This page provides links to information, providers and news relating to health insurance for Canadians.

While the health-care system in Canada ensures that virtually everyone living here has access to medical services in any part of the country, it doesn't cover everything. That's where private, or extended, health insurance comes in: it is meant to pick up where your government plan ends. Private health insurance is not the same as emergency health – or travel medical – insurance that you may consider purchasing when you travel outside Canada. Rather, it covers the day-to-day surgeries and treatments that can add up to big bills.

If you are looking for travel health insurance, you should check the travel section as well – many providers offer both general and travel health products.

See our buying checklist for some key questions to ask your insurance provider before you purchase health insurance.

Featured Providers

If you are doing research and wondering where to buy, each of the following directories contains a brief overview and contact information for a select list of featured providers.

• Quotes
• Critical Illness
• Health & Dental
• Personal Accident
• Supplemental or Excess
• Visitor to Canada

Latest News

Suggestions, commentary, ideas and general information about health insurance in Canada.

• CLHIA: Canadian seniors ill-prepared for long-term care costs
• Great-West Life clients offered two new health support programs in agreement with Shoppers Drug Mart
• Desjardins and Express Scripts introduce new integrated active pharmacy benefit management service
• Bayshore Home Health in partnersip to offer Air Miles rewards
• Canadians see increased private healthcare delivery as a threat to public medicare
• HealthQuotes.ca announces the online addition of Blue Vision Global health plan
• CLHIA unveils Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance
• Sun Life marks World Diabetes Day with funding pledge
• Unstable economy stressing young canadians, reveals national survey
• A.R.S.: Disability Management in a Non-Union Environment

See more health insurance news in the archive.