Many Canadians are looking for comprehensive health insurance that offers both flexibility and affordability. It’s with them in mind that Canada Life has designed its Freedom to ChooseTM health and dental insurance.
“Freedom to Choose Health & Dental Insurance is a flexible healthcare plan for individuals that offers drug, dental, vision and healthcare coverage,” explains Jay Phillips, Associate Regional Manager for Manitoba at Canada Life. “It can help fill the gap between provincial plan coverage and what someone might pay out of pocket. We have a plan to suit every Canadian’s needs.”
It goes without saying that not everyone requires the same range of health coverage. More and more workers are self-employed or on contract, and others are part-time. Some have dependents, while others don’t. Then there are the unique situations of rural Canadians, retirees and newcomers to Canada.
Realities of health, employment and family are incredibly diverse, but something everyone can count on is being prepared for the unexpected.
“You can actually control your own plan directly, and we have multiple plan options to choose from,” Philips explains. “Canada Life offers two types of plans: one requires a health review, and the other you are accepted without any medical questions, with different levels of coverage to choose from “.”
He adds: “What I would say our health and dental coverage offers clarity and control over your care for when life events occur.”
Dental & Vision
Dental coverage is a key component with our plans , as it covers both routine and unexpected costs while supporting overall health.
“Our coverage helps manage the high costs of major dental procedures by providing financial protection against unexpected expenses,” says Philips. “It typically covers routine check-ups and preventative care as well, and it can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs.”
Beyond scheduled check-ups, Freedom to Choose health and dental insurance also covers routine dental services including x-rays, routine fillings, cleanings scaling services..
If someone hasn’t seen a dentist in a while, this coverage can help them get back on track with the dental work they may require. From there, getting back into the routine of regular check-ups can help identify and address dental issues before they worsen.
Like dental, vision care is often overlooked, Philips explains. A lot of eye conditions develop slowly and without noticeable symptoms in their early stages, making it easy to dismiss the need for regular eye exams.
“Prioritizing vision care is crucial for maintaining overall health, preventing vision loss and improving quality of life,” he says. “Early detection of eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration is vital for effective treatment.”
Eric Larson, Canada Life’s Associate Regional Manager for BC, points out that eye exams are often something people neglect when they lack meaningful health coverage.
“Twenty-five percent of Canadians don’t wear eyeglasses, and they haven’t seen an optometrist or had an eye exam in the last 10 years,” he says. “In addition to that, inadequate vision care costs Canada at least $15 billion in annual productivity.”
There are adjacent benefits to regular eye care as well. For example, regular eye exams are crucial for detecting conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, because the eyes can reveal the early signs of those diseases before they cause noticeable symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Prescriptions & Preventative
“Your health doesn’t tend to get better over time as you get older,” says Philips. “Without prescription drug coverage, individuals may struggle to afford necessary medications, which could have serious health consequences. Access to medication is crucial for better health outcomes.”
Philips also recommends having prescription drug coverage even when healthy, as it can help ensure financial security when faced with future healthcare needs. It’s no secret that certain health conditions require expensive medications, but the Freedom to Choose health and dental plans also cover prescriptions for common conditions, such as diabetes, inflammatory diseases and skin disorders.
Crucially, Canada Life’s pool of covered medications is currently around 18,000, whereas provincial health plans often cover approximately 5,000 medications.
Freedom to Choose health and dental insurance can also assist Canadians in preventing health and injury set-backs in the first place.
“The paramedical services covered by our plans aim to reduce stress, manage pain, improve sleep, and enhance general well-being,” Philips explains, adding that options include physiotherapy, massage and chiropractic help.
Newcomers, Rural Canadians & Travelers
Newcomers, like all Canadians, desire comprehensive, affordable health insurance to protect themselves and their families against unexpected and emergency healthcare costs. Philips says it’s important to remember that Freedom to Choose health and dental insurance applicants must have provincial health coverage before they can apply for additional optional coverage from Canada Life.
“Something we should highlight is that newcomers to Canada must have provincial residency and have successfully obtained provincial health coverage,” he explains. “Then they can explore alternative or additional coverage.”
Freedom to Choose health and dental insurance provides essential coverage for newcomers, rural Canadians and other individuals who may not have traditional group insurance plans, filling in the gaps left by public coverage.
Some plans also offer coverage for in-house nursing care and home health care, which can be vital for seniors who want to stay in their homes. It’s a common misconception that group plan benefits continue on after an employee leaves their workplace, making plans such as Freedom to Choose health and dental insurance so important when group plans expire.
Finally, travelers can add up to $1 million in optional coverage to their Freedom to Choose health and dental insurance plan when travelling outside Canada. The plan covers unlimited trips of 30, 60 and 90 days and lasts until the individual is 80-years-old.
“We insure emergency travel, medical travel, critical illness and accidents,” says Philips. “We also have a hospital cash benefit which helps offset some expenses. And if you’re ever in hospital for an extended period of time, there’s coverage for accommodation, for major dental services and for supplies.”
Application & Next Steps
There are a number of convenient ways to connect with Canada Life.
“You can certainly connect with a financial advisor, or you can go to canadalife.com/myplan, for more information or to start a quote,” says Philips.
“If you’ve had coverage in the last 60 days, our entire product shelf is available to you, including guaranteed-to-issue plans which ensure pre-existing conditions are covered,” Larson explains. “If you’re beyond the 60 days of prior coverage, there could be a medical questionnaire as part of the approval process.”
However, even if someone hasn’t had prior coverage and wouldn’t be medically-approved for an underwritten policy, Canada Life offers Select with Assured Acceptance plans, which guarantee coverage to every Canadian so long as they live in Canada and have provincial health coverage.
A good first step is visiting the Canada Life website for more information.
“By purchasing an insurance plan, you’re protecting against the unknown,” says Larson. “Also, by having a manageable monthly premium you’ll have confidence in knowing you’re protected from expensive medications and healthcare costs down the road.”