What is extended Healthcare coverage?
Extended Health Care (EHC) Insurance - (also known as supplementary insurance or private health insurance) Our provincial government health care, medical services and PharmaCare plans only cover your basic medical and emergency services. They may pay for all or part of the cost. Some services covered include: visits to doctors (medically necessary), hospital visits/stays, ambulance services and more.
Why is extended Healthcare coverage important to have?
Extended Health Care coverage may be considered as “supplementary health benefits”. They help the plan members and their dependents pay for medical and dental needs that ARE NOT covered by government health care, medical services or PharmaCare. Details of exactly what is covered, how much the plan pays and what the deductible amounts are, differ among the plans. Depending on your health care needs, the purchased Extended Health Benefit may help with the cost of the following (and more):
- Prescription drugs/medicines
- Dental care (basic care & preventative care)
- Vision care (eyeglasses & contact lenses, exams)
- Semi-private or private hospital accommodation
- Special nursing services
- Ambulance services
- Hospital and medical expenses incurred outside Canada
- Artificial limbs, prostheses and medical appliances
- Wheelchairs and other durable equipment
- Medical supplies, ie; diabetic and incontinence supplies
- Specific medical or paramedical services that fall outside government plans ie; services from optometrists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, chiropractors, osteopaths)
- Transportation to and from medical appointments
- Travel Insurance
Who provides extended healthcare plans ( Supplementary ) plans?
- An insurance company licensed in Ontario by FSCO; an insurance agent licensed in Ontario by FSCO.
- Group insurance plans are sold to: Associations, employers, companies, unions, universities, clubs, etc.,
- Individual insurance plans are sold to: Consumers
When is the best time to purchase EHC?
The ideal time to buy extended health care coverage is before you and your family have health problems as policies cost less at this time. Eligibility requirements may also change as you get older. EHC plans are there to help with routine costs but also to protect you against larger unexpected costs that may come up in the future.
How do I quality for EHC?
Supplementary plans usually provide coverage for the person who is the designated policy holder, as well as eligible dependents ie; a spouse or partner, children under 18 years of age (or older if they are full time students or disabled). Policy holders must be at least 19 years of age. Also, the eligibility requirements may differ for each EHC plan, therefore, review your plan in detail. Supplementary Health and Dental Insurance 101: Getting Started https://www.fsco.gov.on.ca/en/insurance/health/pages/index.html Questions to Ask About Supplementary Health or Dental Insurance https://www.fsco.gov.on.ca/en/insurance/health/pages/questions.html Supplementary Health and Dental Insurance FAQs https://www.fsco.gov.on.ca/en/insurance/health/pages/faqs.html Nine Tips on How to Read Your Supplementary Health or Dental Insurance Policy https://www.fsco.gov.on.ca/en/insurance/health/pages/tips.html Supplementary Health Insurance - Guide to Health https://www.clhia.ca/domino/html/clhia/CLHIA_LP4W_LND_Webstation.nsf/resources/Consumer+Brochures/$file/Brochure_Guide_To_Health_ENG.pdf HELP: Consumers with questions about their supplementary health insurance coverage can call the OmbudService for Life and Health Insurance (OLHI) for bilingual information and assistance. The OLHI is an independent service that provides free information and assistance. Call the OLHI from anywhere in Canada: In Toronto: 416-777-9002; Toll Free/Sans frais: 1-888-295-8112 Website: https://www.olhi.ca/