Private health insurance, also called personal health insurance or a personal health and dental plan, sits on top of a provincial or territorial health plan. It pays part of the bills the public plan leaves to the patient. The coverage rules on this page come from Health Canada, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Ontario’s Ministry of Health; insurer features come from each insurer’s own personal health insurance page, checked October 11, 2026. This page is general education, not insurance, tax or medical advice, and the policy wording always decides what a claim pays.
What do provincial health plans not cover?
Provincial and territorial plans insure medically necessary hospital and physician services. Prescription drugs outside hospital, most dental care, vision care, paramedical services such as physiotherapy, and ambulance services are covered only in part or not at all, depending on the province and the person.
How to read this table: A national summary. Each province and territory decides which services its own plan treats as medically necessary.
| Service | What the public plan does | Stated by |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital and physician care | Insured in every province and territory: medically necessary hospital, physician and some surgical-dental services. | Health Canada |
| Prescription drugs outside hospital | In most cases not covered. Provinces and territories run medication programs for people who are eligible for them. | IRCC; Health Canada |
| Dental care | Most dental services are not covered. Some surgical-dental services in hospital are insured. | IRCC; Health Canada |
| Vision care and eyeglasses | Listed among services not fully covered; provinces give additional coverage to certain groups such as seniors, children and people on social assistance. | Health Canada |
| Physiotherapy and other paramedical services | A provincial plan may not cover other health care or paramedical services. | Financial Consumer Agency of Canada |
| Ambulance services | Listed among services not fully covered by the publicly funded system. | Health Canada |
| Private or semi-private hospital room | Preferred hospital accommodation is not insured unless a physician prescribes it. | Health Canada |
| Private duty nursing, medical certificates, cosmetic services | Not insured under a provincial or territorial plan. | Health Canada |
Source: About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (what every provincial plan insures); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (additional coverage for certain groups); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (who pays otherwise); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (services not insured); About the Canada Health Act - Canada.ca (insured health services); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (workplace plans and personal health insurance); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (what workplace plans may cover); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (who a policy covers); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (checks before buying); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (percentage and annual maximum); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (prescription medication); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (dental services); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (waiting period); Health care in Canada: Learn about other types of health insurance - Canada.ca (extended health plans); Health care in Canada: Learn about other types of health insurance - Canada.ca (coverage through an employer); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (services not covered); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (medications after discharge); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (private and semi-private rooms); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (providers who are not physicians); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (12-month period); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (reimbursed amounts); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (the threshold); Details of medical expenses - Canada.ca (premiums paid to private health services plans); Medical expenses, including payments from a private health services plan (PHSP) - Canada.ca (employer payments); Medical expenses, including payments from a private health services plan (PHSP) - Canada.ca (health care spending accounts); Premiums and contributions to insurance plans - Canada.ca (employer contributions to a PHSP); Premiums and contributions to insurance plans - Canada.ca (employee-paid premiums on the T4); Canadian health care - EduCanada (health insurance for international students); Canadian health care - EduCanada (where there is no public coverage for students); Canadian health care - EduCanada (what provincial coverage leaves out for students). In effect from October 11, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.
Health Canada explains the pattern. Provinces and territories give additional coverage to certain groups, such as seniors, children and people who receive social assistance, for home care, vision care, dental care, prescription drugs and ambulance services. People who do not qualify for that additional coverage pay for those services on their own or through private health insurance plans.
Ontario shows what this looks like in one province. The province’s own page on what OHIP covers lists the gaps directly.
How to read this table: Ontario only. Other provinces publish their own lists, linked from each province's health card guide below.
