To figure out if supplemental health insurance is a cost effective choice you need to calculate the costs of the services you need.
You can then either self insure and save up the money throughout the year to cover these costs
or
look at getting a supplemental health insurance plan to cover some of these costs.
Be careful when looking at health plans that you consider maximums, restrictions and deductibles.
A couple of supplemental health insurers to check out:
Greenshield:
https://www.surehealth.ca/pages/gsc-customers.html
Manulife:
https://www.manulife.ca/personal/insurance/health-insurance/health-and-dental.html
If you are interested in a plan please let me know, I would be happy to help.
Some people aren’t aware of PharmaCare or supplementary benefits through MSP:
PharmaCare for B.C. Residents
BC PharmaCare helps B.C. residents pay for eligible prescription drugs, certain medical supplies, and pharmacy services.
Supplementary Health-Care Benefits
MSP supplementary benefits provide partial payment for certain medical services obtained in B.C. (for example, massage therapy and chiropractic services) and may provide access to other income-based programs. Learn more about eligibility for these benefits.
Featured Services
- Medical Services Plan
The Medical Services Plan (MSP) insures medically-required services provided by physicians and supplementary health-care practitioners, and diagnostic procedures. - PharmaCare
BC PharmaCare helps B.C. residents with the cost of eligible prescription drugs, and certain medical supplies and pharmacy services. - HealthLink BC
24 hours a day, 7 days a week HealthLink BC provides access to non-emergency health information and advice by phone, website, mobile app, and print.
Through the Healthy Kids Program, children of low-income families can get help with the costs of:
Some articles relating to supplemental health insurance:
https://www.howtosavemoney.ca/health-insurance-canada
https://www.moneysense.ca/columns/ask-a-planner/should-you-buy-health-insurance-in-retirement/