Self-Employed Health Insurance in Ontario
Working for yourself means providing your own benefits. We connect Ontario freelancers, contractors and business owners with licensed advisors who find the right health, dental and disability coverage.
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Health Insurance When You Work for Yourself
When you leave a job to work for yourself, your group benefits usually end the same day. There is no employer paying for prescriptions, dental cleanings, physiotherapy or disability coverage, and a single illness or injury can hit both your health and your income at once.
Self-employed people in Ontario have good options, from individual health and dental plans to disability and critical illness coverage, and for business owners, tax efficient health spending accounts. The right mix depends on your health, your family and how your business is structured.
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We are not an insurer or an advisor. We find you the right one.
Matched by need
We connect you with an advisor who works with businesses and families like yours.
Licensed life and health advisors
Life and health insurance advisors in Ontario are licensed by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA).
Fast follow up
Once we receive your information, a professional in our network will connect with you within 24 hours.
No cost to be matched
Our referral service is free. You deal directly with the advisor for quotes and coverage.
Your options at a glance
Individual health and dental plans
Personal plans cover prescription drugs, dental care, vision and paramedical services, similar to a group plan but chosen and paid for by you.
Guaranteed acceptance plans ask no medical questions but have lower limits
Medically underwritten plans offer richer coverage if you qualify
Plans can cover you, your spouse and your children
A health spending account through your business
Sole proprietors, partners and incorporated owners may be able to pay health costs through a health spending account, subject to CRA rules and limits.
Professional and association plans
Many professional associations and chambers of commerce offer group style plans to members. An advisor can compare them with individual plans.
Coverage self-employed people should consider
Health and dental is only part of the picture when your income depends on you.
Health and dental
Covers the everyday costs OHIP does not, such as prescriptions, dental work, physiotherapy and eye care.
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Disability insurance
Replaces part of your income if illness or injury stops you from working. For trades, consultants and owner operators, this is often the most important coverage, since Employment Insurance sickness benefits are limited and only available to self-employed people who opt in.
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Critical illness insurance
Pays a tax free lump sum if you are diagnosed with a covered condition such as cancer, heart attack or stroke, to use however you need.
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Life insurance
Protects your family and can cover business debts or a mortgage if you pass away.
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Tax and government programs to know about
Deducting health costs as a sole proprietor
Self-employed individuals who are actively engaged in their business can deduct private health services plan premiums within limits under section 20.01 of the Income Tax Act, provided the business is their main source of income or their other income is under $10,000. Without arm’s length employees, the limit is $1,500 each for you, your spouse and household members 18 or older, plus $750 for each household member under 18.
Public programs that may help
Depending on your situation, public programs can fill part of the gap.
- OHIP+ covers eligible prescriptions for people 24 and under who are not covered by a private plan
- The Canadian Dental Care Plan may help if you have no access to dental insurance and your adjusted family net income is under $90,000
- The Trillium Drug Program helps with high prescription costs relative to household income
Self-Employed Health Insurance FAQs
Can I get health insurance if I am self-employed in Ontario?
Yes. Individual health and dental plans are available to self-employed people, with guaranteed acceptance and medically underwritten options. Business owners may also be able to use a health spending account.
Are health insurance premiums tax deductible for the self-employed?
Premiums for a qualifying private health services plan can be deductible within the section 20.01 limits. Otherwise, premiums you pay personally may count toward the medical expense tax credit. Check with your accountant.
What is guaranteed acceptance health insurance?
A plan that does not ask medical questions, so you cannot be declined. The trade off is usually lower limits and some restrictions on pre-existing conditions.
Do I need disability insurance if I am self-employed?
If you rely on your own work for income, disability insurance is often the most important coverage to consider, since there is no employer plan and public options are limited.
Can I cover my family on my plan?
Yes. Most individual plans let you add a spouse and dependent children.
What to expect from a benefits advisor
A licensed advisor handles the details so you can make a clear decision.
1Discovery call
Share who needs coverage, what matters most and your budget. For businesses, bring your current plan and renewal if you have one.
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2Plan design
Your advisor recommends coverage levels and cost sharing that fit your needs, and explains the trade offs in plain language.
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3Compare insurers
Your advisor gathers quotes from multiple insurers and compares price, coverage and service side by side.
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4Enrol and support
Once you choose, your advisor handles the application and enrolment, and stays available for claims questions and renewals.
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