Health and Dental Insurance in Canada
Private health and dental coverage beyond the provincial plan.
Provincial health plans cover doctors and hospitals, but not most prescriptions, dental care, vision or paramedical services for adults. This hub is for Canadians who don't have a workplace plan, or are losing one, and want to fill the gap.
Start with the private health and dental guide for the self-employed and early retirees. Plan details come from insurers' own pages with the date checked, and provincial coverage links to the province's own site.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is covered in the Government Benefits hub for credits and low-income benefits.
What this hub helps you decide:
- What doesn't my provincial plan cover?
- Do I need private health and dental insurance?
- What happens when I leave my workplace plan?
- How do I compare plans?
Updated November 2026 · 1 guide by Andrew
Start here
New to insurance? Read the overview first: Canadian Insurance Planning Guide: What to Buy, in What Order.
All Health & Dental Insurance guides
Private Health and Dental Insurance for Self-Employed and Early Retirees
Private dental coverage can block the Canadian Dental Care Plan even if you never use it. Eligibility still requires adjusted family net income under $90,000.