| Service | What Ontario says |
|---|---|
| Prescription drugs outside hospital | OHIP does not cover prescription drugs provided in non-hospital settings, such as antibiotics prescribed by a family doctor. Once a hospital patient is discharged, prescribed medications are not covered. |
| Dental care | OHIP does not cover dental services provided in a dentist's office. It covers eligible dental surgery in hospital. |
| Eyeglasses and contact lenses | Not covered. |
| Care from providers who are not physicians | Health services delivered outside hospital by providers who are not physicians or practitioners prescribed under Ontario legislation are not covered. |
| Private or semi-private hospital room | You or your private insurance pay some or all of those hospital fees. |
Source: About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (what every provincial plan insures); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (additional coverage for certain groups); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (who pays otherwise); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (services not insured); About the Canada Health Act - Canada.ca (insured health services); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (workplace plans and personal health insurance); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (what workplace plans may cover); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (who a policy covers); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (checks before buying); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (percentage and annual maximum); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (prescription medication); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (dental services); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (waiting period); Health care in Canada: Learn about other types of health insurance - Canada.ca (extended health plans); Health care in Canada: Learn about other types of health insurance - Canada.ca (coverage through an employer); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (services not covered); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (medications after discharge); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (private and semi-private rooms); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (providers who are not physicians); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (12-month period); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (reimbursed amounts); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (the threshold); Details of medical expenses - Canada.ca (premiums paid to private health services plans); Medical expenses, including payments from a private health services plan (PHSP) - Canada.ca (employer payments); Medical expenses, including payments from a private health services plan (PHSP) - Canada.ca (health care spending accounts); Premiums and contributions to insurance plans - Canada.ca (employer contributions to a PHSP); Premiums and contributions to insurance plans - Canada.ca (employee-paid premiums on the T4); Canadian health care - EduCanada (health insurance for international students); Canadian health care - EduCanada (where there is no public coverage for students); Canadian health care - EduCanada (what provincial coverage leaves out for students). In effect from October 11, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.
Every province runs its own plan and its own card. YieldMaple’s guides to the OHIP health card in Ontario, MSP health coverage in B.C., the Alberta health card, the Manitoba health card and the Nova Scotia health card cover who qualifies, when coverage starts and what each plan pays for. A provincial card comes first: the insurers on this page sell plans that add to public coverage, and several require it.
How do personal plans differ from group benefits and health spending accounts?
There are five common ways to be covered in Canada, and a personal plan is the one a person buys alone. FCAC’s guidance is that a person with no workplace health care plan may consider personal health insurance from a financial institution or insurance company.
| Route | What it is | Described by |
|---|---|---|
| Provincial or territorial health plan | Public insurance for medically necessary hospital and physician services. You apply for a health card in the province or territory where you live. | Health Canada; IRCC |
| Government programs for certain groups | Additional provincial coverage for groups such as seniors, children and people who receive social assistance, covering services like prescription drugs, dental care and vision care. | Health Canada |
| Workplace (group) health plan | Coverage through an employer that may pay for services the provincial plan does not, such as prescription drugs, dental care and vision care. | Financial Consumer Agency of Canada; IRCC |
| Health care spending account | An employer-funded account with a ceiling amount that employees allocate to types of health expenses. The CRA tests it the same way as other self-insured private health services plans. | Canada Revenue Agency |
| Personal health insurance | A policy you buy yourself from a financial institution or insurance company. FCAC names it as the option to consider when there is no workplace plan. | Financial Consumer Agency of Canada |
Source: About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (what every provincial plan insures); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (additional coverage for certain groups); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (who pays otherwise); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (services not insured); About the Canada Health Act - Canada.ca (insured health services); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (workplace plans and personal health insurance); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (what workplace plans may cover); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (who a policy covers); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (checks before buying); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (percentage and annual maximum); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (prescription medication); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (dental services); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (waiting period); Health care in Canada: Learn about other types of health insurance - Canada.ca (extended health plans); Health care in Canada: Learn about other types of health insurance - Canada.ca (coverage through an employer); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (services not covered); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (medications after discharge); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (private and semi-private rooms); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (providers who are not physicians); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (12-month period); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (reimbursed amounts); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (the threshold); Details of medical expenses - Canada.ca (premiums paid to private health services plans); Medical expenses, including payments from a private health services plan (PHSP) - Canada.ca (employer payments); Medical expenses, including payments from a private health services plan (PHSP) - Canada.ca (health care spending accounts); Premiums and contributions to insurance plans - Canada.ca (employer contributions to a PHSP); Premiums and contributions to insurance plans - Canada.ca (employee-paid premiums on the T4); Canadian health care - EduCanada (health insurance for international students); Canadian health care - EduCanada (where there is no public coverage for students); Canadian health care - EduCanada (what provincial coverage leaves out for students). In effect from October 11, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.
