Personal health insurance

Dental coverage is included with our Basic personal health insurance plan. It includes 60% reimbursement for preventive dental care with a $500 annual maximum. (A 3-month waiting period applies before you can get this coverage.)

You can also add dental coverage to our Standard or Enhanced personal health insurance plans. Connect with an advisor for more detailed information or learn more about dental insurance.

Our Standard and Enhanced plans include coverage for vision care.

Our Standard plan offers 100% reimbursement for vision care, up to $250 maximum every 2 calendar years. (A one-year waiting period applies before you can get this coverage.)

Our Enhanced plan offers 100% reimbursement for vision care up to $300 maximum every 2 calendar years. (A one-year waiting period applies before you can get this coverage.)

Our Standard and Enhanced plans offer emergency travel medical care for Canadians under the age of 80.

Both our Standard and Enhanced plans offer coverage for the first 60 days of a trip with a $1 million lifetime maximum on emergency travel medical claims.

Yes. All our personal health insurance plans cover a certain amount of paramedical expenses, such as services from a chiropractor, naturopath, registered massage therapist (RMT), osteopath, etc.

Our Basic plan includes:

• 60% reimbursement.
• Paramedical practitioner services: $25/visit, up to $250 per year for each type of practitioner.
• Psychology/Social worker services: $35/visit up to a shared maximum of $500 per year.

Our Standard plan includes:

• 100% reimbursement.
• Paramedical practitioner services: up to $300 per year for each type of practitioner.
• Psychology/Social worker services: up to a shared maximum of $1,000 per year.

Our Enhanced plan includes:

• 100% reimbursement.
• Paramedical practitioner services: up to $400 per year for each type of practitioner.
• Psychology/Social worker services: up to a shared maximum of $1,500 per year.

The main difference is that life insurance provides a tax-free lump sum payment to your beneficiaries after you die whereas personal health insurance reimburses you for eligible medical/dental expenses while alive and while the plan is active.

Personal health insurance can be worthwhile if provincial coverage gaps affect your finances or health access. Consider it if you:

• Pay frequently for prescriptions, dental care, or vision services
• Are self-employed or between jobs without group benefits
• Face unexpected medical expenses that strain your budget
• Value access to paramedical services (physiotherapy, chiropractic care)
• Travel regularly outside Canada and need emergency medical coverage

A Sun Life personal health insurance plan can help you avoid out-of-pocket costs for eligible expenses. Our Basic plan starts at an affordable price point, while Standard and Enhanced plans offer more comprehensive coverage. Calculate your typical annual healthcare expenses to determine if the plan premiums offset what you'd otherwise pay.

An advisor can review your situation and help you assess the value based on your specific needs.

Personal health insurance is available to Canadian residents of all ages.

Age considerations:

• Coverage is available regardless of age
• Emergency travel medical care is available to Canadians under age 80
• Premiums may vary based on age and health history

Requirements generally include:

• Being a Canadian resident
• Providing basic health information for underwriting
• Completing the application process

Yes, personal health insurance is available to those with pre-existing conditions. While eligibility for some health insurance plans may be limited, Sun Life also offers Health Coverage Choice - a plan specifically designed for people with pre-existing conditions.

Personal health insurance plans can be customized to cover you, your spouse, and dependent children. You can select coverage that meets your family's specific needs.

Common exclusions typically include:

• Services covered by provincial health plans
• Cosmetic procedures
• Fertility treatments
• Prescription drugs not approved for reimbursement
• Services without a prescription or referral (where required)

Review your policy's full list of exclusions and limitations for complete details.

Yes, you can obtain personal health insurance even with workplace (group) benefits. Personal health insurance works in two ways:

As supplementary coverage: Personal health insurance fills gaps left by your group plan. For example, if your group plan covers 50% of dental care, a Sun Life personal plan can cover additional costs not included in your group coverage.

As standalone coverage: If you're leaving your job or your workplace benefits don't meet your needs, personal health insurance provides independent coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, paramedical services, and more.

Coordination benefits: Some group plans have coordination of benefits clauses. Check your group plan documents or speak with your employer's benefits administrator to understand how personal health insurance would work alongside your existing coverage.

When it makes sense:

• Your group plan has limited dental or vision coverage
• You have high prescription drug costs not fully covered
• You want additional paramedical service coverage
• You're about to retire and will lose group benefits

A Sun Life advisor can help you understand how personal health insurance complements your existing group benefits and recommend the right plan for your situation.

Coverage can begin as soon as your application is approved.