Health insurance plans for seniors are designed to provide you with the coverage you need for medical services, dental care, and preventive care. These plans offer peace of mind, knowing that you have access to quality healthcare without the worry of high out-of-pocket costs.
Investing in senior health insurance means you can focus on enjoying your golden years with confidence. Whether it’s getting a little therapy treatment to feel better, the need to take care of a chronic condition, or an unexpected medical emergency, having insurance ensures you’re protected and supported.
I’m a Senior. Can I qualify for my own Health Insurance plan?
It’s entirely possible that you’ve never considered just how much it could cost to pay for healthcare treatments out of your own pocket – or if you qualify for health insurance coverage that can help pay for those costs, which can amount to thousands of dollars every year.
When you consider the high cost of prescription drugs to manage chronic health conditions, paramedical services, and medical supplies, it becomes clear that health insurance is a necessary investment in any senior’s well-being.
The good news is that to apply for health coverage you must be
- A Canadian resident
- Covered by a government health plan (like OHIP)
- And be under age 80 (or even older for some plans).
If you have an existing health condition when you apply for coverage, special conditions may apply to your coverage. And if you have lost your group benefits coverage in the last 90 days you will be eligible for guaranteed acceptance under a broader range of insurance plans.
And more good news – after you qualify, your coverage is renewable for your entire lifetime for as long as you pay your monthly premiums.
What can my health plan cover?
First, it’s important to know that all the provinces in Canada provide health insurance coverage to their residents for a basic set of products and services, like doctor and hospital fees. This coverage is expanded for seniors, but only a small amount. The problem is that government plans don’t cover:
- All dental services, and there is no coverage if your household income is over $90,000
- Paramedical services (e.g., massage therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic care)
- Vision care, such as glasses or contact lenses and eye surgery
- Hearing care
- Ambulance transportation
- Private or semi-private hospital rooms
- Past age 65 you may have some coverage for prescription drug costs, but not everything is covered – including costs for things like drugs administered out of hospital.
With health insurance you can have coverage for
- Cost of assistive devices, such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and hearing aids
- Part of the cost of home care services, such as personal support workers or health care aides or nursing
Health insurance plans typically include coverage for
- Prescription drugs because not all drugs are covered by provincial drug plans
- Dental care, especially if your household income is more than $90,000
- Vision care as vision care services is only partially covered under the provinces, or only eye exams are covered
- Hearing Care because your government programs may only cover a portion of the cost of hearing aids — and the remaining out-of-pocket costs for hearing aids can be substantial.
Depending on your plan, you can also access coverage for hospital care, ambulance costs and even emergency medical travel coverage if you leave your province or travel out of province or country.
Having health insurance also provides you with tools to help you take care of your health including
- convenient access to medical professionals for video consultations, eliminating the obstacles of travel and waiting room time delays, helping you shorten the cycle between identifying a health problem and implementing a clinical solution
- tools to help you proactively work on your resiliency and wellbeing, and coverage to help you pay for medical support, devices or experts like a dietician you may need
- coverage for physical therapies to help with stress like massage or working with a naturopath which is not covered by your government health plan
- access to recent articles on finding care, managing your health, and preventing illness, provincial health resources and search tools to find a health facility or community support group in your area.
Don’t let age be a barrier to your health
Explore the available senior health insurance options today and take the first step towards a healthier, more secure future. If you have any questions or need assistance, we’re here to help you find the best plan that suits your needs. At SBIS, you’re only a phone call away from understanding what coverage will best suit your needs, now and in the future. We offer a wide variety of plans, regardless of any prior health condition you have. Feel free to reach out if you need any guidance or support at 1-800-667-0429 or 416-601-0429. Our business hours are Monday to Friday 8:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. eastern time. Your well-being is our priority!
