Desjardins Health and Dental Insurance Review (Updated 2023)

Did you know that more than 30% of medical expenses in Canada are not covered by provincial healthcare? That means they need to be paid for out of your pocket or by a private healthcare plan. Would you be able to pay for a hospital stay or complex dental work out of your savings? If not, it might be worth investigating which private health insurance is the best value for money.

In this review we will lay out the advantages and disadvantages of owning a Desjardins health insurance policy, we take you through what it covers, what add-ons there are and how to apply for Desjardins health insurance.

Our Desjardins health insurance review: the most inclusive choice

Desjardins is a leading provider of insurance in Canada. Their 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.

Before signing up for a health insurance plan with Desjardins, compare rates and coverage offerings from the best health and dental plans using our comparison tool.

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What is the cost of Desjardins health insurance?

Young non-smokers should expect to pay around $100 - $150 for their monthly premiums. Desjardins does not offer quotes online so the only way to find out how much they would charge you is to speak with one of their representatives. Desjardins is slightly old-fashioned in the way and continues to insure all of its clients through brokers.

Desjardins will offer you a personalized quote based on your age, lifestyle, health history and a number of other factors. Your premium will be based on your specific profile and needs. A number of factors will determine your Desjardins health insurance rates, including:

• age
• gender
• optional extras
• the number of lives on your plan (individual, family, etc.)
• smoker status
• lifestyle

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What does Desjardins health insurance cover?

Desjardins covers medical expenses that are not covered by your provincial healthcare. Take a look at the table below to see some of Desjardins coverage levels.

Below we have laid out the amounts of coverage based on the level of health insurance plan:

Treatment	HealthPlus Basic	HealthPlus Enhanced
Prescription Drugs	$10,000	$10,000
Ambulance	$2,000	$4,000
Hearing Aids	$300	$500
Semi-Private Hospital Room	No Coverage	100%
X-rays	$500	$700
Psychologist	$400	$500 per year

A full list of coverage levels can be found in the documentation below.

Desjardins also offers 24/7 phone contact with a medical professional, complimentary travel advice and the right to a second medical opinion all included in all their health insurance packages.

What types of health insurance does Desjardins offer?

Desjardins has two different health modules for you to choose from depending on your health needs:

• Health Plus Basic Plan
• Health Plus Enhanced Plan

The Basic Plan offers medical and paramedical services, vision and travel insurance. The Enhanced plan offers the same benefits plus higher reimbursement amounts and hospitalization benefits.

Treatment	Health Plus Basic Plan	Health Plus Enhanced Plan
Maximum	$250,000 for the coverage period	$350,000 for the coverage period
Hospitalization		100% for semi-private
Vision	$150 eyeglasses, contacts, surgery $50 exam	$250 eyeglasses, contacts, surgery $70 exam
Travel Insurance	$5,000,000 per 90 days per year	$5,000,000 per 90 days per year

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What extras does Desjardins health insurance offer?

Desjardins offers addition drug preciptions coverages. If you choose to purchase this as an add-on you will pay higher monthly premiums but a higher percentage of prescription costs will be covered.

Desjardins also offers optional dental insurance coverage which you can add on to your health insurance. Take a look at the section below for more details.

What does Desjardins dental insurance cover?

Desjardins allows you to add dental insurance to either your Basic or Enhanced Plan. This will cover accidental dental damage and part of routine check-ups. The more comprehensive plan will also cover major dental reconstructions and surgeries.

While Canada’s public system covers lots of healthcare needs, access to dental care is not included. Dental care is important to one’s overall health. Since it can be a major expense, too many people skip preventive treatment. That is a mistake, as regular preventive care helps prevent gum disease, which is linked to conditions like heart disease, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, it can help you to detect other medical complications early.

Desjardins Basic dental maintenance plan will include preventative services such as:

• Exams
• Cleaning
• X-rays
• Fillings

The Enhanced Plan will cover things such as extractions and root canals whereas the Basic plan will not. It will also cover:

• Periodontal Services
• Major dental
• Orthodontics (braces)

Treatment	Basic	Enhanced
Preventative	80% reimbursement per cleaning every 9 months	100% reimbursement per cleaning every 6 months
Basic Care	50% reimbursement	100% reimbursement
Major Care		100% reimbursement
Orthodontic Care		60% reimbursement

How to get Desjardins health insurance?

You cannot buy a Desjardins health insurance policy online. You will need to make an appointment to speak to a Desjardins representative to discuss your situation and specific needs.

You can either book an appointment online through the Desjardins website or by calling a representative directly at 1-866-838-7553.

Desjardins health insurance login

In order to access your personal insurance account hit the Log On button at the top right of the website. You can then use your Desjardins health insurance login details to access your profile where you can manage your claims and see any upcoming payments.

Desjardins health insurance customer service

You can call the Desjardins health insurance contact number to speak to a representative directly at 1-888-558-5525 from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.

Can you make a Desjardins health insurance claim online?

You are not able to make a health insurance claim online currently with Desjardins.

If you need to make a claim, you can download the Desjardins health insurance claims form below, fill it out and send it to Desjardins Insurance, C. P. 3950, Lévis (Québec) G6V 8C6.

How to cancel Desjardins health insurance?

In order to cancel your Desjardins health insurance you will need to speak directly with the broker you bought the policy through. If you have lost the details then you will be able to find them by logging in to your Desjardins insurance accounts by following the steps above.

Can I get Desjardins travel health insurance?

You will have to check your specific plan to know if travel insurance is included. Travel insurance is a wise investment 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.

if you are not already protected, you can either purchase a travel add-on to your health insurance policy or buy Desjardins travel insurance as a separate insurance policy.

What are the best alternatives to Desjardins 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.

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

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.

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.

Make sure you find the right health insurance for you.

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