Health Insurance for Kids in Canada

What’s covered for kids under provincial health plans

Plans like OHIP (Ontario) and MSP (BC) cover medically necessary services for children in Canada, including doctor visits, hospital stays, and vaccines. Provincial health programs in Canada do not normally cover services like:

• Vision
• Dental
• Mental health
• Prescription drugs
• Paramedical services (e.g., chiropractic care)

There are some exceptions: RAMQ in Quebec covers preventive and basic dental care for kids up to age 10, plus eye exams for kids under 18. OHIP in Ontario covers one major vision exam for kids.

The federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) offers dental care for qualifying Canadian children, but not all families meet the residency and income criteria. 

There are also child-specific health programs in many provinces, though income is often part of the eligibility criteria and ages vary by program. These may cover dental, vision, and sometimes extended support specifically for disabled children.

• Alberta: Alberta Child Health Benefit up to age 18 (or 18/19 if child is living at home and in high school)
• British Columbia: Dependents can remain on a parent’s MSP account up to age 19 (or 25 if a full-time student)
• Manitoba: Supplemental benefits for children under 18
• New Brunswick: Supplemental benefits for children under 18
• Newfoundland & Labrador: Supplemental dental and vision for kids under 16 or 18
• Northwest Territories: Supplemental health benefits for low-income kids under 18, with full coverage for Métis people
• Nova Scotia: MSI Children’s Oral Health covers basic dental care up to age 15
• Nunavut: Children’s Dental Program offers some care for kids, with full coverage for First Nations and Inuit children
• Ontario: OHIP+/Children, Healthy Smiles, and Youth Pharmacare for dependents up to 25
• Prince Edward Island: Supplemental dental and vision for kids under 16 or 18
• Quebec: Basic dental and vision checks
• Saskatchewan: Supplemental benefits for children under 18
• Yukon: Children’s Drug & Optical Program and the Yukon Dental Program cover low-income children under 18

Here’s the truth: Provincial programs don’t cover all Canadian kids, and they don’t cover every healthcare need.

In fact, due to the high out-of-pocket costs for services not covered by provincial healthcare, many Canadian children are not getting the care they need. In our 2025 research, we found that 35% of Canadians say they’ve delayed dental visits and 28% say they’ve skipped vision care—both of which are critical services for children.

Why families consider private health insurance for kids

Private health insurance expands upon provincial health plans to give kids more access to the dental and healthcare services they need at a predictable cost.

• Affordability pressures: The cost of healthcare is rising. Families—even insured ones—face high out-of-pocket costs that make supplemental or family coverage valuable to prevent large, unexpected medical bills.
• Coverage gaps: Not every Canadian parent has access to employer benefits, and those that do may not have adequate coverage for dependents. Private insurance ensures your children remain covered if you’re between jobs, self-employed, working multiple part-time roles, or simply don’t have robust benefits through an employer.
• Custom coverage: Every child’s needs are different. With private insurance, you can choose the level of coverage that fits your family—including dental, orthodontics, glasses, prescription drugs, paramedical services, and mental health support. Some parents even mix and match plans so each child gets the coverage that suits them best.

Of course, there’s also the cost-benefit considerations. 

Children tend to use more healthcare as they grow, from dental visits to prescriptions and developmental services. For many families, adding kids to a private plan is far more affordable than paying each expense out of pocket. For example, adding a dependent might cost around $40 per month per child—a fraction of the price of routine cleanings, fillings, eye exams, inhalers, allergy medications, and specialized therapies if paid entirely on your own.

Comparing family and child health insurance options

Kids in Canada have two main options for health insurance:

• Employer-sponsored health plans through a parent’s group benefits
• Individual and family private health plans 

Group benefits plans

Many group benefit plans allow parents to enroll their dependents for coverage up to a certain age (often 25 if they’re full-time students). While some employer plans are broad and adequately cover needs, many have fairly low limits and coverage exclusions or waiting periods. Plus, 36% of Canadians worry that their work benefits will be reduced or eliminated, leaving them and their kids without supplemental health coverage.

Individual and family private plans

You can opt to purchase private health insurance for your kids, which is independent of your employment and can be somewhat tailored to meet their coverage needs.

While bundling kids under family plans may be more cost-efficient (depending on the provider and plan details), a child can have a standalone health insurance policy. This is a good option if one or both parents have workplace benefits coverage that doesn’t extend to dependents.

How much does child health insurance cost in Canada?

The cost of a private healthcare plan for one child in Canada is between $25 and $76 per month, depending on the plan tier and the child’s age. Here are PolicyMe’s rates for children across all plans:

What to look for in kids’ health coverage

The number one rule when looking for the best health insurance plan for kids is to buy what you need.

• Look for plans that cover check-ups, cleanings, and vision exams at a minimum. These services should have high reimbursement rates.
• Consider your child’s specific needs. Will they need braces in a couple of years? Are they likely to be injured playing sports? Do they have ongoing prescription needs? A good plan will limit the amount you have to pay out-of-pocket for these types of costly services. 

Compare your out-of-pocket costs to the plan, looking at deductibles, coinsurance, and maximums.

• Deductible: You pay this amount out of pocket before the health plan kicks in to pay for care. Lower deductibles mean higher monthly costs, and vice versa.
• Coinsurance: This is the amount you pay in the cost-sharing agreement with the insurance company. For instance, if the company covers 80% of a service, your coinsurance is 20%—every time.
• Maximums: This is the cap for reimbursement from the company. They’ll help pay for services up to that cap, but not beyond it. If you have a $500 annual maximum for basic dental care, anything beyond that is your responsibility out of pocket.

Not sure how to conduct a needs assessment? Speak to an advisor for free to get help thinking through your options.

Is health insurance for kids worth it?

Health insurance is often worth it for Canadian families who:

• Spend a significant amount out of pocket on their children’s healthcare
• Delay or avoid care because of high out-of-pocket costs
• Have provincial or workplace benefits but find the coverage insufficient

The right private health insurance plan should save you money and ensure your child has consistent access to the care they need—even if you already rely on provincial coverage or employer benefits. It can be especially valuable for families who anticipate higher dental, vision, prescription, or therapy expenses.

Provincial plans are essential, but they don’t always cover everything that growing kids need. Targeted private health insurance can help close those gaps and provide peace of mind when it matters most.

FAQ: health insurance for kids in Canada

Prices listed on this page are based on information available as of October 2025. The prices shown are for general reference only and may vary based on factors like your age, location, and product selection.