The practical differences between the three private routes:
- A workplace (group) plan is arranged by an employer. FCAC says some workplace plans cover prescription drugs, dental care and vision care. The CRA says employer contributions to a plan that meets the conditions of a private health services plan are not a taxable benefit to the employee.
- A health care spending account is also a workplace arrangement. The employer sets a ceiling amount and the employee allocates it to types of health expenses. The CRA tests it the same way as any other self-insured private health services plan.
- A personal plan is bought by the individual, who pays the whole premium. It follows the person, not the job, so it suits people who are self-employed, between jobs, retired or working without benefits. Health answers can affect acceptance and price unless the plan is a guaranteed-acceptance plan.
A personal plan can also sit beside a workplace plan. FCAC’s caution applies here: check the workplace plan first, to avoid buying coverage already in place.
The public dental option: the Canadian Dental Care Plan
The federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) covers dental care for eligible residents who have no access to private dental insurance. That first requirement matters to anyone shopping for a personal dental plan: having access to private dental coverage is one of the things that rules a person out of the CDCP.
The plan’s other requirements are a filed Canadian tax return, Canadian residency for tax purposes and adjusted family net income under $90,000. Coverage through a provincial, territorial or federal social program does not disqualify an applicant. The Canadian Dental Care Plan guide lists the co-payment tiers, covered services and the application steps. For a household that qualifies, comparing the public plan with a personal dental plan is the first step, because the two do not combine.
Six private health insurers compared at a glance
| Feature | Plan line-up | Guaranteed-acceptance option | Waiting period stated on the page | A published limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manulife CoverMe | Flexcare: drug, dental or combined coverage; FollowMe; guaranteed acceptance plans | FollowMe: guaranteed acceptance when you apply within 90 days of losing group benefits | None stated on the Flexcare plan page; DentalPlus plans pay a lower dental level in the first year | ComboPlus Enhanced drugs: 90% of the first $2,222 and 100% of the next $8,000 (up to $10,000 a year) |
| Sun Life | Basic, Standard and Enhanced | None described; the page names a separate plan, Health Coverage Choice, a plan designed for people with pre-existing conditions | Preventive dental on Basic: three months; vision care on Standard and Enhanced: one year | Enhanced drugs: 80% of the first $5,000 and 100% of the next $245,000 of yearly eligible drug expenses |
| Canada Life | Freedom to Choose plans, including Select plans | a guaranteed health insurance plan with no medical exam for people leaving a workplace benefits plan | None stated on the page read | up to $250,000 in prescription drug coverage |
| GreenShield | LINK 1 to 4 and ZONE 1 to 7, plus ZONE Fundamental | LINK 1 to 4, ZONE Fundamental and ZONE 1 to 3; acceptance is guaranteed once GreenShield receives the initial payment | None stated; dental on LINK 2, LINK 3 and ZONE 2 builds over three years | Applicants must be Canadian residents under 80 years of age with valid provincial health plan coverage |
| Ontario Blue Cross | Complete Health (Entry, Essential, Enhanced), Guaranteed Acceptance, Retiree Plan | no medical questions, with existing medications covered | waiting periods may apply to some benefits | Guaranteed Acceptance: 80% drug coverage to a maximum of $625 per calendar quarter |
| GMS | My Health: three health tiers, four dental tiers, four drug tiers | None described on the page read | a 3-month waiting period on basic dental; a 12-month waiting period on major dental | Drug maximums: $300 on Tier 1, $1,000 on Tier 2, $3,500 on Tier 3 and $6,000 on Tier 4 |
Sources: each insurer's personal health insurance page, checked October 11, 2026. Manulife figures are those its page shows for Ontario, under age 65. 'None stated' means the page read did not state one; the policy wording may.
The table in sentences, insurer by insurer.
