Canada Life Health and Dental Insurance Review (Updated 2023)
Did you know that only two-thirds of all healthcare costs in Canada are covered by public funds? That means the remaining third has to be paid for personally or covered by private health insurance policies. Is a Canada Life individual health insurance policy the right way to protect you and your family against accidents and illness?
In this review we will lay out the advantages and disadvantages of owning a Canada Life health insurance policy, we take you through what it covers, what add-ons there are and how to apply for Canada Life health insurance.
For example
Canada Life: the basics
- Founded in 1847
- Canada Life was Canada's first home-grown insurer
- Over 12 million clients across Canada
- More than 10,000 employees
- On January 1, 2020, The Canada Life Assurance Company, The Great-West Life Assurance Company, and the London Life Insurance Company unified under the Canada Life brand.
- If you had London Life health insurance or Great West health insurance, Canada, prior to 2020 your policy and contracts were unchanged and services continued under The Canada Life Assurance Company.
Our Canada Life health insurance review: the best guaranteed policies
Canada Life offers a variety of levels of health insurance, all with differing levels of coverage which are designed to suit your needs, including prescription drugs, dental care, vision care and more.
They have comprehensive optional add-ons for you to further personalize your health plan. They also offer a ten-day look-and-see period. You can cancel your policy with no penalty during the first ten days.
Canada Life health insurance is a choice for you if you do not have health benefits through your employer, you are losing your group coverage, or if you would like additional benefits not offered by your employer’s or province’s health and drug coverage. Note that you must have provincial or territorial health and drug coverage to apply for personal health insurance.
Pros
- Multiple plans that offer guaranteed acceptance
- Quick and easy online quote and application
- Comprehensive optional coverage add-ons
Cons
- Travel medical insurance is not automatically included in their plans (it is an optional add-on)
- Some Canada Life health insurance reviews have noted long callback times
Before signing up for a health insurance plan with Canada Life, compare rates and coverage offerings from the best health and dental plans using our comparison tool.
What is the cost of Canada Life health insurance?
A Canada Life health insurance policy including dental for a 40-year-old single, non-smoker woman in Ontario can start as low as about $40 to a couple of hundred if applying as a family or for higher levels of coverage. Your premium will be based on your individual circumstances. Canada Life will weigh a number of factors to determine your premium.
- age
- gender
- optional extras
- the number of lives on your plan (individual, family, etc.)
- smoker status
- lifestyle
To make sure you are getting the best plan for the best price, you must first establish what you want from your health insurance policy. Take a look at the table below to see some of the variables affecting pricing.
| Non-smoker, Ontario* | Select | Select Elite |
|---|---|---|
| 30-year-old man | $78 / month | $128 / month |
| 50-year-old man | $109 / month | $200 / month |
| 30-year-old woman | $78 / month | $128 / month |
| 50-year-old woman | $109 / month | $200 / month |
*this assumes that the purchaser is covered by the Ontario provincial health plan (OHIP)
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How much does Canada Life health insurance cost?
In order to give you an example of how much Canada Life health insurance costs we have provided figures for a 27-year-old living in Ontario, with a few different coverage options, in the table below.
| Canada Life Ontario | $42/month | $78/month | $115/month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed? | no, there is an evaluation process | ||
| Prescription Drugs | 70% coverage up to $500 | 90% coverage up to $1,000 | |
| Routine Dental | 70% coverage up to $350 | ||
| Paramedical | 90% up to $300 | 100% up to $300 | 90% up to $300 |
| Ambulance Services | |||
| Hospital Accommodation | 100% coverage for a private room up to $225 | 100% coverage for a private room up to $225 |
Good to know
The price of health insurance varies greatly between insurers. Your health history, age, the coverage options offered, your province, and more affect pricing. Use our comparison tool to get personalized health insurance quotes, all anonymously.
What does Canada Life health insurance cover?
