Why Health Insurance Is Essential for Every Canadian? Canada’s universal Medicare system is renowned for covering essentials like hospital stays and doctor visits, but it doesn’t cover everything. From prescription drugs to dental care, gaps in provincial health plans can leave you vulnerable to unexpected costs and delays. In this guide, we’ll explain why supplemental coverage is a smart choice and how Summit Insurance can safeguard your health and finances.
How Canada’s Public Health Insurance Works
Canada’s public health system, guided by the Canada Health Act, ensures provinces offer free coverage for “medically necessary” hospital, physician, and surgical-dental services. These provincial schemes, such as the Ontario OHIP scheme or the Alberta AHCIP, are funded through taxes and require their citizens to be residents in order to access the schemes. With core services being covered, outpatient drugs, regular dental, eye care, and paramedical services (e.g., physiotherapy) are not covered, with many Canadians having to bear out-of-pocket expenses.
Five Reasons Every Canadian Should Have Health Insurance
1. Protect Against Gaps in Public Coverage
Public plans don’t cover prescription drugs, dental, vision, or therapies like massage; unless you qualify for narrow government programs. Supplemental health insurance Canada steps in to cover these essentials, preventing surprise expenses.
2. Protect Your Family Against Dental & Vision Bills
There were 25 percent of Canadians who did not attend dental care because of their inability to pay costs, and one in every three Canadians did not have dental care coverage. The health of individuals, including oral and eye health, influences overall wellness, and so, private insurance is essential to the family.
3. No Delays or Waiting Time Needed with Non-Urgent Care
Canada has a low access to specialists and elective procedures in a timely manner; people may have to wait months. Some of these include quicker alternatives via virtual care or diagnostics through the use of private plans.
4. Financial Security & Income Protection
Private insurance can include disability benefits or travel coverage, key for newcomers facing provincial wait periods or self-employed individuals needing a safety net.
5. The Canadian Majority Use It
In 2022, 74% of Canadians had private health insurance, mostly through employers, proving its value beyond public plans.
What Private Health Plans Cover
Private insurance fills public system gaps with benefits like:
- Prescription drugs (outpatient)
- Dental (exams, cleanings, orthodontics)
- Vision (exams, glasses, contacts)
- Paramedical (physiotherapy, chiropractic)
- Ambulance, travel health, and disability riders
Even with federal programs like Pharmacare emerging, why Canadians need private insurance remains evident; comprehensive coverage isn’t fully in place yet.
Why Summit Insurance Can Help You Get Covered
Summit Insurance Kelowna offers tailored plans for families, retirees, self-employed folks, and newcomers. Our province-aware quoting matches your needs to your provincial coverage, avoiding overlap. Enjoy direct billing, online claims, and expert support. Traveling? We’ve got you covered across provinces.
How to Choose the Right Plan
Follow this checklist:
- Review Your Provincial Plan:
Note what’s covered and any wait periods. - List Your Needs:
Focus on dental, drugs, or therapies. - Compare Costs:
Balance premiums, deductibles, and reimbursement rates. - Ask Summit:
Add riders like travel or dental-only plans.
Check out our Health and Wellness insurance and get a quote today!
Final Thoughts
Canada’s Medicare covers the basics, but why health insurance is essential for every Canadian lies in its gaps: drugs, dental, vision, and wait times. With 74% of Canadians relying on private plans, the benefit of private health insurance in Canada is undeniable. Summit Insurance makes it easy to bridge those gaps affordably.
Curious about your coverage? Use our provincial coverage checker or get a custom quote today. Secure your health now!