Manulife CoverMe sells Flexcare plans as drug, dental or combined coverage. Its ComboPlus Starter plan pays 80% of the first $750 of drug costs (up to $600 a year) and 70% of the first $575 of dental costs (up to $400 a year), with no medical questionnaire at the time of application. The ComboPlus Basic plan pays 70% of the first $750 and 90% of the next $4,972 (up to $5,000 a year) on drugs, and the Enhanced plan pays 90% of the first $2,222 and 100% of the next $8,000 (up to $10,000 a year) on drugs and 100% of the first $500 and 60% of the next $700 (up to $920 a year) on dental, with a medical questionnaire at the time of application. All three include $5 million in emergency health coverage for the first 9 days of each trip. A standalone Catastrophic plan, at the lower of the two thresholds shown, covers all drug costs after you pay $4,500 in a year, and is not available to Quebec residents or to people aged 65 and over. These figures are the ones Manulife’s page shows for Ontario, under age 65.
Sun Life publishes three plans. Basic pays 60% reimbursement on dental care and prescription drugs and 60% reimbursement on paramedical practitioners, with drugs at 60% of eligible drug expenses, up to $750 a year. Standard pays 70% reimbursement on dental care and prescription drugs, with drugs at 70% of the first $7,000 and 100% of the next $93,000 of yearly eligible drug expenses. Enhanced pays 80% reimbursement on dental care and prescription drugs, with drugs at 80% of the first $5,000 and 100% of the next $245,000 of yearly eligible drug expenses. The dental detail sits in the page’s own FAQ: the Basic plan gives 60% reimbursement for preventive dental care, to a $500 annual maximum, after a 3-month waiting period, and the FAQ says dental coverage can be added to the Standard or Enhanced plan. Sun Life sells through an online application, a licensed Prospr by Sun Life advisor, or a Sun Life advisor.
Canada Life sells Freedom to Choose plans with up to $250,000 in prescription drug coverage at the top end, no termination age, and an application of less than 15 minutes with no medical exam. It covers paramedical specialists such as physiotherapists or psychologists without a doctor's note, and offers emergency travel medical insurance as an add-on to any plan, not sold on its own.
GreenShield lists twelve plans in its comparison. LINK 1 covers prescription drugs, vision care, extended health care and preferred hospital accommodation; LINK 3 adds dental coverage that increases each year for the first three years and includes major services such as crowns and bridge work by year three. ZONE Fundamental offers guaranteed acceptance and no medical questions, covering prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, extended health care and emergency medical travel, while ZONE 7, its most extensive plan, involves health questions at application. GreenShield gives thirty days' written notice of a change to rates or benefits.
Ontario Blue Cross sells Complete Health at three levels, with 60% (Entry), 70% (Essential) and 80% (Enhanced) coverage on health benefits. Options include 70% drug coverage with no annual limit on the Essential Drugs module and 80% dental coverage with no annual limit on the Enhanced Dental option. Its Retiree Plan is for people aged 50 to 74 who are leaving group benefits soon or lost them within the last 60 days. Blue Cross is a federation of regional plans, so residents of other provinces deal with their own Blue Cross organization and its own plan list.
GMS is a not-for-profit insurer that sells health, drug, dental and travel emergency medical coverage in one plan, with virtual care through the GMS Care Network. Its drug benefit carries a $6 per prescription deductible, no coinsurance and no waiting period, with maximums of $300 on Tier 1, $1,000 on Tier 2, $3,500 on Tier 3 and $6,000 on Tier 4. GMS products are not available in Quebec, Nunavut or New Brunswick.
Which dental coverage do these plans publish?
