Workplace benefit plans
Workplace benefit plans are the most affordable way of covering expenses that aren’t covered by your provincial health plan. Your employer covers some of the cost and risks are pooled across many employees, so the cost of insurance is lower.
Workplace plans typically cover:
- prescription drugs
- dental care
- physiotherapy and paramedical services (such as chiropractors, massage therapy, podiatrists)
- employee and spouse’s life insurance (including accidental death and dismemberment insurance)
- disability insurance.
Ask about optional coverage
If you or your spouse has a workplace plan, find out if it offers optional coverage – such as increased amounts of life insurance or higher levels of disability insurance. This can provide additional coverage you may need at a low cost.
Individual coverage
If you don’t have coverage under a workplace plan, you can get health and dental coverage privately. However, this coverage is typically designed to pay the costs associated with a major accident or illness – not day-to-day health care expenses. It’s often called catastrophic coverage. It may be worth considering because the health costs associated with a major accident or illness can be significant.
Take action
- Review any coverage at work.
- Assess the merits of optional coverage.
- Ensure you have health coverage for catastrophic events
