In 2017, total health expenditure in Canada reached $242 billion or $6,604 per person, representing 11.5% of Canada's gross domestic product (GDP). The market for supplemental (private) health insurance continues to grow at a steady rate with annual premiums of around $43 billion in 2017 and benefits of $34 billion being paid out. Increased life expectancy leading to an aging population and an increase in health risk factors should ensure a stable rate of growth for the market in the coming years.
Canada has a government-funded national health insurance program. Government or public plans provide coverage of core healthcare services, such as hospital care and most physician services. Private health insurance is intended to cover certain services that the government system does not cover or covers only partially. In Canada, most dental and vision care and a considerable proportion of outpatient drug costs are funded privately.
This report covers the drivers of the supplemental health insurance market in Canada, consumer data related to ownership, choice of provider, purchase decision factors/triggers, emerging trends, digital behaviours and attitudes towards health insurance.
Regional classifications
Prairie Provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Atlantic Provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland/Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Scope
This Report covers the topic of supplementary or private health insurance, focusing on non-core services that are not covered, or not fully covered, by government healthcare. These may be group plans sponsored by employers, unions and associations or individual plans that consumers purchase for their own use. Travel health insurance is not covered in this Report.