Canada Life health insurance plans offer different levels of coverage depending on the health insurance package you buy. To help you get a sense of what is and isn't covered we have laid out the three packages in the table below for you.
| Coverage | Core | Core Plus | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prescriptions (per person per year) | 70% coverage up to $500 | 80% coverage up to $10,000 | 90% coverage on first $10,000 |
| Deductible | $25 | $25 | $25 |
| In-home Nursing | 100% coverage up to $2,500 | 100% coverage up to $5,000 | 100% coverage up to $7,500 |
| Eye Exams | 100% up to $75 | 100% up to $75 | 100% up to $75 |
| Eyeglasses, Contact Lenses and Laser Eye Surgery | 100% up to $150 | 100% up to $200 | 100% up to $250 |
Good to know
For those approaching 65, Canada Life retirement health insurance might be an interesting option.
What types of health insurance does Canada Life offer?
The two types of health insurance offered by Canada Life are Guaranteed Health Insurance and Selected Health Insurance. These have different coverages, different levels of coverage and different premiums. Guaranteed Health Insurance is available to everyone, it does not require a medical questionnaire or an examination and can be purchased at any age. It will typically cost more in premiums and offer less in coverage.
Selected Health Insurance requires you to give your medical history and possibly to have a medical examination. It will typically offer slightly lower premiums for more coverage. This is because Canada Life is better able to calculate the level of risk you represent to them. If you are rejected for a Selected Health Insurance policy you will still be able to get Guaranteed Health Insurance.
Can I get Canada Life dental insurance?
Yes, Canada Life offers an insurance package called Freedom To Choose. This is a mix-and-match policy which you can put together yourself, allowing you to choose between various medical and dental coverages.
More than 20,000 Canada Life customers have switched to the Freedom Toi Choose package as it offers a wide variety of add-ons while allowing you to ditch coverages you don't need. Freedom To Choose is a guaranteed package, which means that there is no medical exam and the application process takes just 15 minutes.
What extras does Canada Life private health insurance offer?
Canada Life dental insurance is part of some of Canada Life's healthcare packages but in order to be fully protected you will need to purchase it as an extra. Core and Core Plus levels of coverage both cover a dental accident (if you break a tooth) and cover part of the cost of routine dental checks. However, only the Elite package covers major restorative dental care. If you are concerned about having regular, complex problems with your teeth then you can look into buying extra protection.
Other extras that you can purchase and add to your Canada Life health insurance include:
- Emergency travel medical coverage
- Accidental death, dismemberment and specific loss benefit
- Hospital cash benefit
- Major dental services and supplies benefit
Interested in seeing what other companies offer as extras?
Compare coverage and rates of
Canada's best health insurance plans
How to get Canada Life health insurance?
You can request a Canada Life personal health insurance quote by working with an insurance broker or requesting a quote through Canada Life's website. Alternatively, you can speak to a representative directly by calling them at 1-833-750-2788 between Monday to Friday 8 am-6 pm ET.
Good to know
Did you know you also get a quote by using our health insurance comparison tool?
Canada Life health insurance login
Go to the website and hit Sign In. You can then use your Canada Life login email and password in order to access your online profile where you can manage your data, see any upcoming payments and keep track of appointments.
Canada Life health insurance app
Consult+ virtual health care is an app that you can use to access medical advice 24/7, whether from your home or on the move. As well as being convenient it offers various services to help you save time and get advice quickly. These include:
- Allergy advice
- Access to therapeutic services
- Get prescriptions written and sent directly to a pharmacy
- Ask general health questions
- Get lab work referrals
Watch out!
Some Consult+ services charge a fee.
Interested in a health care plan with free online resources? Check out our comparison tool and see what other providers have to offer.
Compare coverage and rates of
Canada's best health insurance plans
Canada Life health insurance customer service
You can call the Canada Life health insurance phone number at 1-800-565-4066. They are available Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm ET.
How to cancel health insurance Canada Life?
Call Canada Life at 1-800-565-4066 to inquire about cancelling your plan. Alternatively, you can make an appointment through the Canada Life website to speak to a representative in person.
Can I get Canada Life travel health insurance?
You will have to check your specific plan to know if travel insurance is included. Travel insurance is particularly important in Canada because provincial health insurance plans cover less once you are out of your home province. This means expenses can quickly escalate out of control if you become unwell or suffer an accident while travelling. If you are travelling abroad then you may not have any access to any health care services at all without having an insurance plan in place. In some countries, such as the USA, you will have to pay upfront for any medical treatment that you need.