Dental benefits differ on three things: the percentage paid, the annual maximum and the waiting period. A high percentage with a low maximum can pay less than a lower percentage with a high one.
| Insurer and plan | Dental coverage published | Waiting period or build-up stated |
|---|---|---|
| Manulife ComboPlus Starter | 70% of the first $575 of dental costs (up to $400 a year) | None stated on the plan page |
| Manulife ComboPlus Basic | 80% of the first $400 and 50% of the next $860 (up to $750 a year) | None stated on the plan page |
| Manulife ComboPlus Enhanced | 100% of the first $500 and 60% of the next $700 (up to $920 a year) | None stated on the plan page |
| Manulife DentalPlus Basic (dental-only) | 50% of the first $1,150 in year 1 (up to $575 a year), then 80% of the first $400 and 50% of the next $860 from year 2 (up to $750 a year) | Lower level in year 1, as shown |
| Sun Life Basic | 60% reimbursement for preventive dental care, to a $500 annual maximum, after a 3-month waiting period | A 3-month waiting period, as shown |
| Sun Life Standard, Enhanced | 70% reimbursement on dental care and prescription drugs; 80% reimbursement on dental care and prescription drugs; the FAQ says dental coverage can be added to the Standard or Enhanced plan | None stated for these two plans on the page read |
| GreenShield LINK 3 | dental coverage that increases each year for the first three years and includes major services such as crowns and bridge work by year three | Builds over the first three years |
| GreenShield ZONE 2 | a dental plan with maximums and payments that increase each year for the first three years | Builds over the first three years |
| Ontario Blue Cross Complete Health Essential | 80% dental coverage with no annual limit on the Enhanced Dental option | waiting periods may apply to some benefits; the page does not say which |
| GMS My Health dental | Basic dental at 50% on Tier 1, 80% on Tiers 2 and 3 and 100% on Tier 4; annual maximum $500 a year on Tier 1; $750 in year 1, $1,000 in year 2 and $2,000 in year 3 on Tier 4 | a 3-month waiting period on basic dental; a 12-month waiting period on major dental |
Orthodontics is the least commonly covered dental service. GMS includes it on its top dental tier only: 50% for dependent children under 18, to a $2,500 lifetime maximum, after a 2-year waiting period. Ontario Blue Cross lists orthodontics for people 18 and under on the Enhanced level of its Complete Health dental table only.
A worked example with hypothetical numbers shows why the maximum matters. A person has $1,200 of basic dental work in a year. On Manulife’s ComboPlus Enhanced plan, the published formula pays 100% of the first $500 and 60% of the next $700 (up to $920 a year), so the plan pays $920 and the person pays $280. Any dental cost above that in the same year is not reimbursed, because the plan’s annual dental limit has been reached.
How do guaranteed-acceptance plans work?
A guaranteed-acceptance plan (also called guaranteed issue) accepts every eligible applicant without medical questions. Four of the six insurers on this page describe one: Manulife, Canada Life, GreenShield and Ontario Blue Cross. Sun Life’s page does not use the term, but it names Health Coverage Choice, a plan designed for people with pre-existing conditions, without saying on that page whether medical questions are asked.
- Conversion plans for people leaving group benefits. Manulife’s FollowMe offers guaranteed acceptance when you apply within 90 days of losing group benefits; the footnote says there are no medical questions at application when you apply and pay the first premium within 90 days of employee benefits ending, at any age. Canada Life offers a guaranteed health insurance plan with no medical exam for people leaving a workplace benefits plan. Ontario Blue Cross has a separate Retiree Plan for people aged 50 to 74 who are leaving group benefits soon or lost them within the last 60 days; the page read does not say whether that plan asks medical questions.
- Plans open to anyone. Manulife says its guaranteed acceptance plans give cover without any medical questions, even with a diagnosed illness. Ontario Blue Cross’s Guaranteed Acceptance plan has no medical questions, with existing medications covered, and all health conditions covered, with no waiting periods for existing conditions. GreenShield marks eight plans as guaranteed, and says acceptance is guaranteed once GreenShield receives the initial payment.
- Always-offered coverage. Canada Life says anyone covered by provincial healthcare is always offered coverage, with a guaranteed acceptance plan for pre-existing conditions.
The trade-off shows in the limits. Ontario Blue Cross summarizes its Guaranteed Acceptance plan as 70% reimbursement on prescriptions, dental care and health practitioners, and its coverage table lists 80% drug coverage to a maximum of $625 per calendar quarter. Plans that ask health questions can exclude what the applicant already has: Canada Life states that Select plans (other than Select with Assured Acceptance) do not cover prescription drugs you already take or future prescriptions related to a pre-existing condition. GMS splits its drug benefit the same way, with pre-existing conditions not included on Tiers 1 and 2; $800 on Tier 3 and $1,000 on Tier 4.
