What is the best Family Health Insurance in 2024?

Family health insurance in Canada is essential to ensure that you and your loved ones are protected from unexpected medical expenses. While it's not mandatory, it's a smart way to complement your provincial health coverage, which may leave gaps in your protection.

When choosing family health insurance in Canada, it's crucial to tailor your choice to your family's unique requirements and budget. But which plan do you choose? Deciding that can be difficult, but we have your back.

We take you through the best family health insurance plans in Canada, how they work, and what they cover. You can also use our comparator to compare plans and get free tailor-made quotes from the best health insurance for family plans in seconds.

Our Top 3 Best Health Insurance Plans For Family (2024)

Sun Life Canada Family Health Insurance: Comprehensive Coverage Options

Sun Life Canada’s private health insurance, also referred to as personal health coverage, provides Canadian residents with financial support for preventive healthcare and medical expenses resulting from illnesses. This type of insurance can assist in covering various health-related costs, including:

• Prescription medications for managing chronic or severe health conditions
• Dental services encompassing teeth cleanings, orthodontic treatments, dentures, and dental crowns
• Vision-related expenses like eye examinations and prescription eyeglasses
• Emergency medical services while traveling abroad
• Physiotherapy to aid in the recovery from injuries
• Medical equipment to enhance mobility and overall well-being

Plan type	Description	Coverage features
Basic Plan	Low-cost plan	Basic medical and dental coverage.
Standard Plan	Sun Life’s most popular plan	Expanded prescription drug coverage.
Enhanced Plan	Sun Life’s most comprehensive plan	Highest prescription drug coverage.

If you would like to take a look at Sun Life's health insurance plans and compare how it fares with other providers, you can do it right here using our comparator below. You can also get personalized quotes based on your family's unique needs in seconds.

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Green Shield Canada: Economical Health Plans

Green Shield Canada provides coverage for medical expenses that fall outside the scope of your provincial healthcare plan, such as the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), MSP in BC, or Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP).

They offer a range of plans, including Prism Spectra, Prism Continuum, and Prism Precision, each of which is subdivided into four levels of coverage.

For instance, Prism Spectra offers S1, S2, S3, and S4 options, while Prism Continuum provides C1, C2, C3, and C4 choices, and Prism Precision follows a similar structure.

These coverage levels are designed to cater to diverse customer needs and budgets, ensuring there's a plan suitable for everyone.

Below is an overview table outlining the benefits of the most basic and comprehensive plans for Prism Continuum, Prism Spectra, and Prism Precision.

Plan type	Healthcare	Coverage (Basic) P1/S1/C1	Coverage P4/S4/C4 (Comprehensive)
Prism Precision®	Prescription Drugs Dental Eye examinations Accidental Dental Travel	$50 every 24 months $5,000 per year $5,000,000 per year – 10 days per trip	Basic - 80%, Major - 50% $65 every 24 months $5,000 per year $5,000,000 per year – 15 days per trip
Prism Spectra®	Prescription Drugs Dental Eye examinations Accidental Dental Travel	90% $50 every 24 months $5,000 per year $5,000,000 per year – 15 days per trip	90% Basic - 80%, Major - 50% $80 every 24 months $10,000 per year $5,000,000 per year – 30 days per trip
Prism Continuum®	Prescription Drugs Dental Eye examinations Accidental Dental Travel	80% $50 every 24 months $2,500 per year $5,000,000 per year – 10 days per trip	80% Basic - 80%, Major - 60% $300 every 24 months $10,000 per year $5,000,000 per year – 15 days per trip

For the complete policy details, download the PDF below.

Manulife: Flexible Family Insurance

Manulife has three plans for families, which cover health and dental.

1. Flexcare Health & Dental Insurance: Maintain your coverage through job changes or health transitions. It has enhanced options for ages 65 and over and special family rates for families with three or more children.
2. Health & Dental Guaranteed Issue Enhanced Insurance: It offers comprehensive health coverage with no medical questions asked during application. It offers coverage for pre-existing conditions and has generous limits for prescription drugs, dental, vision, and extended healthcare benefits. What’s more? You get optional emergency medical travel coverage.
3. FollowMe™ Health & Dental Insurance: This plan offers a seamless transition from employee health coverage with guaranteed acceptance plans and attractive rates for couples and families with three or more children. You get 15-30 days of emergency medical travel coverage with enhanced Manulife Vitality for added advantages.

