A Guide to Health Insurance for Seniors in Canada
What health insurance for seniors covers in Canada
Health insurance for older Canadians should support both everyday healthcare needs and unexpected medical events. Between public and private plans, seniors should have access to treatments in the following categories:
- Dental
- Vision
- Prescriptions
- Paramedical
- Hearing aids
- Medical equipment
- Mental health
- Hospital care
- In-home nursing care
- Long-term care
Health needs naturally increase as we grow older, but many of the services that seniors rely on (like dental care, hearing aids, vision care, and prescription medications) aren’t fully covered by provincial plans.
As a result, more than 1 in 5 (21%) Canadians aged 55+ have no health or dental coverage—the highest uninsured rate of any age group. This leaves older adults facing the highest out-of-pocket healthcare costs, averaging $1,321 per year.
Private health insurance fills coverage gaps left by the province or retiree group plan benefits. It makes healthcare spending predictable for seniors on fixed incomes and ensures access to age-related care that might otherwise be out of reach. To understand where those gaps exist, it helps to start with what provincial health care already covers for seniors in Canada.
What provincial health plans cover for seniors
Provincial health plans in Canada are geared toward the basics and emergency coverage, and public care does not include many services that can be important as you age.
Seniors in Canada have access to:
Eligible seniors can also access senior-specific federal and provincial programs for dental coverage, vision, and drugs. These programs usually have age, residency, and income eligibility criteria, though, which means many seniors won’t qualify.
There are two glaring gaps for many seniors: prescription drugs and paramedical care.
Prescription drugs
Public healthcare in Canada for seniors does not typically cover:
If you rely on multiple medications that fall outside provincial coverage, your out-of-pocket medical expenses could add up quickly. Private insurance is a bridge to help cover name-brand drugs, newer therapies, and medical supplies.
Paramedical
Public healthcare in Canada does not typically cover any paramedical services:
Why seniors need supplemental health insurance
For many seniors, services like prescription drugs and paramedical care aren’t options—but they’re only covered by supplemental private health insurance plans. At the same time, many Canadians lose access to employer-sponsored benefits when they retire. Without that coverage, seniors are left to make difficult choices about how to manage their healthcare costs.
Some seniors try to cut back or go without care altogether, but the reality is that healthcare needs increase with age. Routine checkups are important, but it's the high-cost services (like major dental work, specialty drugs, and paramedical treatments) that can create the biggest financial strain.
Supplemental health insurance for seniors helps control healthcare spending and create pathways to much-needed care.
Types of health insurance plans available for seniors
There are three main types of health insurance plans for seniors:
- Full underwriting: Includes a medical questionnaire and is usually a good fit for healthy seniors who want tailored coverage with higher limits.
- Guaranteed acceptance: No medical questions or exams and usually a good fit for seniors with pre-existing medical conditions who might not be eligible for other policies.
- Replacement health insurance: Usually no medical questions and intended to help retirees transition from group benefits to private plans.
In all three categories, you’ll find varying tiers of coverage. Basic plans tend to have lower maximums and reimbursement rates, while higher tiers typically offer robust coverage that appeals to those with chronic conditions and/or who use their benefits frequently.
Some plans target specific care, offering very high prescription drug coverage limits or dental-only coverage.
When you’re reviewing plans, the names may not say “basic” or “premium.” Look carefully at the list of covered services and the maximums for each one. Make your choice based on the care you need while keeping an eye on possible high-cost events (like major dental work).
How much does health insurance for seniors cost?
The average cost of a senior health plan is between $85 and $207 per month, depending on your age and plan.
- 55-year-old: $85/month for a dental-specific plan, $150/month for a higher-tier plan
- 70-year-old: $108/month for a dental-specific plan, $184/month for a higher-tier plan
Here are sample monthly premiums for PolicyMe health plans for seniors:
* Plans are guaranteed acceptance. Rates may vary by province and other factors.
Your health insurance expenses may include a monthly premium, a one-time annual deductible, and a co-pay for each service.
The right plan should save you money by covering services you’d otherwise pay for out of pocket. Since many seniors live on fixed incomes, it’s important to choose coverage that matches your needs—without paying for high-tier benefits you’re unlikely to use.
Consider that many covered services cost more out of pocket than one month of healthcare:
- Massage: $145 per 60 minutes
- Chiropractor: $145 initial consult, $75 per adjustment
- Counseling: $280 per 60 minutes
- Dietitian: $215 initial, $155 per visit
* Cost data taken from IA Financial’s 2024 reasonable and customary fees for Ontario.
How to choose the right health insurance plan for seniors
The right senior health plan balances coverage with budget, filling gaps in your existing benefits while helping you prepare for future health needs. Here’s what you should consider:
- What government health coverage are you eligible for? Understand which services you can tap into and what exclusions or limitations exist. Your out of pocket healthcare expenses can tip you off to gaps.
- What healthcare services do you need now and in the future? Consider preventive care and treatments. Think about medications, chronic health conditions, potential surgeries and injuries, vision care, dental procedures, medical equipment, and possible in-home care as you grow older. Research and add up the costs of these expenses.
- Which plans cover the care you need at a high enough level to save you money? Look at covered services, annual limits, exclusions and waiting periods, and whether any other expenses (like deductibles) apply.
Get free health insurance quotes from multiple insurance companies and compare your options to ensure you’re getting the right coverage (and the right price) for you.
Is health insurance worth it for seniors?
For many Canadian seniors, health insurance is worth it as a cost-saving, health-supporting measure.
To decide if health insurance is worth it for you, compare the annual premium to your expected healthcare expenditures.
If you have infrequent health needs and it’s more affordable to pay for your care out of pocket, you may not need a private health insurance plan. But if it will save you money and help ensure you get the care you need, when you need it, private coverage is a worthwhile investment.
FAQ: Health insurance for seniors
Bonnie Stinson is an insurance writer and researcher in Toronto with a decade of experience producing helpful, accurate content for Canadians. They have published resources for some of Canada's most innovative and consumer-trusted companies in the health, legal, and fintech sectors.
Bonnie Stinson is an insurance writer and researcher in Toronto with a decade of experience producing helpful, accurate content for Canadians. They have published resources for some of Canada's most innovative and consumer-trusted companies in the health, legal, and fintech sectors.
Prices listed on this page are based on information available as of October 2025. The prices shown are for general reference only and may vary based on factors like your age, location, and product selection.