The deadline on conversion plans is the detail people miss. The windows above are counted from the day group benefits end, and the guarantee is tied to applying inside them.
Are there waiting periods on private health insurance?
A waiting period is the time between the policy start and the date a benefit can be claimed. Among the pages read, three insurers state one.
GMS is the most specific: a 3-month waiting period on basic dental, a 12-month waiting period on major dental and, for orthodontics, a two-year wait. Its drug benefit is different, with a $6 per prescription deductible, no coinsurance and no waiting period. Sun Life states two: its Basic plan gives 60% reimbursement for preventive dental care, to a $500 annual maximum, after a 3-month waiting period, and for vision care the Standard plan gives 100% reimbursement for vision care, up to $250 every 2 calendar years, after a one-year waiting period, and the Enhanced plan 100% reimbursement for vision care, up to $300 every 2 calendar years, after a one-year waiting period. Ontario Blue Cross says on its Guaranteed Acceptance plan that waiting periods may apply to some benefits.
Some plans use a build-up instead of a wait. GreenShield’s LINK 3 has dental coverage that increases each year for the first three years and includes major services such as crowns and bridge work by year three, and Manulife’s dental-only DentalPlus Basic plan pays 50% of the first $1,150 in year 1 (up to $575 a year), then 80% of the first $400 and 50% of the next $860 from year 2 (up to $750 a year). Either way, a plan bought to pay for work already booked next month may not pay for it.
Do international students need health insurance in Canada?
Coverage for international students depends on the province or territory of study. EduCanada, the Government of Canada’s site for international students, sets out the pattern.
How to read this table: The school, college or university confirms which plan applies to its students.
| Topic | What EduCanada says |
|---|---|
| Coverage depends on the province or territory | Whether an international student gets public health coverage depends on the province or territory of study; the school, college or university explains how to get coverage. |
| A residency period may apply | Provinces and territories that offer public coverage to international students may require a period of residency in Canada first. |
| Where there is no public coverage | The university or college asks the student to buy private medical insurance. In Ontario, international students at universities are covered through the University Health Insurance Plan. |
| What public coverage leaves out | It does not cover dentists, chiropractors, physiotherapy and other similar services. |
Source: About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (what every provincial plan insures); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (additional coverage for certain groups); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (who pays otherwise); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (services not insured); About the Canada Health Act - Canada.ca (insured health services); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (workplace plans and personal health insurance); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (what workplace plans may cover); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (who a policy covers); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (checks before buying); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (percentage and annual maximum); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (prescription medication); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (dental services); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (waiting period); Health care in Canada: Learn about other types of health insurance - Canada.ca (extended health plans); Health care in Canada: Learn about other types of health insurance - Canada.ca (coverage through an employer); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (services not covered); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (medications after discharge); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (private and semi-private rooms); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (providers who are not physicians); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (12-month period); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (reimbursed amounts); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (the threshold); Details of medical expenses - Canada.ca (premiums paid to private health services plans); Medical expenses, including payments from a private health services plan (PHSP) - Canada.ca (employer payments); Medical expenses, including payments from a private health services plan (PHSP) - Canada.ca (health care spending accounts); Premiums and contributions to insurance plans - Canada.ca (employer contributions to a PHSP); Premiums and contributions to insurance plans - Canada.ca (employee-paid premiums on the T4); Canadian health care - EduCanada (health insurance for international students); Canadian health care - EduCanada (where there is no public coverage for students); Canadian health care - EduCanada (what provincial coverage leaves out for students). In effect from October 11, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.
Two provincial examples from YieldMaple’s health card guides. In B.C., study permit holders with a permit valid for six months or longer may be deemed residents and enrol in MSP, and they pay a monthly international student health fee of $75; the B.C. MSP guide has the details. In Manitoba, study permit holders have not been eligible for provincial coverage since September 1, 2018, as the Manitoba health card guide explains.
