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While Canada provides provincial health insurance coverage to its residents, there are times when you may reside in Canada but not qualify for coverage under the Government plans.  In those circumstances, you may want to purchase a short term health insurance policy to protect you and your family from unexpected medical expenses.  Canada health insurance plans provide coverage for a variety of emergency medical expenses, including physician visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, paramedical services and much more.  Without insurance coverage, you could be responsible for hundreds or even thousands of dollars in medical bills if you need medical treatment, but do not qualify for coverage under a provincial health care plan.

Are you planning a vacation?  Are you getting ready to go on a business trip?  If so, it's a good idea to find out whether or not your health insurance covers you when you travel.  If it does, it is important to find out the length of time you will be covered, whether or not there is a maximum dollar amount your insurer will pay, if there are certain treatments that are excluded and whether or not they cover pre-existing conditions.  Most provincial plans pay for only a small portion of the costs associated with obtaining medical treatment while traveling outside of Canada.  Regardless of whether you're traveling for a day or a year, if you will be taking a trip outside of Canada, you may need to purchase additional health insurance before you leave to be protected if you experience a medical emergency.

When you live far away from friends and family, it’s nice to be able to visit with them from time to time. It’s common knowledge that purchasing travel insurance for yourself when leaving the country is the smart thing to do, but many don’t know that people can apply to have insurance while visiting you here in Canada.

In addition to salary, one of the most important benefits an individual receives when they accept a job is employee-sponsored health insurance otherwise known as group plans.  Because most provincial plans leave Canadian residents with gaps in their coverage, obtaining supplemental health insurance coverage is critical to all individuals and families.  But some employees do not qualify for their employer's plan and some businesses are not able to offer health insurance to their employees.

Under the Canada Health Act, all Canadian residents, including children, have access to medically necessary treatment, through their province or territory's health insurance plan.  In certain provinces and territories, some children may enjoy more comprehensive benefits than adults.  Because of this additional coverage, you may think you don't need to purchase an individual insurance plan for your family .  But that kind of thinking could end up costing you a lot of money.

Although Canada provides health insurance for all of its residents, there are many products and services that are not covered under the provincial plans.  As a result, many people turn to individual health insurance to fill in the gaps not covered by the government plans.  But, unlike the provincial plans, not everyone is guaranteed coverage for all individual plans.

The beautiful thing about healthcare in Canada is that many emergency and physician services are free for permanent residents. Our neighbours to the south often talk about how Canada’s healthcare plan is idyllic. But not everything in Canada related to healthcare is free.

Although all legal Canadian residents have access to Canada health insurance through the government system, many services are not covered under the provincial plans.  Because of this, many Canadian residents purchase supplemental insurance to fill in the gaps and ensure they have adequate coverage for routine and emergency medical care.  Supplemental insurance can protect you and your family from the financial impact of an unexpected illness or injury, but choosing the right plan isn't always easy.  Here's what you need to know before you purchase a Canadian health insurance plan.