Top Health Insurance Companies in Canada

Canada’s healthcare system and health insurance companies in Canada is regarded as one of the best in the world, providing all citizens and permanent residents free access to emergency care and regular doctor visits. Their wide-ranging health insurance plans include health and dental, disability, or critical illness coverage.

Canada features a decentralized, publically funded, universal healthcare system. The nation's 13 provinces and territories are mostly responsible for funding and managing health care. Each has its own insurance plan and receives per-capita financial aid from the federal government.

Medically essential hospital and physician services are provided free of charge at the point of use to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents, while benefits and delivery methods may differ.

About 70% of a Canadian's medical needs are covered by the public health system. The remaining expenses must be met by additional private insurance or by personal funds.

Several of the "basics" are covered by the country's public healthcare system. They consist of:

• Hospital and doctor visits
• Examinations and diagnostics
• Surgeries and treatments
• Standard hospital accommodations (including care, food, and prescriptions)
• dental procedures that are required by medicine
• Eye examinations for Canadians who are over 65 or under 18
• Prescription drugs for outpatient use
• Dental care
• Psychological services
• Massage therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Stays in private hospital rooms
• EMT and ambulance services
• Eyeglasses with a prescription
• Medical equipment (including wheelchairs, crutches, and leg braces)

According to the most recent data from the Canadian Centre for Health Information (CIHI), private health insurance is predicted to cost $756 annually, or $63 per month. The institute's statistics also revealed that the average Canadian spent $902, or a little over $75 per month, on out-of-pocket medical expenses.

There are 128 private health insurance companies in Canada, which served a total of 27 million Canadians. Below are the best health insurers in Canada based on the website’s rankings:

Blue Cross

Availability: Nationwide

Eligibility: Canadian citizen/age of majority

Customization: Yes

Features and advantages: Dental and vision care, paramedical services, prescription drugs, travel insurance, hotel accommodations when staying in a private hospital, accidental death and dismemberment, and short- and long-term disability.

Further inclusions: Hearing aids, virtual health care (for some countries), and medical supplies

Optional extras: Hospital cash, critical sickness insurance, and ensured access

CAA

Availability: Nationwide

Eligibility: Canadian citizen/age of majority

Customization: Yes

Features and advantages: Coverage for dentistry and vision, prescription drugs

Optional extras: Speech therapists, hearing aids, and orthotics.

Manulife

Availability: Nationwide

Eligibility: Canadian citizen/age of majority

Customization: Yes

Features and advantages: Prescription drug coverage, vision, and dental insurance

Optional extras: Travel insurance, private hospital lodging, accidental death and dismemberment, and short- and long-term disability

Canada Life

Availability: Nationwide

Eligibility: Canadian citizen/age of majority

Customization: Yes

Features and advantages: Prescription drugs, ambulance services, at-home nursing care, medical equipment, vision, and dental coverage, and hearing aids

Optional extras: Accidental death and dismemberment, extensive dental work, hospital lodging, emergency travel medical insurance

Sun Life

Availability: Nationwide

Eligibility: Canadian citizen/age of majority

Customization: Yes

Features and advantages: Prescription medication, paramedical services, vision, and dental care.

Optional extras: Orthodontics, semi-private hospital lodging, travel insurance, and preventive and restorative dental care

Costco

Availability: Nationwide

Eligibility: Canadian citizen/age of majority

Customization: Yes

Features and advantages: Prescription drug coverage, vision and dental coverage, and travel insurance.

Green Shield

Availability: Nationwide

Eligibility: Canadian citizen/age of majority

Customization: Yes

Features and advantages: Drug, dental, extended health care, vision, hospital, and travel benefits for groups and individuals, as well as administration services. 

Group Medical Services (GMS)

Availability: Nationwide

Eligibility: Canadian citizen/age of majority

Customization: Yes

Features and advantages: Complete range of health and travel insurance to individuals, GMS helps small businesses purchase quality, cost-effective group health insurance plans while avoiding raising premiums.

The best health insurance companies in Canada vary by state. They provide private health insurance plans to individuals, families, and small businesses. You can easily compare the best health insurance companies in Canada through the above list and find one that best meets your needs.