The personal plans on this page are mostly a second layer, not a first one, because several require provincial coverage: GMS says enrolment in your province's health plan is needed to apply, and GreenShield’s plans are open to Canadian residents under 80 years of age with valid provincial health plan coverage. A student with no provincial coverage is usually enrolled in a school plan or buys medical insurance designed for people without a provincial card. The visitor insurance comparison covers that kind of policy. IRCC gives newcomers the same message about the first months: in some provinces public coverage can take up to three months to start, and private insurance covers the gap.
Are private health insurance premiums tax deductible?
Premiums for a personal or group health plan can count as a medical expense on a tax return, within the CRA’s rules. The CRA’s own wording is the safest summary.
How to read this table: The threshold shown is the one on the CRA's page for the 2025 tax return. The dollar amount is indexed each year.
| Topic | What the CRA says |
|---|---|
| Premiums for a personal or group plan | Premiums paid to private health services plans, including medical, dental and hospitalization plans, can be claimed as a medical expense as long as 90% or more of the premiums paid under the plan are for eligible medical expenses. |
| Expenses the plan paid back | You can claim only the part of an expense that you or someone else have not been and will not be reimbursed for. |
| The threshold | On the 2025 return, the claim is reduced by the lesser of 3% of net income (line 23600) and $2,834. |
| Which expenses count | Eligible expenses paid in any 12-month period ending in the tax year and not claimed the year before. |
| Employer contributions | Employer contributions to a plan that meets all the conditions of a private health services plan are not a taxable benefit to the employee. |
| Premiums an employee pays through work | Employers report them with code 85 on the T4 slip, and the employee uses that amount to claim qualifying medical expenses. |
Source: About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (what every provincial plan insures); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (additional coverage for certain groups); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (who pays otherwise); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (services not insured); About the Canada Health Act - Canada.ca (insured health services); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (workplace plans and personal health insurance); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (what workplace plans may cover); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (who a policy covers); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (checks before buying); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (percentage and annual maximum); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (prescription medication); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (dental services); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (waiting period); Health care in Canada: Learn about other types of health insurance - Canada.ca (extended health plans); Health care in Canada: Learn about other types of health insurance - Canada.ca (coverage through an employer); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (services not covered); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (medications after discharge); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (private and semi-private rooms); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (providers who are not physicians); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (12-month period); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (reimbursed amounts); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (the threshold); Details of medical expenses - Canada.ca (premiums paid to private health services plans); Medical expenses, including payments from a private health services plan (PHSP) - Canada.ca (employer payments); Medical expenses, including payments from a private health services plan (PHSP) - Canada.ca (health care spending accounts); Premiums and contributions to insurance plans - Canada.ca (employer contributions to a PHSP); Premiums and contributions to insurance plans - Canada.ca (employee-paid premiums on the T4); Canadian health care - EduCanada (health insurance for international students); Canadian health care - EduCanada (where there is no public coverage for students); Canadian health care - EduCanada (what provincial coverage leaves out for students). In effect from October 11, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.
Two points follow from the table. First, an expense the plan paid back cannot be claimed again; only the unreimbursed part counts. Second, the credit only applies to the amount above the threshold, so a household with low medical costs relative to income may get no credit in a given year. The CRA’s list of eligible medical expenses and its instructions for lines 33099 and 33199 are the reference; this page does not say whether a particular plan or premium qualifies.
Questions to ask before buying a personal health plan
FCAC’s page on health insurance gives four checks to start with.
