Senior Health Insurance

Being a senior citizen in Canada has its advantages and disadvantages. Yes, you receive senior discounts on many services and there are many provided in Canada through the government’s federal and provincial programs but, unfortunately, the plans don’t provide coverage for every health condition or situation.

Seniors need to be proactive in their health care. They need to be well-informed on what the government health plan covers and does not cover.  They also need to know that they can invest in a supplemental health insurance plan that is designed specifically with seniors in mind.

When mulling over the possibility of having to spend time in a hospital, ask yourself whether it would be important for you to have a private room, or for you to get private nursing care at a certain point in time.

Senior residents of Ontario:

Seniors have access to the Ontario Drug Benefit Program (ODB), which grants benefits to those eligible for assistance with the cost of prescription drugs.

Community Care Access Centres  assist seniors, as well as those with disabilities, to live an independent life in the comfort of their own home for as long as they are able to do so.

These are just a few examples of the types of services available to seniors in Ontario.
It is a good idea to have supplemental health insurance to fill in the gaps where the government health system falls short. Go to CAA Health & Dental and go over the various senior plans; you’ll be in a better position to decide if one is a good fit for you.

Don’t Take Chances with your Mental Health

Mental illness has been referred to as the invisible disease as it is still surrounded by social stigma among Canadians.

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. One in five Canadians (6.7 million) suffer from a mental health issue, a fact that costs the economy over $50 billion a year. In most cases, a mental health condition will reveal itself before the age of 24, affecting individuals in their prime working years.

About 3,500 Canadians fall under suicide-related deaths; it’s the second leading cause of death for young Canadians. Canada is the only G7 country without a national mental health strategy. Last year, Parliament passed Bill C-300 which imposes the task on Ottawa to come up with a plan to combat suicide. Partners for Mental Health would like to see the government invest $100-million over the next four years towards educating teens and crisis intervention.

Because there is an element of shame attached to mental illness, many victims go undiagnosed and suffer silently, and others self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. One of the biggest problems is that, unless you have a private health insurance plan, you can remain on a waiting list upwards to a year before receiving counselling after a diagnosis.

Going through the public health care system can be a trying ordeal. A private health insurance plan can not only help reduce costs when continual medication is necessary, which is often the case with mental illness, but it can also diminish the waiting time for counselling sessions. It can ensure you seeing a doctor of your choice and getting quality treatment when you need it. 

When your mental health is at stake, you want to get diagnosed promptly; if prescription medication is needed, you want to begin treatment in conjunction with therapy as soon as possible.

Health Insurance Plans in Canada