Health and Dental Insurance Plans

Health insurance plans can vary widely, based on coverage requirements. Health insurance covers numerous health care costs that are not covered under your provincial plan, such as:

• Prescription drugs

• Vision care, including eye exams, glasses, and contact lenses

• Dental care

• Practitioners such as physiotherapists, etc.

• Travel insurance and travel emergency medical services

• Ambulance and other health care services and medical equipment

When health insurance is beneficial:

• Your employer does not provide group benefits, as is the case with many small businesses or startups.

• You left your current employment and do not have health benefits any more.

• You work as a freelancer and need to take care of your benefits yourself.

• Your existing benefits (via an existing position or via your spouse) are not extensive enough and you need to top them up.

If you are a small business owner:

1. Attract and retain employees, which helps minimize costs associated with high turnover.

2. There are individual and group health and dental individual insurance plans, based on the needs of each individual company.

3. Increase productivity and higher morale by providing financial security and support to employees.

4. Most premiums an employer pays are tax deductible as a business expense.

While there are several plans available, a good point to start, is to consider the protection your company needs, the options you want to add and combine, such as disability, critical illness and/or life insurance. Please note a group plan option may take longer to construct and will require business information.