| Check |
|---|
| Check your workplace health care plan first, so you don't buy coverage you already have. |
| Find out whether the insurer covers only a percentage of each claim. |
| Find out whether the insurer covers only a maximum annual amount. |
| Confirm who the policy covers: it may also cover a partner and children under 19, and older children who are still in school or disabled may be eligible. |
Source: About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (what every provincial plan insures); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (additional coverage for certain groups); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (who pays otherwise); About Canada's health care system - Canada.ca (services not insured); About the Canada Health Act - Canada.ca (insured health services); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (workplace plans and personal health insurance); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (what workplace plans may cover); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (who a policy covers); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (checks before buying); Health insurance - Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (percentage and annual maximum); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (prescription medication); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (dental services); Health care in Canada: Access our universal health care system - Canada.ca (waiting period); Health care in Canada: Learn about other types of health insurance - Canada.ca (extended health plans); Health care in Canada: Learn about other types of health insurance - Canada.ca (coverage through an employer); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (services not covered); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (medications after discharge); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (private and semi-private rooms); What OHIP covers - Ontario.ca (providers who are not physicians); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (12-month period); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (reimbursed amounts); Lines 33099 and 33199 - Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return - Canada.ca (the threshold); Details of medical expenses - Canada.ca (premiums paid to private health services plans); Medical expenses, including payments from a private health services plan (PHSP) - Canada.ca (employer payments); Medical expenses, including payments from a private health services plan (PHSP) - Canada.ca (health care spending accounts); Premiums and contributions to insurance plans - Canada.ca (employer contributions to a PHSP); Premiums and contributions to insurance plans - Canada.ca (employee-paid premiums on the T4); Canadian health care - EduCanada (health insurance for international students); Canadian health care - EduCanada (where there is no public coverage for students); Canadian health care - EduCanada (what provincial coverage leaves out for students). In effect from October 11, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.
A fuller list, built from those checks and from what the six insurer pages state:
- Is acceptance guaranteed, or are there health questions? If there are questions, are drugs for existing conditions excluded?
- What percentage is paid for drugs, dental and paramedical care, and what is the annual maximum for each?
- Which benefits have a waiting period, and how long is each one? Ask separately about basic dental, major dental, orthodontics and vision.
- Does dental coverage build up over the first years? If so, what is paid in year one?
- Is there a deadline to apply after group benefits end? Conversion plans count from the last day of workplace coverage.
- Is there a maximum age to apply or a termination age? GreenShield’s plans are open to Canadian residents under 80 years of age with valid provincial health plan coverage; Canada Life’s have no termination age.
- Is the plan sold in your province? GMS products are not available in Quebec, Nunavut or New Brunswick. In Quebec, private drug coverage works alongside the public drug plan, and insurers set out Quebec-specific rules.
- Is travel medical coverage included, for how many days per trip, and can it be added?
- How are claims paid? Ask whether the pharmacy and dentist can bill the insurer directly.
- How can premiums and benefits change? GreenShield, for example, gives thirty days' written notice of a change to rates or benefits.
- Does a personal dental plan affect eligibility for the Canadian Dental Care Plan? Access to private dental coverage rules a person out of the public plan.
Common mistakes with private health insurance
- Buying a plan to cover care a province already pays for. GreenShield states that costs for medical services eligible under a provincial health plan are not eligible under the GreenShield plan. Personal plans pay for what the public plan leaves out, not for faster access to insured services.
- Comparing percentages and ignoring maximums. A plan paying a high share of each bill can still stop early in the year once its annual limit is reached.
- Missing the conversion window after leaving a job. Guaranteed acceptance on conversion plans depends on applying within the stated number of days.
- Assuming a guaranteed plan covers existing prescriptions in full. Some guaranteed plans cover existing medications; some plans that ask health questions exclude them.
- Expecting major dental work to be covered in the first months. Waiting periods on major dental run to a year on some plans.
- Duplicating a spouse’s workplace plan. FCAC’s first check is to read the workplace plan before buying more coverage.
- Treating health insurance as income protection. A health and dental plan reimburses care costs. Replacing income during illness is the job of disability coverage, covered in the disability insurance comparison, and a lump sum on diagnosis is the job of the policies in the critical illness insurance comparison.
How this list was put together
YieldMaple read each insurer’s own personal health insurance pages on October 11, 2026 and recorded only the plan tiers, coverage levels, waiting periods and acceptance rules stated there, with the exact wording saved for each fact. No insurer supplied information or paid to be listed, and there are no affiliate links on this page. The list is not exhaustive: other insurers, associations and regional Blue Cross plans also sell personal health coverage in Canada, and leaving one out is not a judgment about it. Manulife’s figures are those its page displays for Ontario residents under 65; other provinces and ages may see different plans. No premiums appear because none of the pages read shows one, and a quote for your age, province and plan is the only price that applies to you.