Provincial health coverage pays for a lot, but it usually does not cover dental care, prescription drugs, glasses or paramedical care. A personal health and dental plan can help with some of those costs.

Sam Pakbaz helps individuals, families and business owners in Barrhaven, Nepean and Ottawa compare plan options and understand what is covered.

What happens without coverage

Without a plan, you pay these costs yourself. Some people delay a dental visit or a prescription because of the price. Others have coverage through work and want to know what happens if they leave that job. A health and dental plan is meant to help with a share of eligible costs. What is covered, and how much you still pay, depends on the plan.

Real costs

• In 2024, 18% of prescribed-drug spending in Canada was paid out of pocket by households. (PMPRB, citing CIHI National Health Expenditure Trends, 2025)
• One in four people in Canada (24%) avoided visiting an oral health professional in the past year because of the cost (data from November 2023 to March 2024). About one in three (33%) people over age 12 had no dental insurance. (Statistics Canada)
• By 2021, Canadian households were spending an average of $461 out of pocket on dental care, up from $341 in 2011 and $274 in 2001. (Statistics Canada)
• In 2024, Canada's life and health insurers paid $16.6 billion toward prescription drugs and $12.6 billion toward dental care. Supplementary health plans covered 27 million people. (CLHIA, 2025 Factbook)

Who it's for

• People without a workplace benefits plan, including those who are self-employed
• Anyone leaving a group plan and wanting to look at personal coverage
• Families budgeting for dental visits, prescriptions or glasses
• Recent retirees reviewing what happens after workplace benefits end
• Business owners who want to explore health and dental benefits for their employees

How Sam helps

Sam is an independent licensed life and health insurance agent. He compares personal health and dental plans from several insurers and explains deductibles, maximums and what is covered, in plain language. For business owners, he can also walk through group benefits options. He does not represent every insurer, and not every insurer offers every product. You decide what fits.

Let's look at your options

If you'd like to look at health and dental coverage, you can ask for a quote or book a time to talk it through. There's no pressure either way. If you're a business owner exploring coverage for your staff, a Group Benefits Consultation is a good place to start. For personal coverage, you can book an Insurance Review.