GMS Health Insurance Review (Updated 2022)

Did you know that only two-thirds of all medical procedures in Canada are covered by provincial health plans? Long-term treatments are often only partially covered and extras like dental and vision care often end up coming out of people's savings. A personal health insurance policy can help by paying for healthcare 3. But how to choose between the major providers?

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

Our GMS health insurance review: the best online option

GMS offers plans ranging from basic coverage to comprehensive health insurance, 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.

Before signing up for a health insurance plan with GMS, 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 GMS health insurance?

A 24-year-old living in Ontario opting for a BasicPlan with Basic drug coverage and dental could expect to pay $83.25 per month.

Your premium will be based on your individual circumstances. GMS will weigh a number of factors to determine your premium such as: 

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

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. 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. 

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What does GMS health insurance cover?

GMS health insurance coverage pays for expenses that are not covered by your provincial healthcare. Some expenses that GMS covers include:

GMS 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.

If you are interested in adding disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, critical illness or life insurance to your health insurance you may be able to bundle them with GMS and save money.

What types of health insurance does GMS offer?

GMA offers three plans:

• BasicPlan
• ExtendaPlan
• OmniPlan

Drug, dental and hospital cash can be added to all plans including additional travellers insurance. All plans have various reimbursements for health practitioners such as acupuncturists, chiropractors, podiatrists, massage therapists, naturopaths, dietitians, osteopaths and physiotherapists.

Treatment	BasicPlan	ExtendaPlan	OmniPlan
Vision		80% to $200 per 2 years combined	90% to $250/2 years for frames/lenses $90/eye exam/2 years
Health Practitioners	70% to $250 combined maximum	80% to $350 combined maximum	90% to $300 per health practitioner
Counselling Services		A combined maximum of $65 per visit for 10 visits per person, per policy year.	A combined maximum of $65 per visit for 15 visits per person, per policy year.
Annual Travel		48 or 63 days of coverage outside Canada 183 days in Canada $2,000,000 annual maximum $500,000 COVID-19 coverage within the policy's annual maximum	30 days coverage outside Canada 183 days in Canada $2,000,000 annual maximum $500,000 COVID-19 coverage within the policy's annual maximum
Preferred Hospital Room	$500 per person per year	$1,000 per person per year	45 days up to $3,500 per person per year

To learn more, consult GMS’s brochures below:

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What extras does GMS health insurance offer?

GMS allows you to add on travel insurance, hospital cash and drug benefits so that your plan has more coverage. Take a look at the table below to see what extras might be interesting to you.

Extra	What it covers
Basic Prescription Drugs	Generic prescription drugs Birth control
Enhanced Prescription Drugs	Generic prescription drugs Birth control Up to $800 for medicines not on your provincial drug list
Hospital Cash	$100 a day to cover hospital stay expenses
Annual Travel	Travel Emergency Medical coverage protects multiple trips over the year

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What does GMS dental insurance cover?

While Canada’s public system covers lots of healthcare needs, access to dental care is not included. Dental insurance 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.

A supplemental insurance plan can help, here is what GMS offers:

Year	Basic Services	Major Services	Up to combined reimbursement
Year 1	75%		$500
Year 2	80%	50%	$750
Year 3	80%	50%	$1,000

How to get GMS health insurance?

You can request a GMS personal health insurance quote by working with an insurance broker, requesting a quote through GMS's website or calling the GMS health insurance phone number at 1-800-667-3763.

GMS health insurance login

You can register to create an account with My GMS which will give you access to your personal portal where you can submit or track a claim, find more information about your coverage and eligibility, and also check balances.

How can I make a claim with GMS?

You can skip the claims process by using your GMS Pay-Direct card directly at your pharmacy, dentist, health or vision practitioner. If you do need to file a claim, you can do so by accessing their online portal or by submitting a paper claim. 

You may also do so by completing and sending the claims form to the following address: Claims at Group Medical Services, 2055 Albert Street, PO Box 1949, Regina, SK S4P 0E3.

GMS health insurance customer service

You can contact GMS at 1-800-667-3699. They are available Monday through Friday 7:00 am to 6:00 pm CST.     

You can also email them at: [email protected]

How to cancel health insurance GMS?

Contact GMS at 1-800-268-3763 to inquire about cancelling your plan. Note that there is a 24-month waiting period to get new coverage again with GMS.

Can I get  GMS 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 GMS travel insurance as a separate insurance policy.

What are the best alternatives to GMS 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 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.

Make sure you find the right health insurance for you.

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