You can either purchase a travel add-on to your health insurance package or buy Canada Life travel medical insurance as a separate policy. If you are a resident of another country who wants to buy health insurance in Canada, you can buy Canada Life's Welcome Plan, which is for new or returning Canadians.
What are the best alternatives to Canada Life health insurance?
In order to help you compare health insurance deals, we have included a quick summary of competitors below.
Our Blue Cross health insurance review: the most flexible choice
Blue Cross offers several plans that can include health benefits, drug, and dental coverage for you to choose from depending on what your health insurance needs are. Blue Cross provides an easy-access online portal which includes easy access to your benefit information and allows you to submit a claim online. Their plans allow for the optional add-ons of services such as critical illness coverage and hospital expenses.
Blue Cross private health insurance is intended for people who do not have access to a private group insurance plan, or if they would like additional benefits not offered by their employer’s or province’s health and drug coverage such as dental or medication-only coverage. For freelancers, there is the Blue Cross health insurance self-employed package. Blue Cross student health insurance is an affordable package for those in higher education or those who have recently graduated.
Pros
- Named Canada's most respected health insurance company in 2022 by the Most Respected Award Program
- Connected Care digital health platform
- Self-service options
- Submit claims online or via the app
- Mix and match plans as needed
Cons
- Some Blue Cross Canada health insurance reviews have criticized the customer service
- Dental coverage is limited
- Only available to Canadian citizens
Our CAA health insurance review: the best bundling discounts
The CAA, or the Canadian Automobile Associate, was founded more than 115 years ago. It is one of the largest not-for-profit automobile associations in Canada. It has been helping Canadians with a wide variety of products related to automobile services, but also offers insurance packages, including private health insurance. CAA health insurance has partnered with Manulife for over 20 years, allowing them to offer pre-packaged plans mix and match plans tailored to your specific health needs.
They have a 30-day guarantee where if you are not satisfied with the coverage you purchased, you may request a refund within 30 days of receiving your policy. CAA health insurance is a choice for you if you do not have health benefits through your employer, you are losing your group coverage, or if you would like to mix and match prescription and dental coverage. Note that you must have provincial or territorial health and drug coverage to apply for personal health insurance
Pros
- Ability to mix and match plans
- Discounts are available when you bundle health and dental
Cons
- No online claims submission
- Some CAA health insurance reviews have cited long wait times for dental treatment
Our Desjardins health insurance review: the most inclusive choice
Desjardins is a leading provider of insurance in Canada. Desjardins health insurance can be bundled with other insurance policies in order to save money. Compared to competitors, Desjardins premiums are slightly higher however they offer a wider range of coverages. That said, in some ways the company is behind some of its competitors as it does not offer the ability to sign up for a policy online.
Pros
- Dental, medical, vision and travel insurance included in the standard plan
- Online health platform and 24/7 telephones assistance
- High maximum coverage limits
- Enhanced hospital care
Cons
- A policy can only be issued on the 1st or 15th of the month
- Some Desjardins reviews critique the lack of online sign-up
- Plans not available after 70 years old
Our GMS health insurance review: the best online option
GMS health insurance offers plans ranging from basic coverage to comprehensive, all of which have the option to add dental benefits and/or drug benefits. With GMS, you will be able to tailor a plan to fit your health needs.
They have a comprehensive online portal, My GMS, which allows for easy access to your benefit information and the ability to submit a claim online. Their travel insurance for certain plans automatically adds COVID treatment coverage.
GMS health insurance is a choice for you if you do not have health benefits through your employer, starting your own business, or if you would like additional benefits not offered by your employer’s or province’s health and drug coverage.
Pros
- My GMS portal access
- Submit a claim online or via the app
- Counselling and speech therapy is covered in some plans
Cons
- Some GMS health insurance reviews have criticized the limited dental plan
- Some GMS health insurance coverage reviews have noted that hospital benefits are not automatically included
- Vision and travellers insurance are not included in the Basic plan
Make sure you find the right health insurance for you.
Compare coverage and rates of
Canada's best health insurance plans
