 per month, depending on plan type, age and household.
Canada's public system, built on the Canada Health Act, covers medically necessary hospital and physician services. It doesn't cover every health cost. As the federal government explains in its overview of health insurance types in Canada, provincial and territorial plans leave gaps, and many people add private coverage to fill them. Outpatient prescriptions, dental care, vision, physiotherapy and most out-of-country emergencies are the usual examples.
Here's what we'll cover: cost by plan type, how public and private coverage differ, who benefits most, tax treatment, the main insurers, and how to apply. If you want the big picture of how the system fits together first, start with our Health Insurance Canada Guide.
Understanding Private Insurance in Canada
Public vs private coverage
Provincial plans cover medically necessary hospital and physician care, while private insurance pays for prescriptions, dental, vision, paramedical services, and travel emergencies. Plans like OHIP in Ontario and MSP in British Columbia generally exclude:
- Outpatient prescription drugs
- Dental care
- Vision care
- Physiotherapy, massage therapy and chiropractic care
- Private or semi-private hospital rooms
- Ambulance fees (in some provinces)
- Most out-of-country emergency costs
Coverage varies by province, so what's free in one place may carry a fee in another. Our breakdown of OHIP coverage in different provinces shows where public coverage ends and private plans begin.
Types of private coverage
Private coverage falls into six main groups: extended health, dental, prescription drug, travel medical, disability income, and group benefits. Many individual plans bundle several of these. For a deeper look at each category, see Types of Health Insurance in Canada, and for the specifics of what's included, read What Does Private Canadian Health Insurance Cover. If you're unsure how health coverage differs from life or other products, Types of Insurance Explained clears that up.
How much does it cost?
Prices below are monthly ranges. Your quote will vary by age, province and household (single, couple or family). For general context on premiums, see How Much Does Health Insurance Cost.
| Manulife plan | Focus | Monthly range |
|---|---|---|
| DrugPlus Basic | Prescription drugs | $55-$100 |
| DrugPlus Enhanced | Higher drug coverage | $80-$150 |
| DentalPlus Basic | Routine dental | $76-$115 |
| DentalPlus Enhanced | Major dental | $115-$175 |
| ComboPlus Starter | Health and dental | $75-$125 |
| ComboPlus Basic | Health and dental | $82-$150 |
| ComboPlus Enhanced | Health and dental | $122-$200 |
Drug-only and dental-only plans suit people with one clear need. ComboPlus plans bundle prescriptions, dental, vision and paramedical services, which often makes more sense for families with varied expenses. Sun Life's personal health insurance page gives a good sense of how insurers structure these benefits.
Plans for people losing group benefits
If your employer coverage is ending, Manulife FollowMe lets you keep coverage without medical questions, as long as you apply shortly after your group benefits end. It's useful during a job change, retirement or other transition.
- FollowMe Basic: $85-$100 per month
- FollowMe Enhanced: $115-$140 per month
- FollowMe Enhanced Plus: $150-$180 per month
- FollowMe Premiere: $210-$250 per month
Higher tiers add stronger drug, dental (including major services) and paramedical coverage.
Pre-existing conditions
Manulife CoverMe Guaranteed Issue Enhanced ($225-$300 per month) accepts applicants without medical questions, which helps people who might be declined elsewhere. Underwritten plans usually cost less, but they require health questions and can decline you or exclude certain conditions. Our comparison of guaranteed issue vs underwritten plans walks through the trade-offs. If prescriptions are your main concern, see these guaranteed issue plans with prescription drug coverage.
What drives premiums
Premiums depend mainly on:
- Your age
- Your province
- Household size
- Drug and dental coverage levels
- Annual maximums
- Deductibles or co-pays
A higher deductible or lower annual maximum usually lowers the monthly cost, but you'll pay more when you claim. Our guide to 5 factors that affect health insurance premiums goes deeper on each.
