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Affordable Health Insurance

Health Care Costs

Although Canada provides effective health care plans, health care costs can still be very expensive. Dental work, eyeglasses, and drug prescriptions are just some of the examples of common health care costs that are not covered by most insurance plans.

The following is an overview of the average health care costs faced by most Canadians:

Dental Care

This form of health care is not covered by many health insurance plans. The costs of dental care may vary depending on the province and the procedure. On average, dental health care costs without insurance can range from:

$150-$200 per cleaning
$150-$250 for x-rays
$50-$150 for fillings

Extensive dental surgery may cost anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars.

Prescription Drugs

The price of filling a prescription can range from moderately to extremely expensive. Due to the health care system in Canada, drugs are covered for certain ages and income populations. Because the government regulates the price of prescription drugs they tend to be cheaper than in the United States.

However, despite the lesser price in Canada, there are still many people whose health insurance plans do not cover the expense. Depending on the drug, it is possible that those without health insurance may pay over $100 for a single prescription. For people or families on a budget, it may be difficult to afford the proper medication.

Eye Care

In most provinces, visual examinations for diagnostic purposes are covered in part or in full by your health care plan. The particulars of this coverage tend to vary from province to province. Corrective or therapeutic services (i.e. glasses and contact lenses), on the other hand, are not usually covered by such plans and the patient is responsible for this health care cost.

Buying eyeglasses or contact lenses is a very expensive necessity. Learn more about your province’s eye care coverage plans by contacting the Provincial Association of Optometrists.

Alternative Health Care

Many Canadians seek alternative health care methods that are not covered by any health insurance plan. Alternative health care costs are expensive, especially because they require many sessions and treatments for the best results.

Here is an overview of the average health care costs of some alternative treatment methods:

Acupuncture = $40-$60 per session
Massage Therapy = $50-$100 per one hour session
Therapy = $90-$150 per one hour session

To learn more about health insurance and health care costs in Canada, visit the official web site of Health Canada.