What Canadian Health Care Doesn't Cover Before 65, and Is a Private Plan Worth It?

<p>Your work benefits end before 65. What does your health card still cover, what do people really spend, and is a private plan worth it? Part 1 and Part 2 together.</p><p>Part 1, what health care doesn't cover<br>1. Your health card covers doctors, hospitals and surgery for life. What ends with the work plan is prescriptions, dental, glasses and physio.<br>2. Households in their late 50s and early 60s spend about $3,600 a year on health out of pocket, on Statistics Canada's numbers in today's dollars. Over 65 it's about $3,300.<br>3. The cost that can really hurt is one big drug bill, and your province covers it, with your share tied to your income. A couple on $60,000 with a $20,000 drug would pay about $1,800 to $2,800 in Alberta, Ontario, BC or Quebec, and about $8,300 in Nova Scotia.<br>4. Use the work plan before it ends, then apply to your province's drug plan that week. In BC, skipping a free form gets you a $10,000 deductible.<br>5. In your first year of retirement, ask your province for an income review.<br>6. Under $90,000 of family income, look at the federal dental plan. It's only for people with no other dental coverage.</p><p>Part 2, is a private plan worth it<br>1. It won't cover a big drug bill. On most plans you can buy yourself, the most it pays for drugs in a year is $500 to $2,800.<br>2. On the predictable costs, you mostly get your own money back.<br>3. For a couple in Calgary, a health and drug plan with no health questions is about $4,700 a year before dental. Over the 7 years to 65 that's about $33,000, against about $10,000 on the province's plan. A fixed monthly cost and one less thing to worry about is worth paying for to a lot of people.<br>4. Add up what you spent on dental, glasses, physio and prescriptions over the last 2 years and compare it to the premium. If you skip the plan, pay yourself the premium.<br>5. For 60 or 90 days after your work plan ends, most insurers will take you with no health questions. With a health history, decide inside that window.<br>6. Under $90,000 of family income, buying a plan with dental in it ends your access to the federal dental plan.</p><p>The full guide, province by province, is in my paid community at calmmoneycoach.com. My email list is free.</p><p>General education only. The households are made-up examples. 2026 rules and prices, and your age, province and income change the numbers.</p>