“Extended health care insurance” is a type of health insurance coverage that supplements the basic medical coverage provided by government health plans. In Canada, where provincial health plans cover many essential medical services, extended health care insurance provides additional coverage for services and expenses not fully covered by these government plans. This type of insurance is designed to offer broader protection against healthcare costs, enhancing an individual’s or family’s financial security by covering a wider range of health-related expenses. Also called private health insurance.
Key features of extended health care insurance include:
Prescription medications
Coverage for the cost of prescription drugs that are not covered by provincial health plans. In Quebec, residents must have prescription drug coverage: through a private group plan they have access to (for example through work, a professional order, or a spouse’s or parent’s plan), or otherwise through the public plan run by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). Private plans must cover at least the drugs on the public plan’s list.
Dental care
Benefits for dental services, including routine check-ups, cleanings, fillings, and sometimes orthodontic treatments.
Vision care
Coverage for eye examinations, prescription glasses, contact lenses, and sometimes laser eye surgery.
Medical equipment and supplies
Reimbursement for the cost of medical aids and equipment, such as wheelchairs, orthotics, and prosthetic devices.
Paramedical services
Benefits for services provided by healthcare professionals other than doctors and dentists, such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, naturopaths, massage therapists, and acupuncturists.
Hospital stays
Coverage for the cost of private or semi-private hospital rooms, enhancing comfort during hospitalization.
Travel insurance
Emergency medical coverage for when the insured is travelling outside of their province or country, providing protection against potentially high costs of medical care abroad.
Direct billing
Many plans let providers bill the insurer directly, so you don’t pay up front for covered services.
Choice of plans
You or your employer can choose from plans with different levels of coverage, deductibles and premiums.
Tax
Premiums you pay for a private health services plan can count as eligible medical expenses for the medical expense tax credit.
Extended health care insurance can be purchased individually or may be offered as part of an employee group benefits package. The specific coverage details, including limits, deductibles, and co-payments, can vary widely between plans and insurers.