Travel and snowbird pitfalls
Provincial plans pay only limited amounts for out-of-country emergencies, often a small daily rate that's far below actual US hospital costs. If you travel or winter in the south, check these points before you buy:
- Stability clauses: these set how steady a pre-existing condition must be before it's covered.
- Maximum trip length: each plan caps the days covered per trip.
- Residency requirements: most provinces require a minimum number of days in the province each year to keep public coverage.
Read the policy wording closely, since these terms matter more than the headline price.
Disability insurance
Disability insurance replaces a share of your income, typically a percentage of earnings, if illness or injury stops you from working. It matters most for self-employed people who don't have employer coverage. Premiums depend on your age, occupation, benefit period and waiting period.
Who benefits most
Private coverage tends to help these groups most:
- Self-employed people and business owners
- Snowbirds and frequent travelers
- People without employer benefits
- People between jobs
- Anyone with high drug or dental costs
If you already have full group benefits, you may need little extra. Not sure where you stand? Read Do You Really Need Health Insurance in Canada. For a provincial view of the cost-benefit question, see Private Health Insurance in Ontario: Is It Worth It.
Tax treatment
Self-employed people may be able to deduct private health and dental premiums through a Private Health Services Plan (PHSP) structure in a business. Incorporated owners can also use a health spending account. Individuals may claim eligible costs through the medical expense tax credit. Rules vary, so confirm the details with an accountant or the CRA.
Choosing a carrier
Major insurers include Manulife, Sun Life and Blue Cross. Judge them on coverage limits, waiting periods, pre-existing condition rules, and how easy claims are, including direct billing and app submissions. For a side-by-side view, see our Manulife vs Sun Life comparison.
Buying your own plan
Individuals can apply online. For underwritten plans you'll answer health questions, or you can choose guaranteed acceptance and skip them. A licensed broker can compare insurers for you at no direct cost to the customer, since brokers are paid commissions by the insurers. The government's page on insurance types is a helpful reference if you're new to the system.
Choosing the Right Private Insurance in Canada
Start by listing your gaps: drugs, dental, vision, travel or income protection. Then match a plan to what you expect to use. Someone who fills monthly prescriptions needs a different plan than someone who mostly wants cleanings and a travel safety net.
Next, compare several insurers side by side. Premiums and limits for similar coverage differ, and the cheapest option isn't always the best fit. Our guide to the best health insurance companies in Canada is a good place to begin.
HealthQuotes.ca is a licensed brokerage that offers instant quotes and guided applications at no direct fee to customers, so you can compare plans in one place. If you're ready, start your free quote and see what's available for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Private Insurance in Canada
How much is private insurance in Canada?
Individual private health and dental plans through Manulife typically run about $55 to $300 per month. Drug-only plans such as DrugPlus Basic cost $55-$100, dental plans like DentalPlus Basic cost $76-$115, and combined plans like ComboPlus Basic cost $82-$150. Guaranteed-issue options such as CoverMe Guaranteed Issue Enhanced cost $225-$300. Your price depends on age, province, and household type.
Is private health insurance worth it in Canada?
It's worth it if you face costs public plans don't cover, such as prescriptions, dental, vision, physiotherapy or travel emergencies. It benefits the self-employed, business owners, snowbirds, travelers, people between jobs, and those without employer benefits most. If you already have full group benefits, you may not need a separate plan. See Private Health Insurance in Ontario: Is It Worth It for a provincial example.
What is the best private insurance in Canada?
The best plan depends on your needs. Compare coverage limits, waiting periods, pre-existing condition rules, premiums and how easy claims are. Major carriers like Manulife, Sun Life and Blue Cross each offer different plan types. A licensed broker such as HealthQuotes.ca can compare options from several insurers in one place.
Can you buy your own health insurance in Canada?
Yes. Individuals can buy private health, dental, travel and disability coverage without an employer, as the federal overview of insurance types explains. Some plans ask medical questions, while guaranteed-acceptance plans such as Manulife FollowMe (available when you apply shortly after group benefits end) do not. You can apply online with a broker's guidance.