What is family health insurance?

Family health insurance is a type of private health insurance that can help cover the cost of medical expenses for you and your family members. It is not required by law, but it can be a good way to supplement your provincial or territorial health insurance plan, which may not cover all of your medical costs.

It typically includes the policyholder, their spouse or domestic partner, and dependent children. It helps pay for doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, and other healthcare services. Families pay regular premiums for coverage, and there may be deductibles and copayments.

What is the average cost of health insurance for a family of 4?

The average health insurance cost for a family of 4 in Canada is around $4,000 per year. However, the actual cost can vary depending on a number of factors, such as:

• The province or territory you live in
• The age and health of family members
• The type of coverage you choose
• The deductible and co-payments you choose

Here is an estimate of the cost of family health insurance for a family of 4 in Canada for Sun Life, Manulife, and Green Shield Canada, based on their most popular plans:

Insurance company	Plan	Monthly premium (CAD)
Sun Life	Standard	$350
Manulife	Enhanced	$400
Green Shield Canada	Preferred	$450

The number of family members covered under the plan will also affect the cost naturally. Larger families typically pay higher premiums.

We recommend that you get personalized quotes based on your unique needs to get an exact premium figure. You can do it using our comparator below. Compare multiple plans and get free quotes in seconds right here.

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What does family health insurance cover?

Family health insurance plans can vary in terms of coverage and cost, but they typically cover things like:

• Prescription drugs
• Dental care
• Vision care
• Emergency travel medical services
• Physiotherapy
• Medical equipment

Some family health insurance plans may also cover other expenses, such as mental health care, chiropractic care, and massage therapy.

To be eligible for family health insurance in Canada, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You may also be eligible if you are a temporary resident with a valid work permit or study permit.

What are the pros and cons of family health insurance?

If you are considering purchasing family health insurance in Canada, it is important to compare different plans and choose one that meets your needs and budget. You should also read the fine print carefully to understand what is and is not covered. Moreover, evaluating its pros and cons can help you make a better choice.

Pros of family health insurance in Canada

• Access to a wider range of medical services and treatments than your provincial or territorial health insurance plan may cover
• Shorter wait times for appointments and procedures
• More flexibility in choosing your own healthcare providers
• Can help to offset the cost of prescription drugs, dental care, and other medical expenses
• Can be especially beneficial for families with chronic medical conditions or complex needs

Cons of family health insurance in Canada

• Can be expensive, especially for families with multiple members
• May not cover all medical expenses, depending on the plan you choose
• May have exclusions or limitations for certain medical conditions or treatments
• Can be difficult to find a plan that meets all of your needs and budget

What is family health and dental insurance?

Family health and dental insurance combined plans can be a good way to protect yourself and your family from the high cost of medical and dental care. It is a type of insurance that covers the cost of medical and dental expenses for you and your family members.

Several companies offer dental insurance as both an add-on to a base health plan or a stand-alone plan.

Family health and dental insurance plans can vary in terms of coverage and cost, but they typically cover things like:

• Medical expenses: This can include things like hospitalization, doctor's visits, prescription drugs, and specialist care.
• Dental expenses: This can include things like preventive care, fillings, root canals, and crowns.

Some family health and dental insurance plans may also cover other expenses, such as vision care, mental health care, and maternity care.

You can check out the best health and dental insurance plans in Canada right here and tailor your coverage based on your unique needs. Use our comparator below to compare plans and get quotes in no time.

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What should you keep in mind when choosing family health insurance?

Here are some tips for choosing family health insurance plans in Canada:

• Consider your family's medical needs: What types of medical services and treatments do you and your family members use most often?
• Compare the coverage offered by different plans: Make sure the plan you choose covers the services and treatments that are most important to you.
• Compare the costs of different plans: Keep in mind that the cheapest plan may not be the best value.
• Read the fine print carefully: Make sure you understand what is and is not covered by the plan, including any exclusions or limitations.