Green Shield Canada Health Insurance Review (2023)

Did you know that over 70% of medical costs in Canada are not covered by your provincial healthcare plan? They need to be paid, therefore, 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 looking into which private health insurance is the best value for money.

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

Our Green Shield Canada health insurance review: a great choice from a non-profit provider

Green Shield Canada, abbreviated GSC, is a non-profit insurance provider. Their health insurance can be bundled with other insurance policies to save money. Green Shield offers more affordable packages than some of its competitors, especially for younger customers who are currently in good health. However, its dental insurance policy must be purchased separately or as an add-on.

Before signing up for a health insurance plan with GSC, 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 Green Shield Canada health insurance?

GSC will offer you an individual quote based on your age, lifestyle, health history and several other factors. Your premium will be based on your specific profile and needs. Several factors will determine your Green Shield health insurance rates, including:

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

Young non-smokers should expect to pay around $70 - $140 for their monthly premiums. Surehealth insurance works with Green Shield Canada to cover Canadians who do not have access to health insurance via their work: freelancers, retired people and the unemployed.

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What does Green Shield Canada health insurance cover?

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

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

Services	Link 1	Link 2	Zone 1	Zone 2	Zone Fundamental
Prescription drugs	Year 1: $500 Year 2: $650 Year 3+: $800	Year 1: $750 Year 2: $900 Year 3+: $1,100			Year 1: $550 Year 2: $600 Year 3+: $650
Vision care	$150 per person every 2 years	$200 per person every 2 years	$150 per person every 2 years	$150 per person every 2 years	$150 per person every 2 years
Ambulance Transportation
Medical services (per person per year)	$1,500	$2,500	Year 1: $2,000 Year 2: $3,000 Year 3: $4,000 Year 4+: $5,000	Year 1: $2,000 Year 2: $3,000 Year 3: $4,000 Year 4+: $5,000	Year 1: $1,500 Year 2: $2,000 Year 3: $3,000 Year 4+: $4,000
Psychologist and therapist	$600	$600	$300	$400	$400

What types of health insurance does GSC offer?

Surehealth collaborates with Green Shield Canada to provide health insurance to those who cannot access health insurance through their jobs. They offer LINK plans for those whose work health insurance and ZONE plans for those who have not had health insurance before. To give you an idea of the different levels of coverage within these plans, we have laid out the different levels of coverage for a self-employed 30-year-old living in Toronto, Ontario.

Features	Zone 4	Zone 5	Zone Fundamental
Price	$70/month	$132/month	$109/month
Guaranteed Acceptance
Prescription Drugs
Dental Care
Travel
Optional Hospital Accommodation

If you want to look into the Zone plans in greater detail, take a look at the full terms and conditions below.

If you have recently lost your health insurance and are looking for a new one then the Link plan might be better suited to your needs.

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What extras does Green Shield Canada health insurance offer?

GSC offers additional drug prescription 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.

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

What does Green Shield Canada dental insurance cover?

Some of the health plans offered by Surehalth and GSC include dental insurance. At the most basic, this will cover accidental dental damage and part of routine check-ups. The more comprehensive plans 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.

We have laid out which treatments are covered by which health insurance plans in the table below.

Services	Link 1	Link 2	Zone 1	Zone 2	Zone Fundamental
Maximums (per person per year)		Year 1: $600 Year 2: $800 Year 3+: $1,000	Year 1: $500 Year 2: $650 Year 3+: $800	Year 1: $600 Year 2: $800 Year 3+: $1,000	$450
Recall frequency		9 months	9 months	9 months	9 months
Basic services		Plan pays 80%	Plan pays 80%	Plan pays 80%	Plan pays 70%
Major services		Plan pays 80%	Year 1: Plan pays 50% Year 2: Plan pays 70% 3+: Plan pays 80%	Plan pays 80%	Plan pays 70%
Orthodontic services				Available in Year 3 – Plan pays 50%

How to get Green Shield Canada health insurance?

Did you know you can get a quote for Canada's leading health insurance provider by using our health insurance comparison tool?

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You can request a Green Shield Canada personal health insurance quote by working with an insurance broker or requesting a quote through its website. Alternatively, you can speak to a representative directly by calling them at 1-844-855-7873 between Monday to Friday 8 am-6 pm ET.

Green Shield Canada health insurance login

To access your GSC account you will need to sign in via the GSC login portal. You can then use your GSC login email and password to access your online profile where you can manage your data, see any upcoming payments and keep track of appointments. You can also download an extended health claim form if you wish to upgrade your coverage.

Green Shield Canada health insurance customer service

GSC	Contact
Phone	1-888-711-1119 (Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 8:30 pm ET. )
Email	[email protected]

How to cancel Green Shield Canada health insurance?

You can call the GSC health insurance phone number at 1-888-711-1119 or email [email protected]. They are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm ET.

Call GSC at 1-888-711-1119 to inquire about cancelling your plan. Alternatively, you can make an appointment through the Green Shield Canada website to speak to a representative in person.

Can I get Green Shield Canada travel health insurance?

You must 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 get out of control if you have an accident or get sick while travelling. If you are abroad then you may not have full access to healthcare services if you do not have an insurance plan in place. In some countries, the USA for example, you may have to pay for any medical treatment you need before you are treated.

As of this year, GSC is extending travel coverage to all group healthcare plans. If you have an individual healthcare plan you can purchase travel insurance as an optional add-on or purchase a GSC extended health plan.

What are the best alternatives to Green Shield Canada 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. Their health insurance can be bundled with other insurance policies 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.

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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