Is Desjardins Health Insurance Good? Review (Updated 2024)

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Nishadh Mohammed updated on 7 August 2023

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Did you know that over 30% of medical costs in Canada are not covered by your provincial healthcare? Most families end up paying this out of the pocket leaving them with a huge financial burden. That's why it's essential to have a good private health insurance.

Among the many providers in the country, Desjardins Health Insurance is one of the options you could consider. But is it the right choice for you?

In this review, we take you through the various plans, coverage, and pros and cons of Desjardins health insurance, so you can decide if it's the best option for you. You also get to compare Desjardins with other providers and get quotes tailor-made for you using our free comparator.

6 Key takeaways on Desjardins Health Insurance

  1. Desjardins offers comprehensive coverage in Canada.
  2. Options to add dental, vision, and travel insurance to plans.
  3. Enhanced hospital care and 24/7 phone support included.
  4. Premiums vary based on the age, gender, and lifestyle factors.
  5. Dental coverage includes preventative and major care options.
  6. Compare Desjardins with other insurers and get quotes using the HelloSafe comparator.

Our Desjardins health insurance review: Wide coverage

Desjardins is a leading provider of insurance in Canada with an illustrious history. It offers private health insurance to bridge the gaps in the provincial healthcare programs like the MSP in BC or the AHCIP in Alberta.

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.

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
  • Lack of comprehensive online services
  • Plans not available after 70 years old

Before buying Desjardins, we recommend that you compare the prices and coverage of other health insurances in Canada. All you need to do is use our comparator below and get tailor-made quotes in no time.


Compare The Best Health Insurance Plans and Rates on the market!

Get a quote

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. This is pointed as a major challenge in customers' Desjardins health insurance reviews.

Desjardins is slightly old-fashioned in the way and continues to insure all of its clients through brokers. So it's difficult to know the exact Desjardins health insurance cost online.

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

How to buy Desjardins health insurance?

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

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

Desjardins health insurance login

desjardins insurance health.
Creating login on website

You need to create an account first to have a 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 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. The customer service agents will answer any information related to claims, policy, and more. However, you might have to wait in queue if there are a higher volume of requests.

Desjardins health insurance app

The company has an app called Omni mobile app that is a convenient and secure solution, but only for Group insurance and Group retirement savings. You can submit insurance claims, manage your retirement funds, and access useful tools and resources. However, there is no service for personal health insurance on this platform.

What does Desjardins health insurance cover?

It 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 plan or policy:

TreatmentHealthPlus BasicHealthPlus Enhanced
Prescription Drugs
$10,000$10,000
Ambulance
$2,000$4,000
Hearing Aids
$300 $500
Semi-Private Hospital Room
No Coverage100%
X-rays
$500$700
Psychologist
$400$500 per year
Desjardins health insurance Canada

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

It 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.

Watch out!

Desjardins only offers coverage to Canadian residents and those aged 64 or less.

What types of health insurance does Desjardins offer?

Desjardins personal health insurance has two different modules for you to choose from depending on your 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.

TreatmentHealth Plus Basic PlanHealth 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
Desjardins Health Plus Basic vs Enhanced

You could explore what other health insurances offer using our comparator below. Not just that you can also get personalised quotes for free using our comparator tool and in no time, without having to disclose your sensitive personal information.


Compare The Best Health Insurance Plans and Rates on the market!

Get a quote

What is Desjardins group health insurance?

Group policy offers comprehensive medical coverage for groups, such as employers offering benefits to their employees or associations providing coverage to their members.

It is designed to provide medical and paramedical services, dental care, vision care, and travel insurance for groups of individuals. Group health insurance plans typically offer more competitive rates and broader coverage compared to individual health insurance plans.

Good to know

If your group coverage is ending soon due to retirement or the end of employment, there's no need to worry. You and your dependents can still maintain certain benefits without the requirement of evidence of insurability or medical tests. With Health Track Insurance® from Desjardins, you have the opportunity to obtain affordable individual healthcare coverage, regardless of your age. Remember to apply within 60 days of the date your group coverage ends so you can have Desjardins insurance life health retirement benefits.

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 coverage which you can add on. Take a look at the section below for more details.

What does Desjardins dental insurance cover?

Desjardins health and dental insurance 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 or very limited like in Ontario Health Insurance Plan or the MSP in BC. 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)
TreatmentBasicEnhanced
Preventative
80% reimbursement per cleaning every 9 months100% reimbursement per cleaning every 6 months
Basic Care
50% reimbursement 100% reimbursement
Major Care
100% reimbursement
Orthodontic Care
60% reimbursement
Desjardins health and dental insurance

Can you make a Desjardins health insurance claim online?

You are not able to make a health insurance claim online currently as the company does not offer this facility.

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.

You may be asked to submit supporting documents like receipts and bills to support your claim so it's important to have these ready before you file for a reimbursement.

How to cancel Desjardins health insurance?

In order to cancel your policy, 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 as directed.

You could also call 1 800 463-7843 and a customer service agent will guide you through the process. Beware of any cancelation charges that may apply based on your unique policy.

We recommend that you get another policy before canceling your existing one because the cost of medical care can be quite expensive without private cover.

Can I get Desjardins travel health insurance?

It offers travel coverage as an optional add-on to their health plans or as a standalone policy. It covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, baggage loss, and more, ensuring you are protected while traveling abroad. Travel insurance is crucial when leaving your home province or country.

As an existing policyholder, you can inquire about adding travel coverage to your current plan. If you only need travel insurance without health coverage, the company also offers standalone travel policies for comprehensive protection.

Now that you know what Desjardins offers, you could compare it with other health insurances and decide if it's the right fit for you. You could simply use our comparator below and get free quotes from Canada's best health insurances.


Compare The Best Health Insurance Plans and Rates on the market!

Get a quote
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Nishadh Mohammed
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Nishadh Mohammed is a seasoned news editor and financial writer, working with HelloSafe since May 2023. Nishadh has developed expertise in financial markets, insurance, and investment products, with a deep understanding of the Canadian financial landscape. He has honed his SEO skills and content marketing strategies while writing for Canadian publishing houses. Armed with a master's in Business Analytics and extensive journalistic experience, Nishadh uniquely combines data proficiency and thorough research to deliver comprehensive and accessible information.

1 comments
Nelson W.
on

My wife has medical at work but her insurance has went up high rate. She has asure insurance with her company basic prescriptions,,eye care, dental ,
Would like a quote to get our own .
She is 59 years old husband 61 years old.

author-profile-picture Nishadh Mohammed Our expert

Hello Nelson,

I invite you to use our private health insurance free comparison tool. Simply enter your criteria and we will provide you with a quote.